The impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on the geopolitics of South Asia: the India case study

Abstract

Since the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was announced, a series of economic corridors have been signed and put into operation by China and other countries in the South Asian region. This action brings many benefits to the participating parties and especially to China. However, the BRI poses a series of challenges in terms of changing geopolitics in South Asia. Not only the member countries of the strategy but also the powers involved in the region also face a series of geopolitical, security, economic issues, etc. BRI projects undertaken in South Asia have enabled China to enhance its soft power and political influence, notably by challenging India's longstanding regional dominance. While China has cultivated increasingly close ties with other South Asian nations, its relationship with regional powerhouse India presents a stark contrast. India's firm stance against China's initiatives has erected significant barriers to the Belt and Road Initiative's ambitions within South Asia. Historical animosities and recent border disputes have further exacerbated the already strained bilateral relations between the two nations. Therefore, the article focuses on analyzing the geopolitical impact of the BRI on South Asia as well as India's position in the region, thereby showing China's objectives to shape a new power order in the Indo-Pacific.