U.S.-India Security Burden-Sharing? The Potential for Coordinated Capacity-Building in the Indian Ocean

Abstract

Abstract : The Indian Ocean (IO) is growing in strategic importance due to substantial trade and energy flows along the sea lines of communication and through strait chokepoints. In an era of decreasing defense budgets, the United States will be more judicious in applying limited resources to build partnerships with countries in this vast region. A robust policy and academic discussion has emerged about the need for the United States to pursue a strategy of offshore balancing, following two costly land wars in Asia. By relying on primarily naval and air engagements, an offshore strategy suggests the United States pursue burden-sharing or burden-shifting with like-minded countries to lessen their free-riding off the American provision of the public good of security. Professor Christopher Layne describes an offshore balancing strategy as getting other states to do more for their security so the United States can do less.