Pakistan’s Strategic Balancing Act: Navigating Relations between China, The US and the Emerging Multipolar World Order

Abstract

This research explores Pakistan’s strategic balancing act in managing its relations with China, the United States, and other global powers in the context of the emerging multipolar world order. As global power dynamics shift from a unipolar to a multipolar system, Pakistan finds itself at a critical geopolitical crossroads. The study examines how Pakistan maintains its long-standing security and economic ties with China, especially through projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), while also striving to sustain a working relationship with the United States amid growing US-China rivalry. The research also considers Pakistan’s engagement with other regional powers, such as Russia, the Gulf States, and Turkey, as part of its broader foreign policy strategy. Through qualitative analysis of policy documents, diplomatic statements, and expert opinions, this article highlights Pakistan’s approach to navigating complex international relations, balancing national interests, and ensuring strategic autonomy. The findings suggest that while challenges persist, Pakistan’s flexible diplomacy and regional positioning offer opportunities for a more independent and multipolar-aligned foreign policy.