Asia Geopolitics
A weekly discussion of the geopolitical implications of current events in the Asia-Pacific, hosted by Ankit Panda and Catherine Putz from The Diplomat, with regular guests.
Episodes
The Mecca Pact: What Do We Actually Know?
In the latest episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast, hosts Katie Putz and Ankit Panda discuss the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement -- a collective security agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye in early August. They dive into the motivations for the pact on the part of all three members, the role (or lack thereof) of nuclear deterrence within it, and take a moment to com
US-ROK Alliance Management via Social Media
In the latest episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast, hosts Katie Putz and Ankit Panda do a line-by-line analysis of U.S. President Donald Trump's surprising (?) social media post downsizing the ongoing U.S.-South Korea military exercises at the very last minute. They dig into the roots of each sentence and their implications for the U.S.-South Korea alliance and the potential for
Transaction or Transformation? Inside the Russia-North Korea Relationship
In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics Podcast hosts Ankit Panda and Katie Putz examine the status of the Russia-North Korea partnership. Since the signing of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty in 2024, the two have held three strategic dialogues, the most recent in late July in Moscow. How transactional is the massive shift in their relations and how sensitive is it to the U
Why Did China Test a Submarine-launched Ballistic Missile?
On July 6 China tested a submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile into the South China Sea. A PLA statement after the test claimed that “the missile test was a routine part of China’s annual military training program, and relevant countries had been notified in advance.” In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics Podcast hosts Ankit Panda and Katie Putz take stock of the test
A Mid-Year Check on US Asia Policy
Goodbye INDOPACOM and hello Middle Eastern distractions.Today on The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) take stock of U.S. Asia policy at the midpoint of 2026, discussing the recent renaming of INDOPACOM and last month’s Shangri-La Dialogue. What are the perception of U.S. Asia policy among regional players amid recurrent distractions caused
A Fragile Framework Deal for Iran, What’s Next?
Today on The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) take a look at the fragile framework reached between the U.S. and Iran and how it fits stylistically into U.S. President Donald Trump’s dealmaking and diplomatic record. You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; and watch the episode on YouTube.
Understanding Cambodia's Scam Economy, with Jacob Sims
Today on The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast host Katie Putz is joined by Jacob Sims, a columnist for The Diplomat, a Visiting Fellow at Harvard University’s Asia Center, and a leading expert on transnational crime and human rights in Southeast Asia. Sims is the author of a series of essays for The Diplomat focused on the cyberscam economy in Cambodia which landed The Diplomat its first appear
Southeast Asia’s Mandalas of Multialignment
Prashanth Parameswaran joins the Asia Geopolitics podcast to explain how multialignment shapes Southeast Asia’s foreign policy and the region’s strategic importance.Today on The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) are joined by an old friend, Prashanth Parameswaran -- now a senior columnist at The Diplomat and a fellow at the Institute for Ind
The Geopolitics of the Trump-Xi Meeting
Today on The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda and Katie Putz are joined by Editor-in-Chief Shannon Tiezzi to preview U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to China, where he’s meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. There’s a bevvy of possible agenda items, but Taiwan, trade and Iran are the most likely -- and most important -- matters to track.You can subscribe to The Diplomat’
Iran Crisis: Pakistan’s Prominence and India’s Strategic Silence
While Pakistan has stepped up to try and mediate between the U.S. and Iran, India has taken a much quieter approach. The U.S.-Iran ceasefire has been extended indefinitely, but the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Today on The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) dive into Pakistan's prominent mediation role in the conflict, and India's
US Strategic Incoherence and the Iran War
The U.S.-Iran ceasefire is on the cusp of ending, negotiations appear to have stalled, and across Asia governments and publics alike are watching and wary -- what will U.S. strategic incoherence yield next? Today on The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) take stock of the current state of affairs, the view of the Iran crisis from the perspect
Inside North Korea’s 9th Party Congress
What happened at the party congress and why does it matter?It may have flown under the radar for some, but in the latest episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) dive deep into North Korea's 9th Party Congress, its internal and external implications, and the country’s geopolitical strategies under Kim Jong Un's leadership. Plus, An
What the US-Iran War Means for Asia
As conflict unfurls across the Middle East, Asian countries -- U.S. friends and foes alike -- are watching carefully.In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast, Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz discuss the recent bombing of Iran by the U.S. and Israel, exploring the geopolitical tensions and the implications for Asia, touching on nuclear deterrence (or lack thereof),
Is China Conducting Secret Nuclear Weapons Tests?
