Geopolitical competition is intensifying with each passing day, as major powers increasingly shift their focus from traditional territorial rivalries to complex geo-economic and geo-strategic dynamics. A focal point of this competition is the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), which has become a strategic hub for global maritime trade and military influence. Powers such as the United States and China have significantly increased their presence in the IOR through alliances and partnerships with regional countries. While the US-India and China-Pakistan strategic partnerships have drawn considerable global attention, the overarching competition continues to shape the region’s security dynamics.

As the US seeks to encircle China by strengthening its military and economic engagements in the region, strategic maritime routes and chokepoints have become increasingly significant. The Strait of Malacca alone accounts for 25 percent of global goods trade and one-third of the world’s seaborne oil trade. Connecting Malaysia and Indonesia, it serves as a vital corridor for commerce. Similarly, the Strait of Hormuz facilitates 30 percent of global oil shipments and links the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. Another key passage, Bab al-Mandab, connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, enabling the trade of around six million barrels of oil per day. These routes make the IOR not only a critical economic zone but also a potential hotspot for strategic tensions among global powers.

Consequently, US influence in the IOR remains substantial, but the growing presence of China—particularly through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)—has introduced new dynamics in the region. The United States has reinforced its alliances with regional actors like Japan, India, South Korea, and Australia to counterbalance China’s rise. Strategic groupings such as AUKUS (Australia, the........

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