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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NATO Head: Europe Must ‘Share the Heavy Lifting’ in Afghanistan

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

NATO Head: Europe Must ‘Share the Heavy Lifting’ in Afghanistan

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

NATO Head: Europe Must ‘Share the Heavy Lifting’ in Afghanistan

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
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

Public Event
Fri, June 26, 2026 • 12:30 pm ET

Frontlines of the South China Sea: Fireside chat with Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela

Indo-Pacific
Maritime Security
Security & Defense

Online Event
Tue, June 16, 2026 • 11:30 am ET

Financing the future of connectivity

Artificial Intelligence
China
Digital Policy
Inclusive Growth

Content

New Atlanticist

Feb 7, 2009

NATO Head: Europe Must ‘Share the Heavy Lifting’ in Afghanistan

By James Joyner

NATO secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer today lambasted European members for their meager commitments to the Afghanistan mission, declaring, “Leadership and burdens — they go together.”

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Feb 6, 2009

NATO’s One Priority: Afghanistan

By David Capezza

As NATO approaches the April Kehl-Strasbourg Summit and sets its priorities to conform to the transforming international security environment, the leaders in the Alliance should be focusing on achieving one goal: winning in Afghanistan. 

Afghanistan NATO
North Korea Nuclear Weapons

Report

Feb 5, 2009

Achieving peace and security in Korea and Northeast Asia: A new US diplomatic strategy toward North Korea

The Atlantic Council is pleased to release its Final Report of its three-year project on U.S. policy toward North Korea. This report makes clear that unless President Obama adopts a new strategy of seeking a comprehensive settlement in Korea, the U.S. is unlikely to eliminate North Korea’s nuclear program.D Adopting the new diplomatic strategy of […]

East Asia Korea

New Atlanticist

Feb 5, 2009

U.S. Pressures NATO on Afghanistan

By James Joyner

A major overseas conference provides the Obama administration its first chance to influence the direction of transatlantic relations.  David Rising reports for AP.

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Feb 4, 2009

Kyrgyzstan Closing U.S. Base Key for Afghanistan

By James Joyner

On the same day militants took out a key bridge used to get supplies in from Pakistan, NATO’s logistical problems in Afghanistan got worse. AP’s Mike Eckel:

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Feb 3, 2009

Beating Al Qaeda But Losing in Afghanistan?

By James Joyner

 We’re winning the war against al Qaeda, killing its leaders faster than competent replacements can be found, NPR‘s Tom Gjelten reports.

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Jan 29, 2009

Korea after Kim Coming Soon?

By Peter Cassata

Last week, Kim Jong-il met with a foreign representative, CCP International Department head Wang Jiarui, for the first time since what many intelligence reports believe was a stroke in August.  He “warmly accepted” an invitation from Hu Jintao to visit China and even hinted at working with Obama over nuclear issues.  However, the North Korean […]

Korea

New Atlanticist

Jan 23, 2009

India-Iran-Afghanistan Corridor?

By Peter Cassata

In a measure to sidestep Pakistan’s dominance of trade routes to Afghanistan, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has negotiated a deal with Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee that will see India ship goods to land-locked Afghanistan via Iran.

Afghanistan India

New Atlanticist

Jan 23, 2009

Russia Offers Afghanistan Cooperation

By James Joyner

Like many other countries, Russia is seizing on a new administration in Washington in an effort to redefine its relationship with the United States. Denis Dyomkin for Reuters: Russia welcomes U.S. President Barack Obama’s decision to review policy in Afghanistan and is ready to cooperate, including on supply routes for NATO forces, Russian President Dmitry […]

Afghanistan Russia
FT / Harris Poll

New Atlanticist

Jan 22, 2009

The View from Europe: Afghanistan Troop Increases Unlikely

By Peter Cassata

“We can do better,” NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said of the alliance’s Afghanistan mission in Sunday’s WaPo.  Indeed, President Obama has made Afghanistan a top priority, and in addition to deploying more U.S. troops there, he is also expected to ask for greater European troop contributions.  Yet, recent opinion polls and statements […]

Afghanistan European Union
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Experts

Staff

Nidhi Upadhyaya

Deputy Director, Global Policy and Finance

Climate Resilience Center

Climate Change & Climate Action India

Fellow

Laura Updegrove

Nonresident Senior Fellow, GeoStrategy Initiative

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense

Fellow

Beth Van Schaack

Distinguished Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Human Rights International Norms

Fellow

Ashutosh Varshney

Nonresident Senior Fellow, India

Nationalism Elections

Fellow

Santiago Villa

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

Africa China

Fellow

Brian Walsh

GeoStrategy Initiative

Americas East Asia
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