The perception he was talking about involves the changes by the USA Government, removing the title 'Indo' from the Indo-Pacific Command and renaming it just 'US Pacific Command'.
Before the change, India was supposed to be part of the Indo-Pacific Command structure in Asia, with India overseeing the Indian Ocean sphere of influence on behalf of the USA. The USA now realizes that India is hardly capable of playing its part as a party to the former Indo-Pacific Command structure.
This may seem a minor change, but the implications are hardly minor. For India, it means the USA is not looking at India as a geopolitical ally, but a passenger that could be a liability moving forward. The USA no longer sees India as a relevant partner that it can still use against China.
In time to come, India's position in QUAD is also becoming irrelevant. What has India contributed to QUAD since its formation in 2007? Same as what has India contributed to BRICS since its inauguration in 2009? Oops, sorry, India's contribution in BRICS is being a good 'trojan horse' for the USA.
Anonymous
The USA is eyeing Indonesia to take over India's position. Could there be another 'Indo-Pacific Command' with Indonesia just fitting in perfectly with its 'Indo' birthright.
ReplyDeleteIndonesia could bring in the whole of ASEAN into the USA's sphere of influence that could counter China's current importance to ASEAN.
But let us see how it works out.