For the Indo-Pacific, a ‘G Minus 2’ strategy, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visits to Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand signify the consolidation of a new Indo-Pacific approach termed "G Minus Two".
• The "G Minus Two" strategy aims to expand India's cooperation with other Asian powers, moving beyond the idea of a US-China condominium.
• This approach is driven by anxieties over a potential G2 (US-China) dominance and the need to manage China's rising influence.
• Key Asian allies of Washington, including Japan and South Korea, are also widening their Asian ties under this dynamic.
• The strategy emphasizes strengthening partnerships among industrial, technological, and maritime powers in Asia.

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Detailed Insights:

• The "G Minus Two" concept reflects a shift in India's Indo-Pacific debate from theoretical discussions to practical cooperation with regional partners.
• It acknowledges that a stable balance of power in Asia requires a sustained US strategic presence, as China's military weight cannot be balanced by Asia alone.
• The strategy is not about distancing from the US; rather, countries like India and Indonesia are intensifying defense cooperation with Washington.
• It is also not about containing China, as major Asian nations recognize China's power and economic interdependence as realities to be managed.
• The objective is to de-risk Beijing's potential weaponization of interdependence, given the significant trade volumes between China and Asian economies.
• India's partnerships with countries like Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand aim to leverage their strengths in manufacturing, technology, critical minerals, and maritime security.
• Indonesia is considered the geographical and geopolitical heart of the Indo-Pacific concept, making deeper security and economic cooperation with it crucial.
• The success of "G Minus Two" ultimately depends on India's internal economic reforms and defense modernization to deepen its partnerships.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Indo-Pacific: A geopolitical concept referring to the interconnected region of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, crucial for global trade and security.
• G Minus Two: A strategic approach where Asian nations strengthen cooperation among themselves to widen their strategic space between the US and China.
• Strategic Autonomy: The capacity of a state to pursue its national interests and adopt its own foreign policy choices independently, often in a multipolar world.
• De-risking: A strategy to reduce economic over-reliance on a single country, particularly China, to mitigate potential vulnerabilities from geopolitical tensions.