Dear Members,
Please check the outline for a question I attempted from the 2017 exam. Constructive criticism and comments are welcome.

The impact of burgeoning US-India strategic partnership over the security situation of the region and Indian Ocean Region. (2017)

US-India Strategic Partnership:

• Civil nuclear cooperation deal in 2008
• June 2015 – renewed 10-year defence framework
• Strategic agreement signed in August 2016
• US the largest defence equipment supplier to India - $4.4 billion worth of defence deals in last three years

Impact on the security of the region:

• Deterioration of BOP and strategic equilibrium of the region
• Exacerbation of nuclear tensions
• The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) – transfer and sharing of military technology to counter China
• Threat to national security of Pakistan
• Pak – China civil nuclear deal and CPEC

Impact on the Indian Ocean region:

• India’s hegemonic ambitions in the IOR
• In retaliation to China’s OBOR and String of Pearls
• Risk of tensions between India and China due to Indian controlled Nicobar and Andaman Islands
• US plans to deploy 60% of its surface ships in the IOR

Conclusion:

• US-India strategic partnership - threat to the security architecture of the region
• US helping India to counter China
• Escalation of arms race
• China’s increasing economic and military cooperation with the South Asian countries (Pak, Sri Lanka, Maldives)
• Pakistan relations with China at their peak. Deterioration of relations with the US
• China is there to counter India’s attempt to increase influence with the US help