Asia Geopolitics

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 compare it to other collective security arrangements like the CSTO. There are few concrete details available about the pact, but given the tumultuous regions its members span, it’ll be tested soon. You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; and watch the episode on YouTube.

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 future talks between the U.S. and North Korea. You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; and watch the episode on YouTube.

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 Ukraine war? And what does China -- which has its own nuanced relations with North Korea and Russia -- think about the growing closeness between Moscow and Pyongyang? You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; and watch the episode on YouTube.

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 and the reactions across the Pacific. The July 6 was the first time that China has launched a submarine-launched ballistic missile into international waters, and only its the second launch of a ballistic missile into international waters since 1980. Also unusual: China provided notice to Australia, Japan, the U.S. and others, through in some cases only half an hour. You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; and watch the episode on YouTube.

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 by conflicts in the Middle East and the uncertain future of US-China relations. You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; and watch the episode on YouTube.

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 appearance as a finalist in the Society of Publishers in Asia -- or SOPA --2026 Awards for Editorial Excellence. The winners will be announced on June 18 but today we have Sims on the podcast to talk about Cambodia’s scam economy, its global reach and its domestic roots. You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; and watch the episode on YouTube.

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 Indo-Pacific Security -- to discuss his latest book, “Mandalas of Multialignment: Hedging Bets in Southeast Asia Grand Strategy Spheres, Foreign and Security Policy Webs, and Global Geopolitics and Geoeconomics.” In the realm of geopolitics, few regions are as dynamic and strategically significant as Southeast Asia. Amid intensifying rivalry between the United States and China, Southeast Asia is critical. You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; and watch the episode on YouTube.

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’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; and watch the episode on YouTube.

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 strategic (or astrategic) silence amid wider regional tensions. You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; and watch the episode on YouTube.

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 perspectives of U.S. allies in Asia, Central Asia’s oil exporters, and South Asia’s perpetual foes, India and Pakistan. You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; and watch the episode on YouTube.

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, Ankit outlines what weapons North Korea is looking for focus on You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; and watch the episode on YouTube. If you like the podcast and have suggestions for content, please leave a review and rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Ideas or questions? You can contact the hosts Panda and Putz.

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), what lessons North Korea may walk away with, how China is viewing these developments, and a host of other angles. You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; and watch the episode on YouTube.

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 have suggestions for content, please leave a review and rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Ideas or questions? You can contact the hosts Panda and Putz.

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 military purges, check out Zi Yang’s recent article for The Diplomat, “The Purge of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli: Why and What’s Next for China’s Military” and his October 2025 article, “What Does the Fall of He Weidong Mean for the PLA?”

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 YouTube. If you like the podcast and have suggestions for content, please leave a review and rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Ideas or questions? You can contact the hosts Panda and Putz.

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 tariffs as a cudgel against both, and walk back threats as often as it made them. Meanwhile, Trump had a propensity to insert itself into distant conflicts and declare lasting peace. In regard to both the India-Pakistan conflict and the conflict between Cambodia and Thailand, what peace has emerged is fragile, with the underlying problems unaddressed and likely to resurface in 2026.

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 development of nuclear-powered attack submarines. What does that mean? And what does it mean for security in Northeast Asia? You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; and watch the episode on YouTube. If you like the podcast and have suggestions for content, please leave a review and rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Ideas or questions? You can contact the hosts Panda and Putz.

A Busy Month for Central Asian Multilateralism