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

MENASource

Jul 23, 2025

Iran, China, Russia, and the collapse of deterrence in the Red Sea

By Fatima Abo Alasrar

Multiple powers now patrol with different mandates, different rules, and increasingly different interpretations of acceptable behavior.

China Iran

New Atlanticist

Jul 21, 2025

What the EU and China want from the summit that neither seems to want

By Atlantic Council experts

European Commission leaders are headed to Beijing for a one-day summit to discuss a range of issues. But expectations for a breakthrough are low and falling.

China European Union

Econographics

Jul 21, 2025

Why European businesses are now stuck in the middle of an EU-China storm

By Alisha Chhangani

If relations continue to deteriorate, the world’s three major economies could find themselves in economic conflict and European businesses will be caught squarely in the middle. 

China Economy & Business

In the News

Jul 21, 2025

Lichfield cohosts China Talk podcast episode with Jordan Schneider and guest Dr. Tomohiko Taniguchi

Listen to the episode here

China Economy & Business
21st Infantry Division guard post on the Korean Demilitarized Zone

Issue Brief

Jul 17, 2025

Collective security in the Indo-Pacific: Rethinking the United Nations Command

By Richard D. Butler, Shawn P. Creamer

Europe has NATO. The Indo-Pacific needs a similar mechanism. Enter the United Nations Command, a legacy of the Korean War ready to be refitted for the current threat landscape in the Pacific.

Indo-Pacific NATO

New Atlanticist

Jul 15, 2025

In the Indo-Pacific, US defense industrial partnerships go much deeper than AUKUS submarines

By Adam Kozloski, Markus Garlauskas

The US review of AUKUS should be understood as part of a larger US effort to accelerate defense industry cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Australia Defense Industry

Econographics

Jul 14, 2025

Injecting new life into Europe’s life science industry to improve competitiveness

By Emma Nix

US turmoil under Trump has shaken the life sciences sector, prompting top researchers to consider leaving. Europe now has a rare chance to attract this talent and revive its biotech and pharma industries—but only if it moves quickly and decisively before China does.

China Economy & Business

In the News

Jul 13, 2025

Kroenig quoted in the Wall Street Journal on potential US strategic pivot to Asia

On July 13, Matthew Kroenig, Atlantic Council vice president and Scowcroft Center senior director, was quoted in the Wall Street Journal on the suggestion by some officials within the US presidential administration that the United States should prioritize the Indo-Pacific over other regions.

China Defense Policy
Republic of Korea Marines storm onto beach during a simulated amphibious assault

Issue Brief

Jul 10, 2025

South Korea is the ideal anchor for the first island chain

By Brian Kerg

The assumptions underpinning analysis and discussion of conflict in the Indo-Pacific are due for a rethink. Though many conversations about Chinese military aggression assume South Korea would not get involved, it could play a decisive role in deterring and defeating an attack on Taiwan.

China Conflict

New Atlanticist

Jul 9, 2025

Five questions (and expert answers) about the ICC arrest warrants against Taliban leaders for crimes against women and girls 

By Atlantic Council experts

Our international law experts unpack the implications of the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants against the Taliban’s supreme leader and chief justice.

Afghanistan Human Rights

Experts

Events