From Geo-Politics to Geo-Economics: Pakistan’s Strategic Recalibration Under China’s Belt and Road Initiative

Abstract

The BRI is having a major impact on how countries around the world interact with one another economically. In the case of Pakistan, BRI engagement through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has forced the country to rethink its national security to include not only the usual military issues but also economic development, infrastructure and connectivity. This research will look at: 1) How has Pakistan implemented geo-economics under this initiative; and 2) What are the implications of this for Pakistan’s strategic focus and regional influence? Specifically, we will examine how infrastructure-led connectivity has enabled a fundamental shift from a security-focused foreign policy to a more hybrid model that blends economic resilience with strategic adaptation. To do this, we utilized qualitative case study methods to analyze official policy documents, strategy statements, development plans and expert opinions. This methodology provides insight into the material and discursive components of Pakistan's geo-economic transformation, as well as the roles of institutional coordination and regional diplomatic relationships in shaping strategic outcomes. The contributions of this study inform theoretical and policy discussions almost exclusively regarding geo-economics, connectivity and statecraft in the Global South. By placing Pakistan’s case within the context of infrastructure-driven strategic adaptations, it illustrates how developing countries may exercise agency in the context of asymmetrical power relations while leveraging outside forces for their benefit.

Keywords: Belt & Road Initiative, Regional connectivity, Geo-economics, CEPEC, Regional corridor, Strategic re-thinking, Recalibration.