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.

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.

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.

Events

Content

Issue Brief

Aug 6, 2025

Surfing the Hallyu: What Taiwan can learn from South Korea’s cultural diplomacy

By Nik Foster

With sustained investment and strategic branding, Taiwan can increase global awareness, deepen international partnerships, and fortify its national identity through cultural diplomacy.

China Civil Society

MENASource

Aug 5, 2025

Did the Israel-Iran war expose China’s Middle East policy?

By Andrea Ghiselli

The region’s importance in Beijing’s foreign policy is limited and, thus, not much energy and resources are invested in long-term planning.

China Iran

In the News

Aug 4, 2025

Daniels publishes article on China’s soft power strategy in AI in Foreign Affairs

By Atlantic Council

On July 25, Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Owen Daniels published an article, “China’s Overlooked AI Strategy: Beijing Is Using Soft Power to Gain Global Dominance,” in Foreign Affairs.

Artificial Intelligence China

New Atlanticist

Aug 4, 2025

Bangladesh’s revolution is at a crossroads. Open elections are the best way forward.

By Wahiduzzaman Noor

The promising uprising last year now risks becoming a system in which power, not principles, determines who gets to participate in democracy.

Bangladesh Elections

MENASource

Aug 1, 2025

Where does the Gulf stand on Russia’s recognition of the Taliban?

By Giorgio Cafiero

While maintaining close ties with the West, the GCC has increasingly strengthened its ties with Russia and China.

Afghanistan Politics & Diplomacy

Fast Thinking

Aug 1, 2025

What to watch as Trump ratchets up global tariffs

By Atlantic Council

US President Donald Trump will raise tariffs on nearly every US trading partner. Atlantic Council experts take stock of what this means for the global economy.

Brazil Economy & Business

Econographics

Jul 31, 2025

Beijing extends and pretends to deal with its mountain of local government debt

By Jeremy Mark

Beijing's three-year local debt restructuring plan fails to actually address the trillions of dollars weighing on local governments and will only cause greater problems down the road.

China Economy & Business

MENASource

Jul 31, 2025

Djibouti is the next arena for US-China competition in the Red Sea

By Emily Milliken

Washington could upgrade its Djibouti relationship and secure its foothold along some of the world’s most important waterways.

Africa China

New Atlanticist

Jul 30, 2025

For emerging markets, the biggest threat isn’t reduced aid. It’s financial volatility

By Achilles Tsirgis

Emerging markets’ sovereign and corporate bonds are under strain, largely driven by erratic fiscal and trade policy signals from Washington.

China Economy & Business

Report

Jul 30, 2025

The journey of reprogrammable semiconductors through their supply chain

By Andrew Kidd, Celine Lee, and Bruce Schneier

This interactive offers a concise overview of the nuances that make the FPGA supply chain uniquely challenging.

China Cybersecurity

Experts

Events