Seaport geopolitics in South Asia, with a special attention on BRI projects

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Doctoral School of Earth Sciences, Geopolitical PhD program, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary

10.22034/igq.2024.364269.1710

Abstract

This study examines the infrastructural geopolitics of South Asia, with a particular emphasis on port developments and the effects of ports on geostrategic positioning of South Asian countries. The infrastructure assists in the transportation and movement of goods between different countries. Many nations have invested significant amounts of money in the development of modern ports that capitalize on globalization. South Asian countries have displayed considerable initiatives in bolstering their ports to compete with their western counterparts in commerce. The evolving nature of international relations reveals that ports are also playing a different purpose in geopolitics. The world's fastest-growing region is suffering from a lack of infrastructure. Due to low intra-regional investment and trade, South Asia has poorer infrastructure than the neighboring Southeast Asia. China invested in South Asian countries to achieve its goal of establishing a global trading route in the absence of intra-regional investments and trade in South-Asia. Meanwhile India has also invested for example in Bangladesh and the Maldives to fortify its position in the Indian Ocean. How valuable are those Chinese investments to South Asian nations? According to the literature, it depends on the country's location and investment policies. China's rise as a revisionist power has drawn differing reactions from its neighbors and the world's dominant powers.

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Geopolitics Quarterly

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 04 January 2024

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History

  • Receive Date: 22 October 2022
  • Revise Date: 21 December 2023
  • Accept Date: 04 January 2024

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