Description
The relationship between India and the United States has been transformed in the 21st century, with shared economic and security interests in Southeast Asia. On the one hand, the rise of China and its economic and military expansion in the region, and the failure of US policy to improve ties with China, which can be attributed to various geopolitical and economic factors, and India’s rise as a rising power have propelled Washington to urge New Delhi to play a major role in managing regional affairs of Southeast Asia, particularly by engaging Vietnam and the Philippines. For example, while India has agreed to provide a 300 million credit line to strengthen Vietnam's maritime security, New Delhi has delivered the first batch of the BrahMos cruise missile system to Manila. On the other hand, the US presence through military alliances and security ties with Southeast Asian countries has become an enabling factor for India to boost engagement and effectively counter China’s rise. Although this is a significant development, US-India bilateral ties and engagement in Southeast Asia are not free from challenges. While India wants to promote a multipolar order in the region, which refers to a balance of power among major countries, the US wishes to continue dominating Southeast Asia. This article examines the nature and future cooperation between India and the US in Southeast Asia. It addresses four questions: What are the interests of both countries in the region? What strategies have they used to fulfil the objectives? How far and to what extent have they achieved their shared objectives? What are the significant challenges facing their engagement in Southeast Asia?
