C3S ISSUE BRIEF 41/26 - Geopolitical Disruptions and India’s Connectivity Strategy : Accelerating Alternative Corridors Beyond Belt and Road Initiative.
By Rose Abraham, Research Intern, C3S
Guided By Commodore R S Vasan (Retd, IN), Director General, C3S
Introduction
This issue brief assesses the strategic logic underpinning India's alternative connectivity strategy, examines the opportunities and implementation challenges associated with these initiatives, and identifies policy measures that can enhance their effectiveness amid an increasingly fragmented and competitive geopolitical environment. Belt and Road Initiative and India’s Position The Belt and Road Initiative was announced by the Communist Party of China in September 2013 with a current participation of more than 150 countries. The BRI strategy comprises land and maritime corridors that link China with Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Key countries connected through its six major economic corridors include Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkiye, Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. The Maritime Silk Road further extends connectivity through Pakistan (Gwadar), Sri Lanka (Hambantota), Myanmar (Kyaukpyu), Djibouti, Kenya, Egypt, and Greece (Piraeus) (Jacob 2019). Framed as a ‘win-win’ project in the name of development and connectivity, the roads underneath aim to reach a destination establishing a China-centric regional and global order. Many participating countries have benefited from improved physical infrastructure, greater market access, and increased investment. Internationally, the project enables Beijing to secure trade routes, enhance energy security and strengthen its geopolitical influence. Notable achievements strengthening the BRI regional connectivity include China-Laos Railway, Bangladesh's Padma Bridge Rail Link, and Cambodia's Siem Reap Angkor International Airport. The project has boosted trade, and stimulated tourism and economic development. BRI receives further appreciation for its emphasis on green and sustainable development. However, incidents of countries exiting BRI raises credibility of the highly praised project. Italy and Panama leaving the unit added with concerns over debt traps, vague financing arrangements, limited local participation, and the strategic implications of Chinese control over critical infrastructure have led governments to reassess BRI projects.
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(Rose Abraham is a Research Intern at C3S. The views expressed here are of the author's own and do not reflect the views of C3S.)
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