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tries to promote respect for human rights and democracy. Mainly, countries that
go along with the USA may get favorable hearings from global institutions such
as the Human Rights Commission.

The region encompasses a vast expanse of land and sea and is home to
some of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies. South Asian coun-
tries, in particular, are seen as key strategic partners due to their geopolitical
and economic significance. As a result, the USA has launched several initiatives
under its Indo-Pacific strategy targeting South Asian countries. Even though sev-
eral initiatives were not successful as expected, the USA was able to mark its
footprint quite effectively in the region. The USA aims to deepen its ties with
India. The partnership between the two countries is based on shared interests.
The USA and India have signed several agreements to enhance cooperation in
defense and security, trade and investment, and science and technology (Ladwig
and Mukherjee, 2019).

The development of ports and infrastructure in the region is an import-
ant window of opportunity. The USA is investing in critical infrastructure in
South Asian countries, including India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. This invest-
ment aims to facilitate trade and commerce while seeking a competitive advan-
tage against Chinese influence as well. Further, Japan and Australia may also join
in infrastructure development through the QUAD initiatives. The strategy also
promotes renewable energy in South Asian countries which is more likely to get
more regional acceptance and attraction (Murshed, Abbass and Rashid, 2021).
Moreover, the United States is expecting to improve regional security through
military partnerships and alliances. The USA has long-standing defense partner-
ships with several South Asian countries, such as India and Bangladesh. The USA
has several ongoing efforts to enhance maritime security and counter transna-
tional threats such as terrorism, piracy, and illegal fishing. Thus, the strategy
may open several windows for South Asia.

Challenges and Risks of the Indo-Pacific Strategy

Despite the potential opportunities, South Asian countries run into sever-
al challenges and risks through this strategy. The strategy has been criticized for
promoting a containment stratagem against China. Many South Asian countries
have strong economic ties with China, and the Indo-Pacific strategy could jeop-
ardize these economic ties (Li, 2020). Furthermore, the strategy could increase
the tensions between the USA and China, which could lead to regional instability.

Then, the Indo-Pacific strategy has been condemned for stimulating a
“Cold War” mentality. Most of the countries including India have been reluc-
tant to be drawn into a “Cold War” between China and the USA. The Indo-Pacif-
ic strategy could exacerbate tensions between these two superpowers, which
could also lead to instability in the region.