The US and Indian Response towards the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Gwadar Port: Intensifying Geopolitical Competition in the Gwadar region and the Indo-Pacific Region

Abstract

The development of the Gwadar Port, often described as the "jewel in the crown" of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has emerged as a focal point of intensifying global power dynamics within the broader Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This article explores the strategic and geopolitical rationales underlying the Gwadar project and its implications for regional stability in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific. The primary aim of this research is to investigate how China’s maritime aspirations and the establishment of a potential naval presence in Gwadar have triggered reactive strategies from the United States and India. The study also pursues the objective of analyzing the socio-political consequences of these megaprojects, particularly focusing on the worsening human rights conditions and the marginalization of indigenous communities in Balochistan. Findings suggest that the CPEC has catalyzed a shift in the regional balance of power, leading to heightened military strategies and diplomatic rivalries that diminish regional stability. Ultimately, the purpose of this research is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the US and Indian responses as they seek to counterbalance Beijing’s expanding footprint, highlighting the complex intersection between high-stakes geopolitics and local socio-cultural rights.