Why Military Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Still Falls Short (warontherocks.com)

The United States has bluntly signaled a deprioritization of the Indian Ocean at a peculiar time. The reversion of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to its former name, U.S. Pacific Command, signifies no material change in force posture or organizational responsibilities, but it unavoidably signals less focus on the Indian Ocean, presumably in favor of its consistent top priority in the western Pacific, although it’s not clear anyone really knows. The recent closure and persistent uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz have underscored the fragility of international shipping lanes that traverse the ocean, especially in Asia, where most countries relied on oil shipped through the strait. And China’s economic, diplomatic, and military presence in the region continues to grow inexorably. These mounting challenges should suggest increasing — not decreasing — attention to maritime security in the Indian Ocean. Indeed, in recent years, the United States and its like-minded partners, Australia and India, appeared to recognize the need for closer military cooperation. They have erected and are developing a series of bilateral defense agreements, including the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement, the Military Logistics Support Agreement, and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement. This reflects a broader global trend in which defense cooperation...