The United States is strengthening its relationship with Pakistan mainly to gain better military access near rivals like China and Iran, says Paul Poast, an associate professor of political science at the University of Chicago.
In a recent interview with , Poast explained how Pakistan’s key location in a tense region makes it a crucial partner for U.S. operations. “They are an ally who gives the US access,” Poast said. “If we have a presence there, it puts us that much closer to China and puts our assets closer to China and Iran.”
Poast ties this shift to the Trump administration’s bold focus on military power during its second term. For instance, the administration recently issued an executive order renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War, signaling that military strength drives U.S. policy.
Under this approach, Pakistan serves more as a strategic base than a traditional diplomatic ally. It helps the U.S. project power into challenging areas. Poast points to the Trump team’s push to reclaim the Bagram airbase in Afghanistan as proof—they want a stronger foothold near China.
He also highlighted Operation Midnight Hammer, the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan on June 22. “That attack was enabled by having this type of access, by having U.S. bases [and] U.S. personnel in other countries,” Poast noted. This shows how the administration prioritizes military talks over broader diplomacy. “The Trump administration is just much more willing to be open about it and wants military officials here to talk to them directly.”
Poast’s comments come right after President Trump hosted Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir at the Oval Office in Washington. Yet, the meeting feels shrouded in mystery. The White House hasn’t released any official photos or videos, unlike the live joint briefing that followed Trump’s earlier session with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Details of the Sharif-Munir visit only surfaced through official Pakistani social media accounts, raising questions about the U.S.-Pakistan ties amid growing military focus.
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