G2 Shadows over the Indo-Pacific: Mapping India’s Quad-Plus Strategy
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The paper will reflect on the changing strategic environment of the Indo-Pacific against the background of the re-appearance of the so-called G2 paradigm by the United States and China and how India has taken a proactive approach towards this by its Quad-Plus strategy. Drawing on the strategic decisions of India, diplomatic outreach, and institutional innovation, the work puts the issues of middle powers in perspective as they attempt to find new types of agency and cooperative security due to the shadow of G2, where high-level bilateral bargaining is a factor. Based on qualitative analysis of policy documents, strategic doctrines and the latest developments of the Quad, Quad-plus, ASEAN-based networks, the research has identified how India has navigated the Quad, Quad-plus and ASEAN-based networks without jeopardizing its strategic autonomy. The major results show that the Quad-Plus approach by India does not just insure against the uncertainty of US commitment but make India a system-shaper within the regional technology, maritime governance, and blue economy efforts. The prognosis section provides possible futures, including G2 accommodation to multipolar bilateralism with the role of India in guaranteeing a sustainable, inclusive order. Finally, the paper will conclude that the Quad-Plus approach toward great-power competition adopted by India is a viable and a visionary approach to consider regional security, institutional strength, and inclusive leadership across the Indo-Pacific.
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References
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