Indo-Pacific

Encompassing the nations of South and East Asia, the Indo-Pacific holds some of the greatest promise and most difficult challenges in the world. Home to some of the fastest-growing economies, greater trade links and development cooperation are positioning the region to be the driver of economic growth in the next century. Lingering conflicts and growing geopolitical competition between the region’s powers, however, could endanger the stability of the region and limit its potential global leadership.

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The European Commission’s role in steering Europe’s strategic outlook

Dispatches Feb 2, 2026

What to know about the US-India trade deal

By Michael Kugelman, Mark Linscott

Our experts explain what the preliminary US-India trade deal announced on Monday means for the future of the two countries’ ties.
Economy & Business India
The European Commission’s role in steering Europe’s strategic outlook

Dispatches Jan 29, 2026

What the Indo-Pacific thinks of the new US National Defense Strategy

By Atlantic Council experts

Our Indo-Pacific experts share how US allies and partners in the region are reacting to the United States’ latest National Defense Strategy, which calls for them to take on a more active role in their own security.
Conflict Defense Policy
The European Commission’s role in steering Europe’s strategic outlook

Dispatches Jan 27, 2026

TikTok’s new ownership structure doesn’t solve security concerns for Americans

By Kenton Thibaut

The deal does little to address the systemic challenges of information manipulation, foreign influence, and data exploitation on the platform.
China Defense Technologies

Projects

Close up of tiger

The Tiger Project: War and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific

Explore the Atlantic Council’s work on current and enduring defense and deterrence issues in the Indo-Pacific, featuring expert commentary, multimedia content, and in-depth analysis.

Explore the programs

The Global China Hub tracks Beijing’s actions and their global impacts, assessing China’s rise from multiple angles and identifying emerging China policy challenges. The Hub leverages its network of China experts around the world to generate actionable recommendations for policymakers in Washington and beyond.

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The Indo-Pacific Security Initiative (IPSI) informs and shapes the strategies, plans, and policies of the United States and its allies and partners to address the most important rising security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, including China’s growing threat to the international order and North Korea’s destabilizing nuclear weapons advancements. IPSI produces innovative analysis, conducts tabletop exercises, hosts public and private convenings, and engages with US, allied, and partner governments, militaries, media, other key private and public-sector stakeholders, and publics.

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Events

Online Event Thu, March 5, 2026 • 11:00 am ET

How should the United States approach the China-Russia partnership?
China Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Russia
Public Event Thu, February 12, 2026 • 11:00 am ET

Congressman John Moolenaar on deterring aggression against Taiwan

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT—Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, discusses how the United States and Taiwan can strengthen deterrence in the Taiwan Strait.
China Defense Industry Defense Policy Indo-Pacific
Public Event Tue, February 10, 2026 • 12:00 pm ET

Global Foresight 2036: What will the next decade bring?
China Economy & Business Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia
Public Event Tue, February 3, 2026 • 12:30 pm ET

Tibetan democracy (in exile): religious freedom and political empowerment
Central Asia China Freedom and Prosperity Human Rights

Content

Report

Nov 10, 2025

The European Commission’s role in steering Europe’s strategic outlook

By Zoltán Fehér

Over the past decade, the European Commission has led the EU’s pivot toward balancing and “de-risking” China. Trade and investment have been at the heart of this strategy, not only because of the Commission’s authority in these domains, but also because they are the primary channels through which China challenges Europe’s economic and political interests.

China Economy & Business

Report

Nov 10, 2025

The geopolitical trends shaping the EU’s policies on China

By Zoltán Fehér, Valbona Zeneli

European policies on China are shaped by four major geopolitical trends: intensifying US-China competition, uncertainty about sustained US engagement in Europe and globally, China’s support for Russia’s war on Ukraine, and Beijing’s growing economic and technological challenge to the EU.

