In a trend-setting occurrence, the Trump administration recently declassified a noteworthy document. This document emphasizes a powerful India’s role in collaboration with similar-minded nations to counteract China in the crucial Indo-Pacific area. The 2018 USA strategic framework for the Indo-Pacific is the document in question. It gives detailed insights into objectives, challenges, and strategies related to countries such as China, North Korea, India, among others in the Indo-Pacific region.
Key Challenges for the USA
The strategic framework delineates significant challenges for the USA. These primarily include maintaining the USA’s predominant influence in the Indo-Pacific and curbing China from creating illiberal spheres of control. Moreover, it places great importance on ensuring North Korea fails to pose a threat to the USA, globally promoting USA’s economic leadership, and advocating for equitable and reciprocal trade practices.
India’s Role and Associated Aspects
From the USA’s perspective, India is a preferred security partner. This partnership aims to preserve maritime security and counterbalance China’s influence, notably in South Asia and Southeast Asia. To achieve this, the USA puts forth several strategies which include supporting India’s ambition to emerge as a global leader; enhancing mutual defense cooperation; providing India with more significant roles in the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus; supporting India’s Act East policy; and assisting India in progressing towards domestic economic reform.
India’s Relations with China
The USA has outlined specific strategies to back India in addressing disputes with China. These include support through military, diplomatic, and intelligence channels to handle territorial conflicts like the border dispute and matters related to the diversion of rivers by China. Concerning the Belt Road Initiative, the USA supports India’s reservations, urging transparency in infrastructure-debt practices among nations burdened by Chinese financing. In close association with Japan, the USA aims to finance projects enhancing regional connectivity between India and neighboring regions.
India-USA Relations
The democratic values shared by India and the USA, coupled with an increasing convergence of interests on multiple fronts, have strengthened bilateral relations. These relationships have developed in various sectors, including trade and investment, defense and security, education, science and technology, and cybersecurity. This bond is further nourished by vibrant people-to-people interactions and mutual political support. Several defense agreements signed between the two nations, such as GSOMIA, LEMOA, COMCASA and BECA, facilitate the exchange of military information and logistics support.
Recent USA-China Rivalries
In recent times, the USA and China have been embroiled in competition to dominate global finances. In a bid to counter USA-dominated financial institutions, China has established alternatives like the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the New Development Bank. The USA, however, has sought to contain China’s growing influence under its ‘pivot to Asia policy’, launching initiatives like the Quad and an Indo-Pacific narrative. Notably, the USA proposed to expand G7 to G-11, excluding China from it. Various confrontations, including ideological, cultural, and trade wars, hint towards a brewing New Cold War between USA and China.
Way Forward
India should acknowledge its rising global power and prioritize its interests and growth by maintaining cordial relationships with all nations instead of getting entangled in the USA-China rivalry. By promoting multilateralism based on the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, India can work towards restructuring the economic order and societal behavior for sustainable and equitable development.