Germany's evolving role in global affairs: Positioning as a middle power in the Indo-Pacific region

Abstract

In 2020 Germany released its Indo-Pacific guidelines in response to global shifts and escalating Sino-US rivalries in the region. This article scrutinises Germany's ambitions and stance in the Indo-Pacific, utilising the middle power concept as an analytical tool. It argues that Germany's Indo-Pacific strategy is broadly in line with its wider foreign policy approach rather than marking a radical shift. Divided into three sections, the article explores middle power theories, Germany's foreign policy approach and Germany's Indo-Pacific tilt. Assessing Germany's progress in the Indo-Pacific, the paper employs a middle power framework based on capabilities, identity and engagement. We argue that Germany seems intent on positioning itself as a civilian middle power, evident in its deeply engrained norms determining identity and guiding engagement. The article uses a qualitative approach, drawing from primary material such as official statements of German policymakers and policy documents, supplemented by secondary sources covering the literature on middle power dynamics, the Indo-Pacific region and Germany's foreign policy. Employing thematic documentary analysis, the paper identifies recurring patterns and trends in Germany's evolving role in the Indo-Pacific.