Pakistan's Strategic Balancing between China and the United States, 2021–2025: Implications for CPEC, Security, and Economic Diplomacy

Abstract

In today's context of growing strategic competition between the Chinese and the US, Pakistan's foreign policy has witnessed a complete paradigm shift from 2021 to 2025. Instead of being close to just one of the great powers, Pakistan has increasingly pursued a ‘strategic balancing' approach, which aims to maintain its long-standing ties with China and at the same time continue to develop a pragmatic relationship with the United States. This study investigates Pakistan's strategic balancing in this context and analyse its consequences on CPEC, national security and economic diplomacy of Pakistan. The article uses a qualitative design of secondary data analysis and refers to scholarly literature, policy reports, and statements issued by the government to evaluate Pakistan's changing foreign policy stance. The results indicate that Pakistan's balancing policy has been influenced by the economic compulsions, security concerns in the region due to the resurgence of Taliban in Afghanistan, global geopolitical changes and economic fragilities at home. China continues to be the key strategic partner of Pakistan in investments within the framework of the CPEC, military development and coordination and political support, while the United States has been the constant partner in the field of trade, finance, counterterrorism cooperation, and engagement in multilateral institutions. Pakistan's foreign policy seems to reflect an evolution from alliance politics to issue-based foreign policy with a tendency towards 'hedging' behaviour. But it is becoming more difficult to maintain this equilibrium with the growing competition between China and the U.S. and the desire of external powers for more strategic convergence. It concludes that Pakistan must continue with a multi-faceted approach to diplomacy, fast-track facilitation of CPEC, building economic diplomacy beyond traditional alliances and enhancing institutional capability to maneuver an increasingly multipolar international system for the long-term national interests.