India and Bangladesh commit to free Indo-Pacific, USA expresses support

India and Bangladesh have jointly reiterated their commitment to a free Indo-Pacific region that is open, inclusive, secure, and governed by laws, which is a big development. Both countries have made this commitment because they understand how crucial stability, security, and peace are to the area.

Bangladesh and India have similar ideas about the Indo-Pacific area. They stress how susceptible the region is to the negative effects of climate change and promise to collaborate to overcome these obstacles. The Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative’s (IPOI) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management pillar will be co-led by the two nations. Their collaboration seeks to maintain the common maritime zone, reduce the risk of disasters, and develop resilient infrastructure.

India and Bangladesh pledge to further their shared interests in international arenas, especially those in the Global South. Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the US Department of State, has also stated that he supports stability and peace in the Indo-Pacific area. Although he did not address India and Bangladesh’s commitment directly, he did stress that U.S. involvement in the region has always been characterized by peace and stability.

In 2019, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the open, non-treaty-based Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) during the 14th East Asian Summit. Its objective is to promote cooperative and collaborative approaches to shared problems in the Indo-Pacific area. By working together to ensure peace and stability, IPOI aims to form alliances amongst like-minded nations from the Eastern coastlines of Africa to the Western Pacific Ocean.

Following the U.S. intention to join IPOI in June 2023, India welcomed the U.S. decision to co-lead the IPOI Pillar on Trade Connectivity and Maritime Transport. The program is consistent with the larger SAGAR mission of India, which seeks to enhance and promote regional cooperation with India’s maritime neighbours.

China has responded with what some academics refer to as “curious nonchalance” to the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy (IPS), which seeks to balance and isolate Beijing’s expanding influence in the wide region spanning from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean. The term “Indo-Pacific” has not been officially acknowledged by Chinese authorities, who have refrained from using it in official correspondence.

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