China-Africa Security Radar posted on 26 October 2025 a commentary titled "Strategic Subcontracting: Could This Be China's New Maritime Strategy in the Indian Ocean?"
Pakistan has agreed to provide Somalia with comprehensive assistance to its navy, including general military training, officer education at Pakistan's staff and war colleges, vessel maintenance, equipment modernization, and technology transfer. Pakistan is also heavily dependent on Chinese military equipment and platforms and is deeply embedded in China's strategic frameworks.
This arrangement with Somalia has raised the question, especially in India, if Beijing is behind Pakistan's naval support for the Somali navy as a way to subcontract strategically.