Indo-Pacific

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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Nawaz: Demographics Play a Role in Afghan Transition

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

Nawaz: Demographics Play a Role in Afghan Transition

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

Nawaz: Demographics Play a Role in Afghan Transition

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
Wed, April 8, 2026 • 8:30 am ET

IMEC during a time of war

Economy & Business
Europe & Eurasia
India
Middle East

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

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

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

Content

In the News

Apr 7, 2014

Nawaz: Demographics Play a Role in Afghan Transition

By Shuja Nawaz

South Asia Center Director is quoted by RIA Novosti on the role demographics have played in Afghanistan’s transition to democracy:

Afghanistan
REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

New Atlanticist

Apr 7, 2014

Afghanistan’s Election: The Real Results

By James Rupert

Following Afghanistan’s presidential election Saturday, ballots from villages of the Hindu Kush mountains are wobbling down dirt paths toward counting centers, lashed to the backs of donkeys. While we will need some weeks to know the official outcome, in which the top two candidates are likely to face a runoff, we know some key effective […]

Afghanistan

SouthAsiaSource

Apr 4, 2014

This Week in South Asia: March 29 – April 4

Commentary from the South Asia Center on the most relevant news from the region, and suggested “must-read” analyses from the week. IndiaWith the world’s largest democracy set to head to the polls for national elections early next week, its relationship with the world’s oldest democracy took yet another unexpected turn as Nancy Powell, U.S. Ambassador […]

Afghanistan Iran
President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao, January 19, 2011

NATOSource

Apr 4, 2014

US Warns China Not to Try Crimea-Style Action in Asia

By David Brunnstrom, Reuters

China should not doubt the U.S. commitment to defend its Asian allies and the prospect of economic retaliation should also discourage Beijing from using force to pursue territorial claims in Asia in the way Russia has in Crimea, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday.

China Russia

SouthAsiaSource

Apr 3, 2014

This Week in South Asia: March 8 – 14

Commentary from the South Asia Center on the most relevant news from the region, and suggested “must-read” analyses from the week. IndiaA little over 3 months after Devyani Khobragade, India’s Deputy Consul General in New York, was arrested on charges of lying to the United States government to obtain a visa for her housekeeper, a […]

Afghanistan India

SouthAsiaSource

Apr 3, 2014

This Week in South Asia: March 22 – 28

Commentary from the South Asia Center on the most relevant news from the region, and suggested “must-read” analyses from the week. PakistanPakistan seems to have convinced the world community regarding the safety of its nuclear program. This week at the Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague, US Secretary of the State John Kerry was reported […]

Afghanistan India

Event Recap

Apr 2, 2014

Countering Violent Extremism in Pakistan

Why Women Must Have a Role “The greatest predictor of security and stability in a country is actually not wealth and it’s not the level of democracy. It is how well the women are treated,” said The Hon. Swanee Hunt at a panel hosted the by the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center and the Institute […]

Pakistan

Webcasts

Apr 2, 2014

Webcast: Countering Violent Extremism in Pakistan: Why Women Must Have a Role

Pakistan is at a crucial juncture as it tries to contain and combat militant violence that has devastated communities, families, and lives across all provinces. Pakistani women are frequent targets of radical ideologies and terrorism, giving them unique perspectives on how to counter violent extremism in their communities and homes. But despite the potential to […]

Pakistan

Event Recap

Mar 31, 2014

Rehaii Screening: Pursuing Gender Equality in Pakistan

“Poverty affects everyone in the household–the young, the old, the women, the men. So it is everybody’s responsibility to resolve it,” stated Kashf Foundation’s Managing Director Roshaneh Zafar, reflecting on conversations with Grameen Bank Founder Mohamed Younus during the formative stages of Kashf Foundation. “Gender issues are everybody’s problem. They are not just the problem of […]

Pakistan

Event Recap

Mar 30, 2014

India-Pakistan Track-II Water Cooperation Dialogue

The India- Pakistan Track-II Water Cooperation Dialogue, organized by the South Asia Center of the Atlantic Council, was held in Dubai from March 30-31, 2014. The meeting was co-chaired by Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, the former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Govt. of Pakistan, and Ambassador Salman Haidar, Former Foreign Secretary, Govt. of India, standing in […]

India Pakistan
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Experts

Fellow

Jieun Baek

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Democratic Transitions Human Rights

Fellow

Scott D. Berrier

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Defense Policy
Jessica Batke

Fellow

Jessica Batke

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

China Civil Society

Fellow

Ridhika Batra

Nonresident Senior Fellow, India

Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy

Fellow

Jochai Ben-Avie

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Americas Digital Policy

Fellow

Ryan Berger

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

Americas Cybersecurity
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Events

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