US-India Strategic Assertiveness to Curb China’s Emerging Influence in ‘Indo-Pacific Region’: Implications for Pakistan

Abstract

The article examines how the strategic relationship between the United States and India in the Indo-Pacific has evolved and how it can help to examine China's emerging military, economic and geopolitical power. It uses the offensive realism as theoretical framework and argues that the United States sees India as a key regional partner against Chinese domination of Asia. It provides an analysis of Indo-United States defense cooperation, including agreements such as LEMOA, COMCASA and BECA, as well as other regional alliances including QUAD and AUKUS. It also looks at how China has equipped itself with military modernization, maritime expansion, the BRI, other institutional frameworks, and initiatives in its quest to expand its regional influence. The article also examines the impact of Indo-US strategic cooperation on Pakistan, suggesting that it has enhanced Pakistan's strategic reliance on China, as well as raised new challenges for Pakistan in terms of foreign and security policies in South Asia and the broader Middle East. It concludes that the Indo-Pacific region is expected to continue to be a boiling pot for China and the United States rivalry, along with middle powers pursuing hedging toward both great powers.