Ruchi Singh
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been heralded as a transformative vision for global infrastructure development, linking continents through an intricate web of trade routes, ports, and railways. With over 140 countries participating and an estimated $1 trillion in investments, the BRI’s scale is unprecedented.
However, the promise of prosperity often comes with a hidden cost, as many nations find themselves ensnared in unsustainable debt and geopolitical dependencies. For many developing nations, what begins as an opportunity for growth soon morphs into a precarious trap of unsustainable debt and strategic dependence.
The Indian Ocean Region: A Theater of Debt Diplomacy
The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has emerged as a pivotal arena for Chinese investments under the BRI due to its critical role in global trade. Over 80% of the world’s maritime oil trade passes through the IOR, making it a strategic chokepoint for global commerce. Ports such as Hambantota in Sri Lanka, Gwadar in Pakistan, and Chittagong in Bangladesh illustrate Beijing’s calculated strategy of embedding itself in regional infrastructure to bolster its influence and secure economic and military footholds. The results, however, have often been economically devastating for the host nations.
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