Navigating BRI and Indo-Pacific Strategy: Challenge for South Asian Small States
Saroj Kumar Aryal and Manish Jung Pulami
This paper explores the intersection of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) among South Asian Small States, analyzing the interplay between the two initiatives and their implications for regional geopolitics. Specifically, it aims to elucidate the synergies and conflicts between the two initiatives, assess the strategic significance of South Asian Small States, including Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka, within this framework, and examine the implications for regional stability and national sovereignty.
It highlights the complex interplay between BRI and IPS in the South Asian Small States, characterized by economic opportunities, geopolitical tensions, and strategic maneuvering. While BRI offers infrastructure development and connectivity enhancement, IPS seeks to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific region, leading to competition and cooperation among major powers. South Asian Small States face challenges in balancing their relationships with China and the United States, navigating great power rivalry, and promoting their national interests amidst evolving geopolitical dynamics.
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