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.

Explore

Galbraith Fired, Refused to Hide Afghanistan Election Fraud

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

Galbraith Fired, Refused to Hide Afghanistan Election Fraud

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

Galbraith Fired, Refused to Hide Afghanistan Election Fraud

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.

Learn more

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.

Learn more

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

Oct 1, 2009

Galbraith Fired, Refused to Hide Afghanistan Election Fraud

By James Joyner

The UN’s number two official in Afghanistan, Peter Galbraith, has been fired after a clash with head of mission Kai Eide over how to handle fraud in the recent presidential elections.  Galbraith alleges that Eide is covering up massive corruption for reasons of expediency.

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Sep 30, 2009

Afghanistan: Barriers to State Building

By Don Snow

Assume for argument’s sake that the war in Afghanistan can be “won”: objectives can be formulated that are acceptable to all parties and through a combination of political and military actions, the opposition can be vanquished. If the war is won, however, will the peace be won or lost?

Afghanistan

Event Recap

Sep 29, 2009

First Annual Members’ Conference – Afghanistan-Pakistan: Is the Obama Plan Working?

By James Joyner

Summary of the breakout conversation “Afghanistan-Pakistan: Is the Obama Plan Working?” at the 2009 Annual Members’ Conference. PARTICIPANTS: Vice Adm. Kevin Cosgriff, USN (Ret.), Former Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Mr. David Sedney, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia Dr. Harlan Ullman, Founder, The Killowen Group; Senior Advisor, Atlantic Council Moderated by […]

Afghanistan Pakistan

Event Recap

Sep 29, 2009

First Annual Members’ Conference – The Next Phase of the Strategic Partnership with China

By James Joyner

Summary of the breakout conversation “China – The Next Phase of the Strategic Partnership” at the 2009 Annual Members’ Conference. PARTICIPANTS: Hon. J. Stapleton Roy, Former U.S. Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China Mr. Ruan Zongze, Minister Counselor, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to the United States Mr. David Shear, Deputy Assistant […]

China

New Atlanticist

Sep 29, 2009

Rasmussen: Afghanistan Proves NATO Solidarity, Not Weakness

By James Joyner

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told the Atlantic Council that, while NATO’s Afghanistan mission shows some “very real problems” within the Alliance, the fundamental lesson that should be taken away is the remarkable “solidarity” of 28 diverse nations fighting together for a common purpose.

Afghanistan International Security Assistance Force

Event Recap

Sep 28, 2009

NATO Secretary General Rasmussen: First Major U.S. Speech

Amid administration debate over the way forward in Afghanistan, His Excellency Anders Fogh Rasmussen delivered his first major speech in the U.S. as NATO Secretary General at the Atlantic Council.

Afghanistan International Security Assistance Force

New Atlanticist

Sep 28, 2009

Rasmussen: “Things Are Going to Have to Change” in Afghanistan

By James Joyner

In his first U.S. speech as NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen stated that, while “NATO will stay” in Afghanistan “for as long as it takes to succeed,” the political and strategic realities make it clear that “things are going to have to change” and quickly.

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Sep 24, 2009

Afghanistan: The Intervention Dilemma

By Don Snow

The military dimension of the counterinsurgency in Afghanistan requires establishing a high enough degree of security in the country that the Afghan people will transfer their loyalty away from the Taliban (or will feel adequately unthreatened by the likelihood of a Taliban return to express opposition to the insurgents). As noted in a previous posting […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Sep 23, 2009

Obama Having Buyer’s Remorse in Afghanistan?

By James Joyner

Obama administration officials are now admitting what has been apparent for weeks: that they are giving serious consideration to radically downsizing the Afghanistan mission.  That this comes only months after unveiling a substantially different strategy to great fanfare is naturally raising questions.

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Sep 23, 2009

McChrystal Afghan Assessment Challenges Obama Strategy

By Harlan Ullman

Last week provided a treasure trove of raw meat for foreign policy enthusiasts, ideologues and talk radio hosts.

Afghanistan
Load More

Experts

Staff

Charlotte Bertrand

Project Assistant

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Defense Industry
Mehul Bhagat

Fellow

Mehul Bhagat

Nonresident Fellow

South Asia Center

Entrepreneurship Renewables & Advanced Energy

Fellow

Arjun Bisen

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Australia Digital Policy

Fellow

Sara Bjerg Moller

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Danish Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Michael Bociurkiw

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Ukraine International Organizations
Graham Brookie

Staff

Graham Brookie

Vice President - Atlantic Council Technology Programs

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Disinformation National Security
Load More

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