A Game Theoretic Analysis for Ladakh Standoff, 2020

A game theoretic analysis for Ladakh standoff is presented in this article. Starting with Prisoner’s Dilemma (PD) game, a more flexible game, known as De-escalation game is derived by incorporating the concepts of retaliation and non-escalation probabilities in the PD game. It is shown that by including these concepts, many new possibilities open up for India, which permit it to impose penalty on the aggressor. The intensity of retaliatory actions may be tailored according to the perceived threat; and this strategy allows India to dissuade the aggressor without risking a war or accepting defeat. Finally, options available to India in the light of game theoretic analysis are presented in the article.