Changing Contours of America’s South Asia Strategy

The US’ South Asia strategy is changing in response to shifts in geopolitics. The withdrawal from Afghanistan and the growing challenge of China have occasioned changes in the US’ approach towards the region. Besides, the Indo-Pacific has also emerged as a new framework for US’ engagement with South Asia. Three changes are clearly discernible: first, the US has reduced its focus on counter-terrorism, second, it is building strategic partnerships with like-minded countries for limiting China’s influence in South Asia and, finally, it has been gradually expanding ties with smaller South Asian Island States like Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The changing contours of the US’ South Asia strategy are here to stay.