A new Security Nexus Perspective by Dr. Andrea Malji, a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, examines the strategic role of small states in the Indo-Pacific and their growing influence in global geopolitics.

Malji highlights how nations such as Kiribati, the Solomon Islands, Maldives, and Dominica, despite their small populations, occupy critical positions in the contest for global influence. Their decisions on diplomatic recognition, infrastructure partnerships, and alignment with major powers carry significant weight in shaping the regional balance of power. The analysis underscores a key argument: geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific is not limited to major capitals but is equally shaped by the choices of small states navigating external pressures and domestic challenges.

The article explores notable examples, including the Solomon Islands’ security agreement with China, Kiribati’s alignment with Beijing through Belt and Road Initiative projects, the Maldives’ balancing of ties with India and China, and Dominica’s integration into China’s development model. These cases demonstrate how small states leverage external competition to secure aid, infrastructure, and influence, while also exposing the risks of dependency and internal instability.

Malji concludes that small states are active participants in shaping the Indo-Pacific’s strategic landscape. Their decisions influence opportunity structures for larger powers and establish patterns of access and influence that can become difficult to reverse. To understand the future balance of power, analysts must look beyond major capitals to the peripheries where quiet decisions accumulate into lasting geopolitical realities.

Read the full article: “Small States and the Geopolitical Chessboard in the Indo-Pacific” on Security Nexus.

The full linked article was researched and written by the author. This post includes only a summary  with the assistance of artificial intelligence, which were reviewed and edited by DoD personnel to ensure appropriateness and compliance with DoD policies and guidance.