Connecting West and East: Indian Ocean Security and the US Indo-Pacific Strategy

Ms. Nilanthi Samaranayake, Adjunct Fellow at the East-West Center in Washington and a Visiting Expert at the US Institute of Peace, demonstrates that the US strategy toward the Indian Ocean has three persistent priorities "1) ensure the free flow of commerce, 2) maintain US military access, including at Diego Garcia, and 3) prevent the Indian Ocean from becoming a priority given increasing requirements in the Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic theaters." The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect East-West Center policies or positions.