European arms exports to Australia and deepening defense partnerships significantly strengthen Europe’s long-term military footprint in the Indo-Pacific, though this footprint is primarily one of industrial, diplomatic, and interoperability presence, rather than massive, permanent troop deployments.

This strategy, pursued by countries like France and Germany, uses defense trade as a Trojan horse for sustained engagement, creating decades-long relationships, common operational standards, and shared strategic interests that anchor Europe firmly in the region’s security architecture.

1. Defense Exports as an Enduring Anchor

The sale of major weapons platforms and sophisticated defense technology is the single most effective way for European nations to secure a long-term presence and influence in the Indo-Pacific.

Industrial Localization and Service Contracts

Large defense contracts are not one-off transactions; they are 30- to 50-year commitments that require continuous engagement.

• Long-Term Service and Maintenance: When Australia purchases European military equipment—whether it's missiles, frigates, or fighter jet components—it enters into contracts for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) that last for the life of the platform. This necessitates a permanent presence of European defense contractors, engineers, and technicians on Australian soil, effectively establishing a European industrial base in the region.

• Sustained Interoperability: The continued export of advanced European systems—including from major contractors like MBDA (missiles), Thales (electronics, naval systems), and Airbus (military transport)—forces Australian and European military forces to train together, use common logistics, and adhere to shared technical standards. This sustained interoperability is the sine qua non of a credible long-term military partnership, making it easier for European navies and air forces to operate out of Australian bases during regional deployments.

The Post-AUKUS Pivot

While the cancellation of France's submarine contract with Australia (due to the AUKUS deal) was a major setback, it paradoxically sharpened Europe's resolve to find alternative, durable defense partnerships:

• France’s Continued Presence: As a resident power with overseas territories like New Caledonia and French Polynesia, France's commitment to the Indo-Pacific is existential. It has responded to the AUKUS shock by doubling down on other defense and security engagements with Australia, evidenced by the 2023 Australia-France Roadmap that heavily focuses on defense, security, and climate action, particularly in the South Pacific.

• Germany's Stepped-Up Role: Germany, historically cautious about defense exports to the region, has ramped up its engagement, reflected in its Enhanced Strategic Partnership with Australia. Its increasing participation in major Australian Defence Force (ADF) exercises—such as Pitch Black (Air Force) and Kakadu (Navy)—is often a precursor to, and a demonstration of, its commitment to supporting partners who adopt its defense materiel.

2. Strengthening Diplomatic and Strategic Leverage

Defense trade and cooperation transform the political relationship, moving it beyond mere diplomatic rhetoric to one based on hard security commitments and shared threat assessments.

Shared Strategic Outlook

By investing heavily in European military technology, Australia signals a long-term strategic alignment with the values and interests of the major European powers. This alignment has a powerful feedback loop:

• Mutual Burden-Sharing: Australia views European engagement as vital for maintaining a favorable balance of power in its region, diversifying its reliance on the U.S. By purchasing European weapons, Australia provides a practical, financial incentive for Europe to remain strategically engaged. This helps validate the European narrative of a single Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security theatre, forcing Europe to devote sustained resources to the distant region.

• Influence on Regional Standards: Cooperation on defense standards, joint research, and exercises allows Europe to embed its strategic culture, legal norms, and rules-based approach into the regional security environment. For instance, European involvement in freedom of navigation operations is not only a deployment of power but an assertion of international law, which is reinforced through partnerships with nations like Australia.

Supporting AUKUS Through the Back Door

While non-AUKUS Europe doesn't directly participate in the nuclear submarine component, its defense industry is a crucial enabler for AUKUS:

• Complementary Capabilities: Australia's needs extend far beyond nuclear submarines. European companies provide essential, non-AUKUS-restricted capabilities that are vital for the ADF's overall modernization, such as advanced missiles, frigates, and sensors. By filling these gaps, Europe frees up U.S. and UK resources to focus on the core AUKUS technological pillars, effectively complementing and strengthening the overall anti-coercion effort in the region.

• Fostering Interoperability with the West: The long-term goal of AUKUS and the broader U.S. strategy is to create a seamless, integrated deterrence network of like-minded partners. By ensuring that Australian forces are interoperable with major European contributors (France, Germany, Netherlands, Italy), European arms exports indirectly accelerate this integration, making the collective Western response to regional tensions more robust.

3. The "Soft" Military Footprint

The military footprint is not solely measured by the number of soldiers deployed. In the modern strategic context, it is also defined by a persistent, high-level engagement in non-traditional domains.

Joint Training and Exercises

Cooperation on defense equipment leads to continuous joint training, which builds the human capital of the partnership:

• Personnel Exchange and Trust: Training on common platforms, participating in complex exercises like Talisman Sabre, and establishing personnel exchange programs create deep, personal, and institutional trust between European and Australian militaries. This trust is essential for effective coalition warfare and intelligence sharing in a crisis.

• Logistics and Basing: Joint exercises require European navies and air forces to utilize Australian bases and logistical hubs. This familiarity and the pre-negotiated access rights effectively expand the operational reach of European forces, allowing for a quicker, more sustained reaction force deployment to the Indo-Pacific, which would be impossible without Australian partnership.

The EU’s Broader Strategic Compass

Ultimately, the focus on defense exports and partnerships with Australia aligns with the EU's wider goal of becoming a more self-reliant and influential global security actor:

• Strategic Autonomy: By securing major defense contracts and industrial partnerships independent of the U.S., European nations reinforce the concept of European Strategic Autonomy. This allows them to project power and maintain influence in the Indo-Pacific on their own terms, giving them leverage in their transatlantic relationship and ensuring that a potential U.S. pivot away from the region does not completely decouple Europe's long-term interests.

• Security for Prosperity: European elites recognize that the security of global supply chains and maritime trade routes—which are critical for European prosperity—depend on a stable Indo-Pacific. Defense partnerships with Australia are a practical investment in guaranteeing this stability, providing a military-industrial underpinning for the EU's wider economic and geopolitical objectives in the region.

In essence, European arms exports and defense cooperation with Australia create a permanent industrial and institutional tether to the Indo-Pacific, ensuring that Europe's military-strategic interests remain actively engaged for the foreseeable future.