As authoritarian states and non-state actors increasingly challenge the rules-based world order, the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions are becoming increasingly interconnected. In order to preserve stability and secure trade routes, cooperation with Indo-Pacific countries is becoming increasingly important for Sweden. Earlier this year, the government presented a defense policy orientation for cooperation with countries in the Indo-Pacific region. At the same time as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, and the war that broke out between Israel and Hamas following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, developments in the Indo-Pacific region are not in the spotlight in the same way. This seminar aims to focus on the region from a Swedish perspective. China continues to be the focus of many and more and more countries outside the region seek to deepen cooperation and relations with countries such as Japan, Australia, South Korea and other democracies. The EU's and Sweden's interests in the region range from trade and technology to foreign and security policy. The development of security policy is characterized by both deepened and new collaborations. In May 2023, Sweden hosted the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum where ministers met for close cooperation. Two of the larger collaborations outside the EU in which the US has a central role are AUKUS, where the US together with the UK and Australia work to promote a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific region, and Quad, a collaboration between the US, Australia, Japan and India. The region accounts for around two-thirds of global growth, making it an essential part of the world economy and vital for both trade flows and new innovations. A stable region is a prerequisite for Swedish growth and increased prosperity. This seminar begins with Defense Minister Pål Jonson presenting the government's defense policy. After the presentation, the seminar opens up to a series of experts and their analyzes of the development in the region and Sweden's relationship to it. What does the development look like? What is Sweden's role in the region and how dependent is Sweden on the ability to innovate a world away? The seminar is arranged together with the Total Defense Research Institute (FOI). Program: 09.00 Introduction Pasi Huikuri, Program Manager Security Policy, People and Defense New direction for cooperation with countries in the Indo-Pacific region Minister of Defense Pål Jonson (M) The Indo-Pacific region's security policy significance for Sweden Albin Aronsson, researcher, FOI's program for Northern European and Transatlantic Security Policy Oscar Almén, researcher, FOI's Asia program Åsa Malmström Rognes, program manager for the Asia program, Institute for Foreign Policy Björn Jerdén, manager, National knowledge center on China Trade flows, defense innovation and economic development Robert Limmergård, Secretary General, Security and Defense Companies (SOFF) Lars Hedström, Director, Center for Innovation and Development at the Norwegian Defense Academy Per Olsson, defense economist, FOI's unit for defense economics Comment Anders Lindberg, political editor-in-chief, Aftonbladet Carl-Vincent Reimers, lead writer, Dagens industri Concluding reflections John Rydqvist, Chancellery Council, Department for Security Policy, Ministry of Defence. 10.15 The seminar ends