When President Joe Biden took workplace in January 2021, one of many priorities he outlined in his national security strategy was strengthening America’s position in Asia. In the doc, his administration highlighted America’s very important curiosity within the Indo-Pacific, a area it has recognized because the “epicenter of 21st century geopolitics.”

The similar part states {that a} “free and open Indo-Pacific can only be achieved if [America builds] collective capacity.” As a end result, the administration says it’s going to work exhausting to construct on relationships with companions in South Asia; improve its alliances with Australia, Japan, and South Korea; pursue hotter relations with India; and discover methods to include China.

During his first 12 months in workplace, Biden acted on this, working with Asian officers to distribute COVID vaccines all through Asia. The administration labored exhausting to “temporarily waive property rights for COVID-19 vaccines,” which helped fight the pandemic in Asia.

Biden continued in 2022 with packages designed to strengthen safety and financial cooperation with the area, such because the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), whose 12 international locations collectively signify 40 p.c of the world’s whole gross home product.

Outside of the IPEF, Biden’s new strategy within the Indo-Pacific area has been to “strengthen health security, address maritime challenges, increase connectivity, and deepen people-to-people ties” between the U.S. and the Indo-Pacific. The ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will search to determine “deeper bonds” between the U.S. and its Southeast Asian companions.

But Biden and his workforce should not neglect concerning the significant potential of India and Central Asia to restrict China’s position in Asia, in addition to Russia’s.

India has a powerful financial, technological, and power relationship with Russia, which accounts for $46 billion in imports to India since 2021 and 40 percent of India’s crude oil imports. India additionally purchases a lot protection gear from Russia, which has additionally stated it’s “willing to transfer technology and license weapons production in India.”

The U.S. ought to strengthen relations with India to cut back its dependency on Russia, one thing it has already sought to do by strengthening economic ties. In 2022, bilateral commerce between the U.S. and India exceeded $191 billion. Moreover, the U.S. Department of Treasury carried out the U.S.-India Economic and Financial Partnership, and there have been “significant cross-border investments.”

Biden must also set up a powerful technological relationship with India. During his latest assembly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the 2 leaders announced the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology, which will create an “open, accessible, and secure technology ecosystem” between the 2 international locations. Information-sharing through this program will give India a aggressive edge in, which would cut back its dependency on Russia for technological gear.

Finally, the Biden administration ought to work to wean India from Russian power. According to a latest assertion issued by the Department of Energy, the U.S. is working to determine a Strategic Clean Energy Partnership that may advance India’s “energy security, clean energy innovation, and decarbonization efforts.” This might each improve India’s power safety and make it a world chief within the battle in opposition to local weather change.

The Biden administration must also strengthen ties with Central Asia, the place there are at the moment no deliberate presidential visits. This is a missed alternative. Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with leaders from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan to discuss strategic cooperation. China can also be seeking to invest in the region.

To fight these Chinese efforts, the U.S. ought to emphasize the working group it has fashioned with the 5 Central Asia States. That initiative has been uncared for currently, though Secretary of State Antony Blinken did at least visit Central Asia in February, promising to help these countries “develop the strongest possible capacities for their own security, their growing economic prosperity, and the strength and resilience of their societies.”

Biden might do rather more to spice up Central Asia’s economy and markets. Currently, these previously Soviet Asian nations all rely heavily on their relationships with Russia. Trade and exports for these 5 international locations transit through Russia. To counter this Russian affect, the U.S. ought to encourage the economic integration of the 5 Central Asian states. These international locations might cooperate extra closely with the Caucasus and Turkey, which might lead to elevated commerce relations between these areas. The U.S. might additionally offer “sanctions relief where possible,” thus boosting their economies.

Biden may also promote Central Asia’s info expertise sector, which is “emerging as a potential engine for economic growth.” Already, this trade within the area “produces hundreds of millions of dollars” and attracts overseas traders. A recent report by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe additionally introduced that the Central Asian states have superior their “cooperation on innovation and technology to promote digital transformation.”

According to a World Bank report, Central Asia has “significant natural resources and know-how to achieve sustainable energy security through a transition to clean energy sources.” The Biden administration might embrace these markets. Transitioning to various power will result in further economic growth and job opportunities within the area, and it’ll additionally result in a healthier, cleaner environment. To date, Central Asia has additionally acquired foreign investment to pursue inexperienced options, and that is one thing that may bode effectively for the area.

It will take time to pursue new financial, technological, and power methods with India and Central Asia, and it’ll not be straightforward. But if carried out proper, these insurance policies will result in development and prosperity and improve America’s place in Asia.

A better relationship with India and the 5 huge Central Asian nations will afford future presidents with allies in the region to counter Chinese affect. It would additionally assist these international locations develop into unbiased, somewhat than ready on China to fill Russia’s vacuum in the region.

This opportunity is Biden’s to take or depart as president. If he fails to take it, the Chinese will lay declare to one more a part of Asia, weakening America’s place overseas and resulting in additional problems in Sino-American relations.

Mark Temnycky is an accredited freelance journalist overlaying Eastern Europe and a nonresident fellow on the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center.