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

western currency dominance cover

Issue Brief

Sep 27, 2022

Will economic statecraft threaten western currency dominance? Sanctions, geopolitics, and the global monetary order 

By Dr. Carla Norrlöf

The return of great power rivalry is stoking renewed fears of weakening Western currency dominance. Financial sanctions are becoming the preferred economic tool for accomplishing geopolitical goals.

China Europe & Eurasia

Issue Brief

Sep 27, 2022

TTC, IPEF, and the road to an Indo-Pacific trade deal: A new model

By Clete R. Willems, Niels Graham

The Biden administration’s “trade policy for the middle class” is taking shape. Exemplified by the TTC and IPEF, its is “beyond-the-border” issues, such as regulatory alignment and standard setting, attempts to improve supply chain resilience, and efforts to promote high labor and environmental standards. However, to achieve its strategic goals, the administration should consider adding traditional market access components.

China Economy & Business

In the News

Sep 27, 2022

Sakhi in Center for New American Security panel: One year after withdrawal: Update on Afghanistan

By Atlantic Council

Afghanistan Politics & Diplomacy

Report

Sep 27, 2022

Afghanistan under the Taliban: Regional recalibrations, challenges, and ways forward

By Hameed Hakimi

Despite the spectacular and unprecedented events following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the global spotlight steadily shifted away from the country.

Afghanistan Economy & Business

In the News

Sep 26, 2022

CBDC tracker cited by Cryptoslate on the Reserve Bank of Australia whitepaper on its CBDC pilot program

Read the full article here.

Australia Digital Currencies

SouthAsiaSource

Sep 26, 2022

To support Afghan women activists, prioritize local knowledge over numbers

By Sophie Mae Berman and Yelena Biberman

Though Afghan women have been included in certain peacebuilding efforts, these experiences were largely tokenist and minimally empowering.

Afghanistan Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

In the News

Sep 23, 2022

Roberts Reviews China Books

On September 22, IPSI Senior Fellow Dexter Tiff Roberts published, “At stake in the U.S.-China rivalry: The shape of the global political order,” in The Washington Post. This is a book review of three China books: Revolution and Dictatorship: The Violent Origins of Durable Authoritarianism, by Steven Levitsky and Lucan Way; Xi Jinping: The Most […]

China Civil Society
Conscripts board a train carriage at a local railway station during their departure for the garrisons, in Omsk

New Atlanticist

Sep 23, 2022

Russian War Report: Russia conducts partial mobilization amid battlefield losses

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

As Ukraine's advances into its eastern territory put Russia under additional pressure, Putin declared a partial mobilization in the country.

Conflict Disinformation

In the News

Sep 23, 2022

Roberts on Xi-Putin Meeting

On September 15, IPSI Senior Fellow Dexter Tiff Roberts published an article titled, “The Xi-Putin meeting: It’s not about the money,” in The China Project. Roberts argues that, despite Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping’s announcement of a “no limits” partnership, it does, in fact, face serious limits. Roberts concludes that politics underlie Xi’s close relations […]

China Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Sep 22, 2022

The dollar has some would-be rivals. Meet the challengers.

By Ananya Kumar, Josh Lipsky

What are the realistic alternatives to the dollar that US and allied policymakers should be paying attention to? And how can they respond?

China Digital Currencies

Experts

Events