China’s Growing Influence in the Indian Ocean: Implications for the U.S. and Its Regional Allies

For a long time, the Indian Ocean was considered a secondary concern with less strategic value than other parts of the region. This view is rapidly changing, driven in large part by China’s entry into the Indian Ocean. Recently, China signed an almost century-long lease of Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, demonstrating its interest in establishing a long-term presence in the region. China is already deploying warships in the Indian Ocean and playing a more active role in regional conflicts. On April 20, Hudson Institute hosted a panel to discuss the growing strategic relevance of the Indian Ocean and the implications for the U.S. and its regional allies. Panelists will include Hudson Senior Fellow Joans Parello-Plesner; Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments Toshi Yoshihara; Hudson Research Fellow & Director of the Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia Aparna Pande; Director General of the Institute of National Security Studies in Sri Lanka Asanga Abeyagoonasekera; and Hudson Visiti