US' ‘Commitment’ to Indo-Pacific Raises Concerns Among its Allies & Partners
The Biden administration’s decision to prioritize funding for Ukraine and Israel over its so-called strategic partners and allies in the Indo-Pacific has raised concerns in the region.
SputnikLast week, the US President Joe Biden sought “emergency supplemental funding” for FY 2024 from the Congress geared towards addressing Washington’s “national security priorities”, according to a letter written by Biden to interim House Speaker Patrick McHenry.
Later, Associated Press (AP) reported that Biden’s additional funding request included a “supplemental funding” of $61.4 billion to ramp up defense supplies to Ukraine, a sum of $14.3 billion for Israel in the face of its ongoing war with Hamas and $7.4 billion for initiatives for the Indo-Pacific.
The total funding request sought by Biden is reportedly to the tune of $105 billion.
The smaller sum allocation for Indo-Pacific by the Biden administration has drawn critical reactions from experts in the Indo-Pacific, who have questioned Washington’s commitment to the region.
By Washington’s own admission and as stated in Biden’s National Security Strategy (NSS), China poses the “most consequential geopolitical challenge” for the US. The global security policy document states that Indo-Pacific will emerge as the region where the “outcomes (of US-China competition) will be most acutely shaped”.
Pentagon’s ‘Report on the Military and Security Developments involving the People's Republic of China’, submitted to US Congress last week, documents military modernization efforts across different domains that Beijing has been undertaking to realize its goal of becoming a “world-class” military by 2049.
However, experts in Indo-Pacific nations suggest that there is a possible mismatch between US words and its actions.
US’ Move Could Lessen Confidence of Allies: Philippine Expert
Don McLain Gill, a Manila-based geopolitical analyst and a lecturer at De La Salle University (DLSU), told Sputnik India that there was a discrepancy between what the Biden administration has said all along about Indo-Pacific being of a “significant interest” for Washington.
“The recent budget breakdown puts the Indo-Pacific at the end of the line at a time when China's growing assertiveness continues to challenge the strength of and adherence to international law in the region,” Gill stated.
The remarks came against the backdrop of two instances of maritime confrontation between Philippines and China in the South China Sea over the weekend. Manila has accused Beijing of “illegal and dangerous behaviour” which led to a collision between a Chinese Coast Guard vessel and a Philippine boat.
Beijing, which claims the South China Sea entirely, has blamed the Philippines for these incidents.
The US, meanwhile, has condemned China for the maritime escalation with Philippines and invoked the mutual defense treaty with Manila. But America’s assurance to its treaty ally hasn’t convinced experts.
“It must be noted China's material wherewithal largely outstrips the material capacity of any of Washington's strategic rivals,” stated Gill.
The academic underlined that American’s financial commitment to live up to its promise towards Indo-Pacific could “lessen the confidence” of US’ partners and allies in the region.
‘India Must Keep its Options Open’: Navy Veteran
Indian Navy veteran Commodore (retired) Seshadri Vasan told Sputnik India that New Delhi must be “careful and observe carefully” the behaviour of the Biden administration, particularly its attitude towards the Indo-Pacific.
“India must keep its options open,” he suggested, noting that New Delhi has also been stepping up coordination with other western partners in recent years, particularly France.
Vasan, however, expressed hope that US' would continue to remain committed to Indo-Pacific in the near to medium-term, pointing out its investments in mechanisms such as Quad and Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).
He rejects the comparison between Washington’s policy towards Israel and Ukraine and its commitment to the Indo-Pacific.
“Israel has been a longstanding partner of US and US-Israel relationship enjoys a bipartisan consensus in US Congress. On the other hand, America’s support for Ukraine is on a different dimension altogether,” Vasan reckoned.
He said that over $100 billion in American military aid to Ukraine is supporting the US' military-industrial complex.