US National Security Strategy Puts India at the Center of Indo-Pacific Plan, Marginalises Pakistan

The United States has positioned India as a central strategic partner in its newly released National Security Strategy (NSS) 2025, underscoring New Delhi’s growing role in countering China’s influence across the Indo-Pacific. The 29-page document marks one of Washington’s toughest strategic assessments of China yet—while offering only a single, non-strategic reference to Pakistan.

The NSS, released on December 4, reinforces that despite disagreements on tariffs, visas, and immigration rhetoric, India remains indispensable to US geopolitical calculations under President Donald Trump’s administration.

India, Quad at the core of US Indo-Pacific strategy

The document calls for strengthening defence, technological and commercial ties with India to ensure a stable balance of power in the region.

“We must continue to improve commercial and other relations with India to encourage New Delhi to contribute to Indo-Pacific security, including through continued quadrilateral cooperation with Australia, Japan, and the United States (‘the Quad’),” the strategy emphasises.

The Indo-Pacific is described as the “epicentre of global competition,” generating nearly half the world’s GDP by purchasing power and expected to dominate geopolitics through the century.

To prevent conflict and deter China, the strategy calls for:

• A more vigilant US military posture

• A strengthened defence industrial base

• Greater military investment from allies

• Long-term technological and economic cooperation with India

China identified as the “main strategic challenge”

The policy document adopts its strongest tone yet on China, highlighting concerns about coercive actions in the South China Sea, supply chain risks, and Beijing’s attempts to reshape global norms.

Washington argues that unchecked Chinese dominance would disrupt global markets, undermine democratic systems, and threaten stability across Asia.

Quad elevated as a key operational mechanism

The strategy places the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue—comprising the US, India, Japan and Australia—at the heart of America’s Indo-Pacific playbook.

The Quad is framed not just as a diplomatic platform but as a functional coalition advancing:

• Maritime security

• Supply chain resilience

• Interoperability of forces

• Critical mineral partnerships

• Technology collaborations

• Humanitarian projects such as vaccine diplomacy

The document also signals that the US aims to distribute security responsibilities more evenly among partners.

Pakistan reduced to a footnote

In a striking shift, Pakistan is mentioned just once, and only in reference to Donald Trump’s incorrect claim about ending wars—indicating Islamabad’s diminished role in Washington’s strategic planning.

A roadmap for deeper US–India strategic alignment

By putting India at the forefront of Indo-Pacific security, Washington opens the door to:

• Greater defence cooperation

• Expanding technology and intelligence partnerships

• Energy and semiconductor collaboration

• A potential bilateral trade deal

With China’s naval expansion and aggressive territorial claims increasing regional tensions, the US sees India and the Quad as pivotal to ensuring open, secure sea lanes—critical for global commerce.