China Economy & Business

Report

Nov 10, 2025

Is Europe waking up to the China challenge? How geopolitics are reshaping EU and transatlantic strategy

By Zoltán Fehér, Valbona Zeneli

China’s rising global ambitions challenge both US and European interests. By examining the EU’s gradual shift toward “de-risking” and gaps in transatlantic policy, this report offers insights for developing a more coherent and coordinated strategy to address Beijing’s economic and security challenges.

China Europe & Eurasia

Report

Nov 10, 2025

France’s policy on China: Strategic autonomy and less naïveté

By Zoltán Fehér

Over the last decade, France’s long-standing engagement with China has transformed into a more nuanced and cautious dynamic, reflecting a growing emphasis on balancing. This shift is guided by France’s pursuit of strategic autonomy, its effort to “de-risk” economic and security ties, and the broader geopolitical realities unfolding in the Indo-Pacific.

China Economy & Business

Econographics

Nov 7, 2025

Pharmaceuticals are China’s next trade weapon

By Niels Graham

China supplies most critical drug ingredients to the US, and the dependency is only growing. After the rare earths truce, pharma is an area to watch.

China Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Nov 6, 2025

Gen Z protests have spread to seven countries. What do they all have in common?

By Will Mortenson

While the root causes vary, the data reveal several broad similarities among the countries that have seen massive Gen Z protest movements in recent months.

Africa Corruption

New Atlanticist

Nov 6, 2025

How South Korea advanced its trade and technology agenda at the APEC summit

By Kayla T. Orta

South Korea leveraged its diplomatic influence to strengthen Seoul’s standing within the multilateral economic framework and secure trade deals with the United States.

Economy & Business Indo-Pacific

In the News

Nov 4, 2025

Galicia advocates for “networked deterrence” to counter China in the Indo-Pacific

On September 23, Scowcroft Center program assistant Bailey Galicia published an article with the Irregular Warfare Initiative titled, “Austronesian Identity as ‘Networked Deterrence’ in the Indo-Pacific.” He explores the potential of leveraging shared cultural identity in the Indo-Pacific to counter Chinese gray zone actions. The article won third place in the Irregular Warfare Initiative’s 2025 […]

China Indo-Pacific

Issue Brief

Nov 4, 2025

A next-generation agenda: South Korea-US-Australia security cooperation

By Lauren D. Gilbert, Kester Abbott, Hannah Heewon Seo

Growing collaboration and cooperation between the United States, South Korea, and Australia could be key to maintaining security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. The Atlantic Council and the Korea Foundation gathered rising experts from the United States, South Korea, and Australia to identify obstacles to that cooperation and opportunities to overcome them.

Australia Defense Industry

New Atlanticist

Nov 3, 2025

US power utilities must prepare for a crisis in the Indo-Pacific. Here’s how they can start.

By Victor Atkins, Markus Garlauskas

The private sector—not just the government and military—must prepare for attacks on the US electrical grid resulting from a geopolitical crisis in the Indo-Pacific.

Cybersecurity Geopolitics & Energy Security
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Experts

Staff

Charlotte Bertrand

Project Assistant

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Defense Industry
Mehul Bhagat

Fellow

Mehul Bhagat

Nonresident Fellow

South Asia Center

Entrepreneurship Renewables & Advanced Energy

Fellow

Arjun Bisen

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Australia Digital Policy

Fellow

Sara Bjerg Moller

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Danish Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Michael Bociurkiw

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Ukraine International Organizations
Graham Brookie

Staff

Graham Brookie

Vice President - Atlantic Council Technology Programs

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Disinformation National Security
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Events

Public Event Mon, March 23, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Kurt Campbell on what to expect from Trump’s Beijing visit
China Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy Technology & Innovation
Public Event Wed, March 25, 2026 • 8:00 am ET

How the UN can respond to the arbitrary detention and repression of Uyghurs
China Human Rights
Online Event Fri, March 27, 2026 • 9:30 am ET

IMEC during a time of war
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia India Middle East
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