Diego Garcia: Trump's Assertiveness Reshapes Indian Ocean Geopolitics

• President Trump's interest in tighter control over Diego Garcia signals a broader American recalibration of the Indian Ocean as a critical competitive space.
• Diego Garcia, hosting the US's most important overseas military base, is strategically positioned to monitor and potentially constrain Chinese naval movements.
• The US move is driven by energy security concerns, providing leverage over hydrocarbon flows from the Gulf and Africa, crucial for China.
• Trump's statecraft prioritizes dominance, unsettling allies like India, but his assertiveness is seen as transparent and disruptive, not deceptive.
• For India, a strengthened US presence in Diego Garcia does not pose an immediate threat but highlights the militarization of the Indian Ocean, demanding strategic balance and leadership.

Why It Matters: Trump's push for unquestioned control over Diego Garcia intensifies Indian Ocean competition, requiring India's strategic sobriety.