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— Anudeep Gujjeti
(The Indian Express has launched a new series of articles for UPSC aspirants written by seasoned writers and scholars on issues and concepts spanning History, Polity, International Relations, Art, Culture and Heritage, Environment, Geography, Science and Technology, and so on. Read and reflect with subject experts and boost your chance of cracking the much-coveted UPSC CSE. In the following article, Anudeep Gujjeti simplifies the complex landscape of the Indo-Pacific characterised by overlapping strategies, alliances, and policies.)
The Indo-Pacific region has emerged as a “strategic reality” of the 21st century in global geopolitics. Its increased significance derives from its extensive geographical span, encompassing over half of the global population, and its economic contributions, which account for about 62 per cent of global GDP and half of global trade.
The increased significance of the Indo-Pacific region has paved the way for the proliferation of diverse strategies, frameworks, groupings and alliances. Countries such as the US, Japan, the Association of South East Asian States (ASEAN), the European Union, Australia, and more recently Canada and Sweden have all formulated their respective Indo-Pacific strategies to influence the developments in the region.
In this context, it is important to have a clear understanding of the concepts such as strategy, frameworks and alliances that underpin the current geopolitical situation in the Indo-Pacific Region.
The definition of “strategy” has evolved over a period of time. Earlier, international relations theorists concentrated on the military dimensions of strategy. Colin S. Gray in Modern Strategy (1999) notes that strategy is “the application of military power to achieve political objectives.”
However, the concept of strategy has broadened to encompass “power” and “processes”. According to John Baylis, “strategy provides the bridge between military means and political goals”, linking a national policy towards a region to attain national interests. It involves long-term plans and policies designed to achieve specific national or collective aims.
In contrast, a framework refers to set guidelines outlining how actions or interactions should occur to achieve a particular outcome. Whereas, formal alliances, as defined by the U.S. Department of Defense, are “formal agreements between two or more nations” formed through treaties to defend each other during times of war or aggression. Alliance partnerships can be bilateral or multilateral, such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
— Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) Strategy – In 2016, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced the FOIP Strategy at TICAD VI (Tokyo International Conference on African Development) in Kenya. Japan’s FOIP vision marked a significant step towards enhancing connectivity between Asia and Africa (with ASEAN positioned as the key link between the two oceans), promoting regional stability and prosperity while emphasising the rule of law and inclusive international order.
Japan’s vision is built on three pillars: (i) the promotion of the rule of law, (ii) the pursuit of economic prosperity, and (iii) a commitment to peace and stability by focusing on capacity building in maritime law enforcement and cooperation on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
— The ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) – It was adopted in 2019 during the 34th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok. Its goal is not to create new mechanisms or replace existing ones but to enhance ASEAN’s Community building process and strengthen ASEAN-led mechanisms like the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF).
It even highlighted the broad areas of cooperation such as connectivity, maritime cooperation, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and economic cooperation. It further envisages avoiding any sort of mistrust, miscalculation, or economic and military confrontation based on a “zero-sum game”.
It reflects ASEAN’s desire to promote an open, inclusive, and rules-based regional architecture that balances relations between major powers, particularly in light of rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
— The United States Indo-Pacific Strategy – The Biden administration released the Indo-Pacific Strategy in February 2022, focussing on a free and open Indo-Pacific. It emphasised sovereign decision-making by countries in accordance with international law and lawful governance of shared domains like seas and skies. The key objectives the US wants to advance are a free and open Indo-Pacific, build connections within and beyond the region, drive regional prosperity, bolster Indo-Pacific security, and build regional resilience to transnational threats.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has committed to “collaborating with allies and partners”, emphasising the significance of partnership in achieving these goals in view of the vastness and diversity of the Indo-Pacific. The vision draws attention to key groupings like the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), Australia, the United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS).
While the above three represent strategic frameworks or visions for the Indo-Pacific region, there are other variants working in the region as groups or alliances. One of them is the Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue). It is a diplomatic grouping comprising India, the US, Australia and Japan – all democratically governed nations with shared interests.
The Quad seeks to promote practical cooperation in various fields, which includes infrastructure development, climate change, critical and emerging technologies, and health (vaccines). Over time, the Quad has expanded its areas of functioning in the region and announced many partnerships such as the Quad Health Security Partnership, Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network, and announced its first-ever Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in 2025. The Quad’s mandate is very broad and encompasses many functional areas, unlike the AUKUS.
AUKUS is a trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the US, with the primary goal of enhancing military cooperation, particularly by equipping Australia with nuclear-powered submarines as early as 2030. The second pillar of the alliance focuses on accelerating capabilities in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, electronic warfare, and hypersonic technologies. This alliance is widely seen as a direct response to China’s growing military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific and is primarily focused on the security Dimension.
The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), another initiative launched by the US in 2022 with thirteen other nations, represents a distinct economic initiative. Together, these countries account for over 40 per cent of global GDP. The framework is organised around four pillars, namely trade, supply chains, clean economy, and fair economy. Unlike traditional free trade agreements, the IPEF offers flexibility and an open arrangement that allows partner countries to join any of the pillars based on their interests and priorities.
This framework is designed to provide new opportunities for economic growth and strengthen partnerships among participating nations while avoiding commitments associated with conventional trade agreements.
In conclusion, the frameworks, visions, groups and alliances outlined above provide a brief overview of the many initiatives shaping the Indo-Pacific region. As nations endeavour to safeguard their national interests and limit China’s growing influence, the region has become a complex landscape of overlapping strategies, alliances, and policies.
The many initiatives often complicate the adoption of a unified and targeted approach, increasing the possibility of overlapping strategies or conflicts or a lack of clear objectives. Therefore, it’s useful to carefully understand the subtle differences among these frameworks and alliances. An informed and nuanced understanding will be crucial for effectively navigating the region’s evolving dynamics.
What has led to the proliferation of strategies, frameworks, groupings, and alliances in the Indo-Pacific?
How are countries like the US, Japan, ASEAN, and the EU shaping their Indo-Pacific strategies to advance national interests?
Why is it important to understand the concepts of strategy, frameworks, and alliances in the context of the Indo-Pacific?
In what ways can India’s involvement in the Indo-Pacific contribute to a cooperative and sustainable regional order?
What are the key areas of cooperation between India and other regional players, such as Japan, ASEAN, and Australia, to promote stability in the Indo-Pacific?
(Anudeep Gujjeti is an Assistant Professor at the Center of Excellence for Geopolitics and International Studies, REVA University, Bengaluru.)
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