With reference to the 'Trans-Pacific Partnership', consider the following statements: 1. It is an agreement among all the Pacific Rim countries except China and Russia. 2. It is a strategic alliance for the purpose of maritime security only. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The 'Trans-Pacific Partnership' (TPP) was a proposed trade agreement among twelve Pacific Rim countries, excluding China and Russia, initially signed in 2016. However, it was primarily a comprehensive trade agreement aimed at lowering trade barriers and setting common standards for member countries, not exclusively for maritime security. Let's analyze the statements: 1. **It is an agreement among all the Pacific Rim countries except China and Russia.** This statement is incorrect. While it excluded China and Russia, it did not include *all* Pacific Rim countries. Notably, countries like Colombia, Ecuador, and North Korea, among others, are Pacific Rim nations but were not part of the TPP. After the US withdrew, the remaining 11 countries proceeded with a revised agreement called the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). 2. **It is a strategic alliance for the purpose of maritime security only.** This statement is incorrect. The TPP was fundamentally a trade and investment agreement, covering a wide range of issues from tariffs and services to intellectual property and labor standards. While trade can have strategic implications, its primary purpose was economic integration and liberalization, not solely maritime security. Therefore, neither statement is correct.