STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF FOREIGN MILITARY BASES
IN THE INDIAN OCEAN - OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR PAKISTAN

The Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean and hosts a huge volume of world trade especially oil and gas which remains important to the world economy. The Geo-Strategic importance of the Indian Ocean will not be undermined by the shift in US policy toward the Indo-Pacific Ocean. IOR waters have become a home for economic development as well as conflicts and competition for regional and major powers. The military bases in the Indian Ocean states have been growing in the past decade. Major powers such as China, the US, Russia, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, and India have established military bases in the Indian Ocean states. US and its allies want to restrict Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean.

On the other hand, China has also increased its military presence by patrolling/exercising with littoral countries in the Indian Ocean and establishing a naval base in Djibouti. US desires a role of India in the IOR and Pacific region to counter Chinese expansion, although India is reluctant to oppose China, especially in the South China Sea, being China’s second largest trading partner. Pakistan is at a crossroads and trying to keep a balance in relations with China and US. The paper will cover the strategic importance of the foreign bases in the IOR, challenges, and opportunities for Pakistan.