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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Pakistan’s Trust Deficit

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

Pakistan’s Trust Deficit

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

Pakistan’s Trust Deficit

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
Tue, September 29, 2026 • 8:00 am ET

A first island chain deterrence strategy: A cross-strait and beyond seminar

Indo-Pacific
National Security
Politics & Diplomacy
Resilience & Society

Online Event
Mon, September 28, 2026 • 12:30 pm ET

Building a US technology strategy for the Global South

Africa
China
Latin America
Middle East

Online Event
Mon, August 17, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement and the future of regional security

Middle East
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
Security & Defense

Online Event
Tue, July 28, 2026 • 11:30 am ET

Transforming IMEC in response to the Iran war

Critical Infrastructure Policy
Europe & Eurasia
India
Iran

Content

New Atlanticist

Oct 9, 2009

Pakistan’s Trust Deficit

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

Before we throw caution to the wind and build a new embassy in Islamabad, a la Baghdad, fit for 1,000 employees, let’s first acquire a proper understanding of the nature of the U.S.-Pakistan relationship.

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Oct 8, 2009

Afghanistan: The Options Debate

By Don Snow

During the past week, General Stanley McChrystal’s leaked redacted report on his needs for prosecuting the war in Afghanistan has sparked an increasingly public debate about where US policy should be heading. One fascinating aspect of this debate surrounds the leaking of the McChrystal recommendations to Washington Post analyst Bob Woodward: who did it? and […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Oct 7, 2009

Stakes are Higher in Pakistan than Afghanistan

By Harlan Ullman

In Afghanistan, the Obama administration faces an array of agonizing choices, none of which is good. Making matters worse, the most important strategic issue is not Afghanistan. The strategic fulcrum in containing and defeating the insurgency that is spilling over and across the Hindu Kush is Pakistan.

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Oct 1, 2009

McChrystal: Biden Afghanistan Plan ‘Short-Sighted’

By James Joyner

Stanley McChrystal, the general in charge of the NATO mission in Afghanistan, says the Obama administration needs to make up its mind on quickly on a strategy — and rejected the idea of lowering the bar.

Afghanistan NATO

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
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Experts

Millennium fellow

Hamzeh El Jerbi

Estimation Engineer, Consolidated Contractors Company

Millennium Leadership Program

Australia Economy & Business

Fellow

Naz El-Khatib

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Europe & Eurasia Indo-Pacific

Fellow

David F. Helvey

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Europe & Eurasia

Millennium fellow

Lauren Fenley

Project Engineer, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems

Millennium Leadership Program

Afghanistan Americas

Fellow

Nathan K. Finney

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Conflict Defense Policy

Fellow

Nik Foster

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Energy & Environment
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Events

Online Event Thu, October 29, 2026 • 8:00 am ET

Building collective cognitive resilience: A cross-strait and beyond seminar
Artificial Intelligence Disinformation Indo-Pacific Japan