Asia Pacific

Aaron Bartnick In competing with China in global markets, the United States should not seek to create an imitation command-economy from scratch. At an October 15 event promoting investment in the United States, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remarked: “When you are facing a nonmarket economy like China then …

Kester Klomegah For the past couple of years, Russia has noticeably been shifting toward trade while intensifying the dynamics of ‘soft power’ within the framework of its foreign policy with Africa. In many ways, the expanded cultural programs, including art and sports and education exchanges aimed at enhancing …

Christopher Vassallo With a new US trade deal and prime minister, Japan is now focused on reciprocity. As President Donald Trump prepares for a visit to Japan later this month, it is worth remarking on the quiet new US defense paradigm that is emerging in East Asia. It …

Minh Do and  Dieu Linh Nguyen Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Delhi, followed by handshakes between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Beijing, has sent shockwaves throughout the region. Both parties, facing a …

Dr. Ju Hyung Kim The Indo-Pacific’s geostrategic landscape is changing faster than at any time since the Korean War. Although the U.S.–Japan and U.S.–ROK alliances have long been bound by bilateral defense pacts, Japan and South Korea lack a formal defense treaty, while the trilateral has its own …

Dr. Cherkaoui Roudani This observation by Steven Cook of the Council on Foreign Relations captures the profound metamorphosis of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. War has not disappeared; it has evolved into a system of governance, where violence is converted into a tool of calibrated adjustment. The October 2025 ceasefire between Israel …

Kamran Bokhari The Trump administration can build on its peace-deal momentum and push out Chinese influence in the Caucasus. From the US geopolitical perspective, Azerbaijan represents a pivotal strategic partner in Eurasia. Having played a key role in mediating a historic peace agreement between Azerbaijan and neighboring Armenia, …

Fatemeh Aman A limited return to Afghanistan would confer immense advantages to Washington while triggering second-order geopolitical repercussions among its rivals. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he intends to bring Bagram Air Base back under US control has set off fresh debate about America’s role in South and …

Dr. Shehab Al-Makahleh This is a summary of a paper I presented during a lecture at one of the leading global research centers, outlining my perspective on the similarities and differences between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin regarding domestic and foreign policy, and …