QUESTIONS ABOUND ON NATO'S EXPANSION INTO THE INDO-PACIFIC

Is NATO's growing expansion into the Indo-Pacific a strategic recalibration or over-extension? SEOUL N ATO, founded in 1949 to protect the Euro-Atlantic region, has recently expanded its strategic focus to include the Indo-Pacific, recognizing the growing importance of this region in the global security landscape.

- LAKHVINDER SINGH SEOUL

This shift is driven by increasing challenges such as China's rise, North Korea's nuclear ambitions, and the security of critical maritime routes. NATO's engagement with key regional partners, including Australia, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand, highlights the alliance's recognition of the Indo-Pacific as a vital strategic theater. Notably, as India emerges as a key player in regional geopolitics, NATO's growing presence in the Indo-Pacific has significant implications for India, presenting both opportunities and challenges.

Australia has become a crucial partner for NATO, serving as a bridge between the alliance and the IndoPacific. Australia's recent participation in NATO-led missions and joint military exercises demonstrates its commitment to collective security. Collaborations on cybersecurity further reflect NATO's adaptation to new-age security threats.Similarly, Japan's growing engagement with NATO, UNPRECEDENTED driven by shared concerns over regional stability and North Korea's nuclear ambitions, enhances both parties' ability to address challenges in the East and South China Seas. South Korea's relationship with NATO, shaped by the threat from North Korea, now extends beyond its US ties and involves strategic consultations with NATO on crisis management, missile defence, and nuclear non-proliferation.

New Zealand, though less extensively involved, has contributed to NATO-led operations and focuses on non-traditional security threats such as climate change and disaster relief.