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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US voices concern over Chinese support for Russia’s Ukraine invasion

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
US voices concern over Chinese support for Russia’s Ukraine invasion

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
US voices concern over Chinese support for Russia’s Ukraine invasion

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

UkraineAlert

Oct 23, 2025

US voices concern over Chinese support for Russia’s Ukraine invasion

By Katherine Spencer

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has raised concerns over Chinese components in Russian military drones amid fresh allegations of Beijing’s mounting support for Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, writes Katherine Spencer.

China Conflict

Russia Tomorrow

Oct 23, 2025

The CRINK: Inside the new bloc supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine

By Angela Stent

The latest report in the Atlantic Council's Russia Tomorrow series details how Russia’s war against Ukraine has brought together a new set of partners--united not by shared values, but by shared grievances--on the international stage: China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

China Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Oct 21, 2025

How the US should partner with Central Asian states to avoid Russia-China dominance

By Tatiana Gfoeller

By acting now, Washington can capitalize on the desire among some Central Asian states to reduce their dependence on Moscow and Beijing.

Central Asia China

MENASource

Oct 21, 2025

The Indonesia-Israel visit that didn’t happen—and why it still matters

By Amit Yarom

Careful engagement between Israel and Indonesia could blossom. But both must navigate a narrow path between opportunity and overreach.

Indo-Pacific Israel

In the News

Oct 21, 2025

Bayoumi for the Irregular Warfare Initiative on countering Chinese influence in the Pacific Islands

On October 21, Imran Bayoumi, associate director of the GeoStrategy Initiative, published an article for the Irregular Warfare Initiative titled “Policing the Pacific: How China Expands Influence Where the US Looks for Allies.” In the article, Bayoumi examines China’s use of police partnerships in the Pacific Islands and how Washington can adapt this strategy to […]

China Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Oct 16, 2025

South and Southeast Asia are on the front lines of the democracy-autocracy showdown

By Prakhar Sharma and Gauri Kaushik

How do democracies die? Not with a dramatic coup, but through quiet, intentional dismantling—rules bent just slightly, laws rewritten, oppositions discredited and then disarmed. This warning from political scientists has proven prophetic across South and Southeast Asia, where the past decade has witnessed steady democratic erosion.

Democratic Transitions East Asia

UkraineAlert

Oct 16, 2025

Putin seeks more foreign fighters amid mounting Russian losses in Ukraine

By David Kirichenko

With fewer and fewer Russians ready to volunteer for the war in Ukraine, Putin is seeking to recruit more foreign fighters from across Africa, Asia, and beyond, writes David Kirichenko.

Africa Americas

Report

Oct 15, 2025

What Taiwan can learn from China’s gray-zone actions against the Philippines

By Chung-Yu Chou

China uses different tactics for different aims: slow but persistent maritime incursions off the coast of the Philippines and high-speed aerial harassment in Taiwanese airspace. But Manila’s responses offer useful lessons for Taipei. A new study of the Philippines’ experience shows what Taiwan can do to create limits on Chinese action without triggering open conflict.

Conflict Crisis Management

EnergySource

Oct 15, 2025

Solving the US military’s gallium dilemma requires turning trash into treasure

By Macdonald Amoah, Morgan D. Bazilian, Lt. Col. Jahara "Franky" Matisek, and Col. Katrina Schweiker

The metal gallium plays an outsized role in US war readiness—and China controls most of its supply. As geopolitical competition deepens, the United States needs a new playbook to fix this vulnerability.

China Critical Minerals

In the News

Oct 14, 2025

Kroenig quoted in the Wall Street Journal on New-START Treaty

On October 5, Atlantic Council vice president and Scowcroft Center senior director Matthew Kroenig was quoted in an article in the Wall Street Journal. He argues against extending the New START arms control agreement in order to expand the US nuclear arsenal to compete with China.

Arms Control China
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Experts

Millennium fellow

Anoka Abeyrathne

Senior Regional Coordinator, Asia, Change.org

Millennium Leadership Program

Indo-Pacific Resilience & Society

Fellow

Ahmed Aboudouh

Former Nonresident Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic China

Fellow

Grace Abuhamad

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Digital Policy Internet

Fellow

Elliot Ackerman

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Defense Policy

Fellow

Alexander Alden

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy English

Fellow

Léonie Allard

Visiting Fellow

Europe Center

Africa Chinese
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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
Flagship Event Tue, June 9, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

2026 Global Energy Forum

The tenth Global Energy Forum will chart the course for continued innovation, collaboration, and leadership in the global energy transition. 
Africa Americas Climate Change & Climate Action Critical Minerals