Oceans have always been stages for the display of force and commerce – the theaters of history and geopolitics. In the 21st century, China brought attention to the ancient Maritime Silk Road under its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) thus reviving the interest in geopolitics of maritime trade.

This project aims at the development of the ports and sea routes network throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe which will revolutionize the geopolitical and geo-economic relations between countries and continents. However, this initiative has its challenges; it poses within the framework of the major and minor power strategic interest regimes.

China’s Maritime Silk Road connects key trading hubs, enhancing its geopolitical influence and economic security.

China’s Maritime Silk Road plan includes connecting major trading points through a network of ports; such as the Gwadar port in Pakistan, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, and Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. These hubs do not only promote economic interaction but also give China a more strategic geopolitical edge at strategically significant zones namely on the Indian Ocean and the sea lanes.

This initiative addresses two crucial imperatives for Beijing: Development goals, the struggle for sustenance and growth of the economy, and energy security. China decreases its vulnerability to potential blockade or Regional Security Complex in Crisis situations by promoting integrated flows and avoiding choke points such as the Strait of Malacca by developing new routes to secure its supply.

The development of the Maritime Silk Road has enhanced the existing geopolitical tensions, especially between the United States, India, and Japan. They threaten to upset America’s preeminent position in particular areas like the South China Sea and the wider Indo-Pacific. Thus Washington has strengthened cooperation with allies, such as Quad, which includes the USA, India, Japan, and Australia, as well as deploying more it naval forces.

India largely views the MSR as part of a ‘string of pearls’ that is an onset of China as far as India is concerned, with dots being the strategically placed ports. To these, New Delhi has responded by going on to develop its own regional connectivity initiatives, for instance, Chabahar in Iran to connect to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Smaller nations face dilemmas between economic gains from the initiative and concerns over debt and sovereignty.

Being a key US strategic partner against Beijing’s claim in the South China Sea, Japan has diligently worked towards cultivating relations with other SEA countries and funding projects that can counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative. These efforts have clearly stemmed from Tokyo’s worries regarding the competence of Beijing in upsetting the conventional sea order.

In view of the above, examining the implications of smaller nations means accepting objectives that are beyond the reach of most of these states.

Maritime Silk Road therefore has advantages and disadvantages for small nations. Although the drive for the initiative aims at the development of infrastructure for economic returns, its implementation brings about issues on debt and sovereignty. Forces like the Sri Lankan government’s decision to lease out the Hambantota Port to Chinese companies because it couldn’t afford to pay back its loans, portray a picture of the danger of applying for Chinese funding.

Coastal states within SE Asia and the Indian Ocean regional periphery are much smaller and are in the middle of a dilemma. As much as they want to capitalize on the potential economic gains they also face the challenge of grappling with the repercussions of geopolitical alignment to Beijing or failure to support it.

There are clearly environmental impacts associated with the enlargement and construction of ports and increased maritime flow within the Maritime Silk Road. New water and transport infrastructure, shipping navigation hazards and risks of oil pollution affect the coastal ecosystems. Losses from such environmental risks call for a sustainable approach to implementing the Maritime Silk Road initiative as well as compliance with international environmental laws.

The MSR intensifies geopolitical competition, particularly with the US, India, and Japan in the Indo-Pacific.

The Maritime Silk Road is one of the few that can be viewed as a glance at the future which may fundamentally change the world economy and geopolitics. Despite the great amount of economic potential, with its help, it also involves a number of acute issues as far as sovereignty, environment protection, and distribution of power in international relations are concerned.

Maritime Silk Road success will depend on how the above complexity is balanced and how a more cooperative framework is created among stakeholders in the deepening increasingly interrelated global environment.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.