Great Power Competition in the Western Indian Ocean Region
and what the U.S. needs to do to preserve its position of relative dominance

The United States faces compound security dilemmas globally, causing a scenario where the U.S. may have more rivals that it can manage, as Hal Brands recently wrote. As the U.S. prioritizes its national security and defense strategies, it seeks to implement its delayed “Asia Pivot” to compete against China. However, while the U.S. is pivoting towards the Pacific, China moves westward into the Western Indian Ocean region to secure the vital sea lines of communications (SLOCs) to its critical energy, mineral, and agriculture resources. The potential military dominance of the Chinese in the Western Indian Ocean could result in China coercing U.S. allies in Europe and Far East Asia by disrupting the free flow of commerce (energy and trade goods). Such a scenario threatens the U.S. position as the defender of the global commons in an area vital to the global economy. The lecture will offer ideas on how the U.S. can retain its dominant position while accounting for the increased number of threats to its interests.

A Q&A with the audience will follow the presentation, please join us virtually at the event to take part in the conversation.

Join us as we map out Canada's security and defence sector and introduce Emerging Leaders in Canadian Security to the Queens U community!

How do I break into Canada's the security and defence sector?

This workshop takes upper year and graduate students through the different sub-sectors within Canadian security and defence, while introducing career opportunities across the industry that are available to those with backgrounds in social science, especially international affairs, history, and political science. We'll provide practical advice and guidance for breaking into the field.

This event is co-hosted by Emerging Leaders in Canadian Security, the Centre for International and Defence Policy, and Women in International Security Canada - Queens University.