The US Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) released by the Biden administration has elicited a fair degree of criticism. But critics often overlook two key factors. First, while the IPS is a strategic document, it is also a political one. As such, many of the strategy’s features were designed to signal domestic audiences as much as foreign competitors. allies, and partners. Second, the timing of the Indo-Pacific Strategy shaped its contents. It was released before the Biden Administration’s National Security Strategy but after the groundwork had already been prepared for many of the administration’s key Indo-Pacific policies, such as the elevation and empowerment of the Quad. Moreover, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) was subsequently announced, adding more details to the administration’s economic policies. The net effect of these two factors is that the IPS is an important, but insufficient basis to appreciate the Administration’s approach to the Indo-Pacific region.
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