ABSTRACT
The United States will likely remain the predominant military power in the world for decades to come, but its relative strength is declining in the face of the rise of China and India. Washington has responded to the rise of China's power by refocusing its military capabilities away from West Asia and towards the Pacific, which will place considerable strains on its resources in the Indian Ocean. The United States has identified India as an essential strategic partner in the Indian Ocean, with the potential to take over many security responsibilities in the region. For its part, India sees limited cooperation with the United States as a useful means of achieving its long-term goals in the Indian Ocean, but is hesitant in cooperating too closely.
