Vom geopolitischen Wettbewerb zur strategischen Zusammenarbeit im Bereich CRM: Das Dreieck EU-Indonesien-Afrika

This research paper examines the potential for triangular cooperation between the European Union (EU), Indonesia, and African nations in the critical raw materials (CRM) sector. It argues that while the EU and Indonesia currently employ different partnership models in Africa—the EU focusing on supply chain integration and ESG standards, and Indonesia focusing on downstream industrialisation and South-South cooperation—these differences are complementary. The authors propose a framework where EU financial instruments and ESG expertise combine with Indonesia's technical experience in mineral processing to support African goals of local value addition and industrialisation, thereby reducing all parties' dependence on China.

• African countries struggle to convert mineral extraction into development gains due to limited infrastructure and processing capacity. Between 2016 and 2022, 73% of greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) in sub-Saharan Africa was directed toward extraction, while only 26% was allocated to manufacturing and processing.
• Indonesia leverages its dominance in nickel production (approximately 51% of global supply) and its experience with downstream industrialisation—exemplified by its 2020 nickel export ban—to establish partnerships in Africa. These partnerships, such as the 2024 MoU with Tanzania, aim to secure complementary minerals for Indonesia's electric vehicle (EV) battery industry while supporting African domestic production capacity.
• The EU's strategy for securing CRMs involves diversifying supply chains to reduce dependence on China through the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) and the Global Gateway. The EU has signed MoUs with Namibia, Rwanda, the DRC, Zambia, and South Africa, focusing on the entire value chain and stringent environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, though it has struggled to mobilise private sector investment competitively.
• The EU and Indonesia employ divergent partnership models: the EU uses a values-based approach with a focus on ESG and supply chain integration, while Indonesia follows the 'Bandung Spirit' of equality and South-South cooperation, focusing on capacity-building and knowledge transfer to keep downstream benefits within the Global South.
• Triangular cooperation could reconcile the interests of the EU, Indonesia, and African nations by combining EU financial capacity (via instruments like the Global Gateway or RESourceEU) and ESG regulation with Indonesia's technical expertise in accelerating up- and downstream mineral processing.
• To make triangular cooperation successful, the authors recommend five measures: incentivising the EU private sector through price-stabilisation mechanisms, ensuring safeguards for blended finance to avoid escalating African public debt, implementing clear ESG frameworks for Indonesian projects, establishing a common African regional agenda for partnership terms, and embedding mutual accountability mechanisms.

APA

Eszter, & Hertanti, R. (2026). Vom geopolitischen Wettbewerb zur strategischen Zusammenarbeit im Bereich CRM: Das Dreieck EU-Indonesien-Afrika. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/de/vom-geopolitischen-wettbewerb-zur-strategischen-zusammenarbeit-im-bereich-crm-das-dreieck-euindonesienafrika-en

Chicago

Eszter, and Rachmi Hertanti. Vom geopolitischen Wettbewerb zur strategischen Zusammenarbeit im Bereich CRM: Das Dreieck EU-Indonesien-Afrika. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2026. https://afripoli.org/de/vom-geopolitischen-wettbewerb-zur-strategischen-zusammenarbeit-im-bereich-crm-das-dreieck-euindonesienafrika-en.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Eszter |last2=Hertanti |first2=Rachmi |title=Vom geopolitischen Wettbewerb zur strategischen Zusammenarbeit im Bereich CRM: Das Dreieck EU-Indonesien-Afrika |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=16 April 2026 |url=https://afripoli.org/de/vom-geopolitischen-wettbewerb-zur-strategischen-zusammenarbeit-im-bereich-crm-das-dreieck-euindonesienafrika-en |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{eszter2026vom, author = {Eszter and Hertanti, Rachmi}, title = {{Vom geopolitischen Wettbewerb zur strategischen Zusammenarbeit im Bereich CRM: Das Dreieck EU-Indonesien-Afrika}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2026}, month = apr, url = {https://afripoli.org/de/vom-geopolitischen-wettbewerb-zur-strategischen-zusammenarbeit-im-bereich-crm-das-dreieck-euindonesienafrika-en}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }