ISAS Working Papers

US strategy to extricate itself from unwinnable conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and ‘rebalance’ its position in the Asia - Pacific region was announced by President Obama in November 2011. Under this strategy the significance of the Asia - pacific region, pa rticularly China, as a fast growing and speedily rising region , is emphasi s ed to underline US re - engagement with the region. India, because of its impressive economic growth and strategic position in the Indian Ocean and the Malacca Strait areas , is seen a s a key partner in this strategy. India looks favourably towards this strategy owing to its own concerns about an assertive and militarily powerful China. The extent and pace of India’s participation in the US strategy would , however , be defined by the con siderations of India’s own strategic autonomy in the region and China’s behaviour towards its border dispute and India’s strategic priorities in the immediate neighbourhood.