In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast, Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss recent allegations aired by a U.S. official that China is preparing to -- and already has -- restart nuclear testing activities and the implications of these claims for not just U.S.-China relations but the geopolitical consequences of a return to testing.If you like the podcast and
The Downfall of Zhang Youxia
In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast, Ankit Panda and Katie Putz discuss the recent downfall of General Zhang Youxia, a significant figure in China's military leadership. They explore the implications of his removal, the allegations of corruption and espionage, and how this reflects broader trends in Chinese politics under Xi Jinping. For more on the intrigues of China’s
Venezuela: Trump, Geopolitics, and the View from Asia
In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast, Ankit Panda and Katie Putz discuss the recent snatch-and-grab of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces, how this dramatic event is being perceived in Asia and what it tells us about Donald Trump’s United States.You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; and watch the episode on
2025: A Trumpian Year of Geopolitical Shifts in Asia
As 2026 dawns, we look back at a tumultuous year.In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast, Ankit Panda and Katie Putz reflect on 2025, a year dominated by Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency and the unspooling of his particular brand of foreign policy across the globe. In Asia, allies and adversaries alike navigated the new regime in Washington, one willing to wield tari
Dissecting Trump’s Remarkably Odd US National Security Strategy
In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast Ankit Panda and Katie Putz discuss the recently released U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS), focusing on its unusual tone, its departures from previous strategies, and the implications for U.S. foreign policy, particularly in relation to Europe and Asia.
Don’t Call it a Deal Just Yet: South Korea to Pursue Nuclear-powered Submarines
Despite a factsheet stating that the U.S. has given approval for the ROK to build nuclear-powered attack submarines, there’s a tremendous amount of uncertainty as to what was actually agreed to. In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) dig into the recent news that the U.S. had given South Korea the go-ahead to pursue the developme
A Busy Month for Central Asian Multilateralism
The State of US Asia Policy in the Trump Era, With Special Guest Jim Sciutto
Inside China’s Struggle for Influence in Central Asia
Under New Leadership, What’s Next for Japan?
Escalating Tensions, Fresh Clashes on the Afghanistan-Pakistan Border
Inside the Story of America’s Failure to Disarm North Korea
Strategic Alliances: The Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Mutual Defense Pact
What’s Really Behind Nepal’s Gen Z Revolution?
What Actually Mattered at China’s Big Military Parade?
South Korea’s Lee Hits the Road to Japan and the United States
Geopolitical Ripple Effects: US-Russia, China-India, and More
Reviewing Thailand and Cambodia’s July 2025 Border Skirmish
A Trade ‘Deal’ and a Historic Election: What’s Next for Japan?
The Geopolitics of the Second China-Central Asia Summit
What Does South Korea’s New Progressive Administration Portend for Northeast Asia?
France as a ‘Resident Power’ in the Pacific
The India-Pakistan Clashes of 2025: Why Things Are Different (And More Dangerous) This Time
Asia’s New Nuclear Age
Tariffs, Trade Wars, and Asian Geopolitics
Trump, Tariffs, and America’s Global Messaging
Duterte in The Hague: The Philippines and the Geopolitics of International Law
Is the United States Relitigating Its Grand Strategy?
DeepSeek and the AI Competition
Trump 2.0 in America: Geopolitical Ripples Across Asia and the World
The Biden Administration’s Asia Legacy
South Korea’s Martial Law Crisis: Geopolitical Implications and Beyond
Central Asian Militaries and Asian Geopolitics
America First, Again: US-China Relations and the Second Trump Administration
America First, Again: Asian Geopolitics and the Second Trump Administration
A New China-India Border Deal?
The Geopolitical Implications of the UK-Mauritius Chagos Islands Deal
Feminism and Geopolitics in the Asia-Pacific
Geopolitics and the Murky World of Foreign Agents
Afghanistan Under the Taliban: 3 Years On
Geopolitics and Political Tumult in Bangladesh
The 2024 US Election Spins Up: Implications for Asian Geopolitics
Vietnam’s Foreign Policy After Nguyen Phu Trong
The Future of Cross-Strait Ties Under a Lai Presidency in Taiwan
A New Russia-North Korea Strategic Partnership: Geopolitical Implications for Asia
Putin Goes to Beijing: Where the Russia-China Relationship Stands in 2024
Taking Stock of Russia-Central Asia Relations in 2024
The US-Japan Alliance After the Biden-Kishida 2024 Summit
India’s 2024 General Elections and Geopolitics
What to Look For Out of the US-Japan-Philippines Summit
How the US Sees Threats in Asia in 2024
Afghanistan Under the Taliban: Recognition, Security, and Geopolitics
Reflections on a Decade in Asian Geopolitics
North Korea, Korean Unification, and the Prospects of a 2024 Crisis
The Geopolitical Implications of Taiwan’s 2024 Elections
Asian Geopolitics in 2023: A Retrospective (Part 2)
Asian Geopolitics in 2023: A Retrospective (Part 1)
Biden Meets Xi in San Francisco: Managing Competition
South China Sea Flashpoints: The Second Thomas Shoal Crisis
Central Asian States and Great Power Geopolitics
Why India’s Relations With Canada Are Strained
The Putin-Kim Summit: What’s Driving North Korea and Russia Together?
The US and Vietnam Upgrade Their Relationship: Drivers and Consequences
The Camp David US-Japan-South Korea Trilateral Meeting
What’s Driving US-Japan-South Korea Trilateral Cooperation in 2023?
Central Asia Update: US Sanctions on Kyrgyz Firms, and the Wagner Rebellion
Modi Comes to Washington: Geopolitics and the Drivers of the US-India Relationship
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