The Geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific

The term "Indo-Pacific" has emerged as a new geopolitical concept in recent years and refers to the inter-linked destinies of the Indian and (Western) Pacific oceans. The rising prominence of this term indicates the eastward shift in the world's strategic center of gravity towards the Asian continent and highlights the relevance of maritime strategy in shaping geopolitical outcomes in the twenty-first century. Mr. Ashley J. Tellis will explore the concept of the "Indo-Pacific" using classical geopolitical theory to examine the implications of China's rise for the United States and the strategic necessity of prudently preparing for the return of global bipolarity amidst economic interdependence.

Ashley J. Tellis holds the Tata Chair for Strategic Affairs and is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, specializing in international security and U.S. foreign and defense policy with a special focus on Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Mr. Tellis specializes in international security, defense, and Asian strategic issues. While on assignment to the U.S. Department of State as senior adviser to the undersecretary of state for political affairs, he was intimately involved in negotiating the civil nuclear agreement with India. Previously, he was commissioned into the Foreign Service and served as senior adviser to the ambassador at the U.S. embassy in New Delhi. He also served on the National Security Council staff as special assistant to the president and senior director for strategic planning and Southwest Asia. He is a counselor at the National Bureau of Asian Research, the research director of its Strategic Asia program and co-editor of the program's fifteen most recent annual volumes, including this year's Strategic Asia 2019: China's Expanding Strategic Ambitions.