As the geographical heart of the Indo-Pacific, Southeast Asia will play a critical role in determining the region’s political, military, and economic trajectory for decades to come. As a rapidly growing region home to more than 655 million people, Southeast Asia has become a priority destination for US and Japanese infrastructure investment in the Indo-Pacific, as well as Chinese infrastructure efforts under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

How do these regional infrastructure projects fit into intensifying strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific? Are the new G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure compatible or competitive with China’s BRI? How can the US, Japan, and other likeminded allies and partners best operationalize these principles in the region? Ultimately, what are the geopolitical and security implications of the evolving infrastructure investment landscape across the Indo-Pacific?

The Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security works to develop sustainable, nonpartisan strategies to address the most important security challenges facing the United States and the world. The Center honors General Brent Scowcroft’s legacy of service and embodies his ethos of nonpartisan commitment to the cause of security, support for US leadership in cooperation with allies and partners, and dedication to the mentorship of the next generation of leaders.

Lunch will be provided.

This invitation is open to the public and will be webcast online. The event is open to the press and on the record.

Panel discussion featuring

Mr. Bart W. Édes
Representative of the North American Office
Asian Development Bank

Mr. Jonathan Hillman
Senior Fellow, Simon Chair in Political Economy, and Director, Reconnecting Asia Project
Center for Strategic and International Studies

Mr. Makoto Iyori
Visiting Fellow, Asia Security Initiative, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security
Atlantic Council

Dr. Miyeon Oh
Director, Asia Security Initiative, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security
Atlantic Council

Moderated by
Ms. Shannon Tiezzi
Editor-in-Chief, The Diplomat

The Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security works to develop sustainable, nonpartisan strategies to address the most important security challenges facing the United States and the world.