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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Mali and Afghanistan: Uncanny Parallels

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

Mali and Afghanistan: Uncanny Parallels

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

Mali and Afghanistan: Uncanny Parallels

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

New Atlanticist

Jan 16, 2013

Mali and Afghanistan: Uncanny Parallels

By Peter Pham

Analogies in international affairs are fraught with peril, but there is no denying the parallels between the situation in Afghanistan in the months and years leading up to 9/11 and recent developments in Mali.

Afghanistan Sahel

New Atlanticist

Jan 15, 2013

In Disputes Over Asian Seas, Winner May Take Zilch

By Robert A. Manning

It may be Asia’s 21st century equivalent of the assassination of Austria’s Archduke Ferdinand that sparked World War I. Growing tensions over territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas threaten to disrupt the oft-heralded Asian Century. Whatever the outcome, many see more than just competing nationalisms, the scars of national memory and the […]

China Japan

SouthAsiaSource

Jan 14, 2013

Looking Ahead to South Asia in 2013

By South Asia Center

In the coming year, the greater South Asia region will undergo significant changes. In advance of these transitions, the South Asia Center invited experts and Center supporters and contributors to share their predictions for the region in the coming year as well as offer advice for the second Obama administration on how best to approach greater […]

Afghanistan India

Event Recap

Jan 12, 2013

Channeling Progress Through Pakistan’s Youth

The Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center will hold a discussion on “Channeling Progress through Pakistan’s Youth,” with its Emerging Leaders of Pakistan (ELP) 2012 Fellows.

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Jan 10, 2013

Afghanistan Better Off Than It Was in 2001; Still Not Good Enough

By James Joyner

While NATO is far from achieving the objectives in Afghanistan it set out more than a decade ago, more progress has been made than is widely understood. So say distinguished diplomats from the United States, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Atlantic Council distinguished fellow Franklin Kramer hosted James Dobbins, former US ambassador to the European Union; Ambassador Riaz Mohammad Khan, former […]

Afghanistan

Press Release

Jan 10, 2013

Atlantic Council Holds India-Pakistan Track II Water Dialogue

WASHINGTON – The Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center recently held a meeting for its India-Pakistan water project in Lahore, Pakistan. The meeting convened key experts, policymakers, and other stakeholders from both sides.

India Pakistan

Event Recap

Jan 9, 2013

Afghanistan: Back to the Future?

By Jason Harmala

On January 9, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center hosts a discussion with The Hon. James Dobbins, former US ambassador to the European Union; Ambassador Riaz Mohammad Khan, former Pakistan ambassador to China; and Ambassador Said Jawad, former Afghan ambassador to the United States. Atlantic Council Distinguished Fellow and Board Director Franklin D. Kramer will moderate […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Jan 2, 2013

Japan’s Coming Challenges: What Awaits Shinzo Abe

By Rajan Menon

Shinzo Abe became prime minister of Japan—its seventh in six years —after his Liberal Democratic Party, which has governed Japan for all but four years since 1955, won parliamentary elections resoundingly, ending a three-year interlude by the Democratic Party of Japan.

Economy & Business Japan

New Atlanticist

Dec 17, 2012

China’s Bad Diplomacy

By James Clad and Robert Manning

A joke now making the rounds in Asia asks, “who is America’s most effective diplomat in Asia?” The punch line brings knowing laughter: “‘Mr. Beijing.’ Yes, Mr. Bob Beijing is playing America’s best hand.”

China Maritime Security

NATOSource

Dec 6, 2012

NATO expresses ‘grave concern’ about North Korea’s intent to launch a ballistic missile

By NATO

From NATO:  The North Atlantic Council expresses its grave concern at North Korea’s declared intent to launch a rocket using ballistic missile technology this month. Such an act would be in direct violation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1718 and 1874.  It would risk exacerbating tensions in the region and further destabilising the Korean […]

Korea NATO
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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

Nonresident senior fellow

Europe Center

Africa Chinese
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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