In recent years, the Indo-Pacific strategy and the Quad concept have been introduced and advocated by various countries at various points in time.

What is Indo pacific policy of US :-

• Indo-Pacific used by US means that India, the United States, and other major Asian democracies, especially Japan and Australia, will join in curbing China in the new framework of growing “Cold War” influence.
• Chinese scholars believe that the geopolitical changes brought about by China’s rise are the main reason Washington is devoting efforts to boost Indo-Pacific alliances, and the Indo-Pacific strategy is intended to hedge against China’s foreign and security policy behaviour. 
• As such, changes in the geopolitical environment in the Asia-Pacific region are the fundamental causes motivating the creation of the Indo-Pacific strategy.
• Against the backdrop of the relative weakening of the United States dominant position and the increasing shift of geopolitical and economic gravity to the Indo-Pacific, the aim is to reshape alliances and partnerships to respond to China’s rise.
• It (Indo-Pacific) captures the importance of the maritime free commons that allow security and prosperity to continue .

India has a central role in this policy :-

• The Indo-Pacific, as described in the National security strategy, represents the most populous and economically dynamic part of the world and stretches from the west coast of India to the western shores of the United States.
• India has always been a country with great national ambitions and is one of the most important advocates of the concept of ” Indo-Pacific Strategy“.
• India can take this opportunity to promote the justification and rationalization of its interests in Southeast Asia, expand its presence in East Asia, strengthen its political, economic and military cooperation with the United States and its allies, and comprehensively increase India’s influence in international affairs.
• The National Security Strategy (NSS) 2017 views the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and APEC as “centerpieces of the Indo-Pacific’s regional architecture”.
• China is the main security threat to U.S. primacy in Asia. It also has a long-standing border dispute with India. That gives India and the U.S. a shared interest in countering China’s growing military power and territorial revisionist tendencies etc.

Concerns for India:-

• India-Russia relationship:-
  • India’s recent decision to buy the S-400 missile system from Russia puts a question mark about the future of India-U.S. cooperation in the Indo-Pacific for the following reasons.
    • Washington perceives Russia as a security threat.
    • It stresses interoperability with U.S. armed forces.
  1. The NSS 2017 has omitted some of India’s most vital interests, including the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. Also left out is the Strait of Malacca, which links the Indian and Pacific Oceans and is India’s gateway to trade with Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea
  2. China:-
     • US wants India to offer more investment to Asian countries. But India needs Chinese investment to upgrade its own infrastructure and is nowhere near competing successfully against China as an investor in Southeast Asia
     • This strategy has a strong military stance against China. At the very least, it is re-dividing Asia-Pacific with Cold War thinking.
  3. It is understandable that India wants to keep its sphere of influence as an emerging power, but this shouldn’t come at the cost of its domestic development. Indulging in the game of military balance will only consume India’s strength 
  4. India’s simultaneous efforts to cultivate good relations with the U.S., Russia and China highlight the conceptual differences between US and India on the Indo-Pacific and on how best to counter China in Asia.
  5. India-U.S. ties could also be encumbered by India’s need for greater economic strength, its red tape and its trading methods.

Conclusion:-

• The future effectiveness of the Indo-Pacific strategy is uncertain, not least as  the United States, Japan, India and Australia have yet to improve coordinating and joint adoption of policies and strategies.
• India’s message is clear: it sees itself as no pawn in the game the United States seems to be shaping up to play against China or compliant partner in a US-led political–security order that would put at risk the development of its important relationships with China and others in the region.