Islamabad: The National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA) hosted a thought-provoking roundtable conference titled “US-China Maritime Competition in the Indian Ocean Region Under the Trump Administration and Options for Pakistan” on Wednesday. Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, the Chief Guest, underscored the transformative impact of the Trump 2.0 era on global maritime dynamics, while Vice Admiral Khan Hasham bin Siddique delivered the keynote address.
Experts at the session agreed that trade wars, rather than military confrontations, would dominate the U.S.-China competition in the Indian Ocean under the Trump administration’s second term. This shift elevates the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), a critical trade artery for global commerce. Pakistan’s geo-strategic location, experts noted, positions it as both a challenge and an opportunity amidst these evolving dynamics.
Vice Admiral Hasham stressed the necessity for Pakistan to strengthen its strategic partnership with China while maintaining balanced relations with the United States. Dr. Maria Sultan of SASSI highlighted the potential recalibration of U.S. policy to engage Russia economically as a counterbalance to China, adding complexity to Pakistan’s strategic calculations in the IOR.
In his concluding remarks, Vice Admiral Ahmed Saeed, President of NIMA, lauded the active participation of policymakers, diplomats, and academia in fostering critical dialogue. He reaffirmed NIMA’s commitment to providing actionable policy insights on maritime security, emphasizing the importance of a collaborative and forward-looking approach in navigating the challenges of the IOR.
