IndoPacific

The Indo-Pacific is a geopolitical concept that emphasizes the maritime space spanning the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, central to global trade, security, and governance. In most formulations it encompasses Southeast Asia, South Asia, East Asia, Oceania, and the associated littoral states along these oceans.

The term arose in late 20th-century policy and scholarship and gained prominence in the 2010s as a framework for addressing security dynamics, economic integration, and regional resilience. It is used by governments and researchers to reflect the interconnectedness of sea lanes, supply chains, and strategic considerations. Some contexts use Indo-Pacific and Asia-Pacific interchangeably, while others distinguish the two terms.

Definitions vary and are not fixed. Some frameworks map a broad arc from the eastern shores of Africa and the Indian Ocean through Southeast Asia to the Pacific littorals and the Americas, while others emphasize the Asia-Pacific security architecture alongside Indian Ocean partners.

Geostrategic and economic significance: the region contains major shipping routes and critical chokepoints, vast energy flows, and diverse economies. It is a focal point of great-power competition, notably between the United States and China, and hosts multilateral initiatives such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), the AUKUS defense pact, and economic frameworks like the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) and related trade architectures.

Policy considerations include governance, maritime security, supply-chain resilience, climate change adaptation, disaster response, and fisheries management. The Indo-Pacific remains a flexible, policy-driven construct rather than a rigid geographic boundary.