In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast host Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) is joined by Bradley Jardine, managing director at the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, to discuss his upcoming book, written with Edward Lemon, titled “Backlash: China’s Struggle for Influence in Central Asia.” Katie and Bradley discuss how China uses Central Asia as a testing ground for its foreign policy innovations, how Central Asian governments make use of China’s attention – and money – and how China’s machinations in the region have kicked up a backlash, motivating regional governments to take a nuanced approach on issue of regional importance. Finally, Katie and Bradley chat about the upcoming C5+1 presidential summit in Washington, D.C. which will see all five Central Asian presidents descend on the U.S. capital to meet with their American counterpart, Donald Trump. 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.

In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast host Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) is joined by Yuki Tatsumi, a longtime contributor to The Diplomat and a senior director at the Institute for Indo-Pacific Security (IIPS), to discuss the recent upheavals in Japanese domestic politics, including the decline of the LDP and the implications of new leadership under Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae. We explore Japan's relationships with South Korea and China, Japan’s evolving defense strategy, and the expectations surrounding the upcoming visit from U.S. President Donald Trump. 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 Ankit Panda (here) and Katie Putz (here).

In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the recent, and major, escalation of tensions on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. In light of recent Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan, including in Kabul, we explore the complex historical relationship between the Afghan Taliban, the Pakistani state, and the TTP; the challenges of border control along the Durand Line; as well as the geopolitical implications of India's evolving relationship with the Taliban and Pakistan’s improving relations with the 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 (here) and Putz (here).

In this episode of the Diplomat's Asia geopolitics podcast, hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) welcome Joel Wit, a distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center, to the show to discuss his book “Fallout: The Inside Story of America's Failure to Disarm North Korea” and the complexities surrounding the United States’ efforts, over decades, to forestall the development of North Korea's nuclear program.  The conversation delves into the book’s revelations, the changing geopolitical landscape, the historical context of North Korea's nuclear ambitions, and the shaping of U.S. foreign policy. Wit emphasizes the need for new strategies in dealing with North Korea, given the current geopolitical realities and the challenges posed by Kim Jong Un’s regime. 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 (here) and Putz (here).

In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the recent Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, exploring its implications for regional security, the deterrent value of nuclear weapons, and the potential risks of nuclear proliferation. They analyze India's reaction to the agreement and the broader geopolitical context, paying particular attention to the complexities of the relationships between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, India, and Iran. You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or 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 (here) and Putz (here).

In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the recent protests in Nepal, which led to the resignation of the prime minister, in the context of other protest-driven political change in South Asia.  We explore the underlying causes of the protests, including youth frustration, economic challenges, and the role of social media as both a political and economic tool; the geopolitical implications for India and China, Nepal’s neighbors; as well as the potential for positive political transition in Nepal and the influence of small states in the broader geopolitical landscape. You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. 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 (here) and Putz (here).

In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) -- joined by The Diplomat’s Editor-in-Chief Shannon Tiezzi -- discuss China's recent hosting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit and a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in the Pacific. We explore the significance of these events in showcasing China's global influence, military capabilities, and its strategic relationships, particularly with North Korea, Russia, and Central Asian states; and contrast China's assertive geopolitical positioning with the current inward focus of the United States. You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. 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 (here) and Putz (here).

The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss South Korea President Lee Jae-myung’s recent trips to Japan and the United States, the significance of his stopping off in Tokyo first, and how the Japan-South Korea-U.S. trilateral is working under a new diplomatic era in Washington. If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTunes here; if you use Windows or Android, you can subscribe on Google Play here, or on Spotify here. If you like the podcast and have suggestions for content, please leave a review and rating on iTunes and TuneIn. You can contact the hosts, Panda (here) and Putz (here).

The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss recent geopolitical developments between the United States and Russia, India and China, and more. If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTunes here; if you use Windows or Android, you can subscribe on Google Play here, or on Spotify here. If you like the podcast and have suggestions for content, please leave a review and rating on iTunes and TuneIn. You can contact the host, Ankit Panda, here.

The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast host Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) is joined by Sebastian Strangio to discuss the recent fighting between Thailand and Cambodia. Click the play button above to listen. If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTunes here; if you use Windows or Android, you can subscribe on Google Play here, or on Spotify here. If you like the podcast and have suggestions for content, please leave a review and rating on iTunes and TuneIn. You can contact the host, Ankit Panda, here.

The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast host Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) is joined by Tobias Harris, author of the Observing Japan Substack newsletter, to discuss recent developments in Japanese politics. Click the play button above to listen. If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTunes here; if you use Windows or Android, you can subscribe on Google Play here, or on Spotify here. If you like the podcast and have suggestions for content, please leave a review and rating on iTunes and TuneIn. You can contact the host, Ankit Panda, here.

The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the recent China-Central Asia summit. If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTunes here; if you use Windows or Android, you can subscribe on Google Play here, or on Spotify here. If you like the podcast and have suggestions for content, please leave a review and rating on iTunes and TuneIn. You can contact the host, Ankit Panda, here.

The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the geopolitical environment that South Korea's new government inherits. If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTunes here; if you use Windows or Android, you can subscribe on Google Play here, or on Spotify here. If you like the podcast and have suggestions for content, please leave a review and rating on iTunes and TuneIn. You can contact the host, Ankit Panda, here.

The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast host Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) is joined by Paco Milhiet, a visiting fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore, to discuss France's interests in the Indo-Pacific. Click the play button above to listen. If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTunes here; if you use Windows or Android, you can subscribe on Google Play here, or on Spotify here. If you like the podcast and have suggestions for content, please leave a review and rating on iTunes and TuneIn. You can contact the host, Ankit Panda, here.

The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the outbreak of violence between India and Pakistan and the scope for escalation in South Asia. If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTunes here; if you use Windows or Android, you can subscribe on Google Play here, or on Spotify here. If you like the podcast and have suggestions for content, please leave a review and rating on iTunes and TuneIn. You can contact the host, Ankit Panda, here.

The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss Ankit's new book, The New Nuclear Age: At the Precipice of Armageddon. If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTunes here; if you use Windows or Android, you can subscribe on Google Play here, or on Spotify here. If you like the podcast and have suggestions for content, please leave a review and rating on iTunes and TuneIn. You can contact the host, Ankit Panda, here.

The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the Trump tariffs and the implications for Asian geopolitics. If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTunes here; if you use Windows or Android, you can subscribe on Google Play here, or on Spotify here. If you like the podcast and have suggestions for content, please leave a review and rating on iTunes and TuneIn. You can contact the host, Ankit Panda, here.

The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the Trump tariffs and the implications for U.S. foreign policy. If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTunes here; if you use Windows or Android, you can subscribe on Google Play here, or on Spotify here. If you like the podcast and have suggestions for content, please leave a review and rating on iTunes and TuneIn. You can contact the host, Ankit Panda, here.

The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's arrest on a warrant from the International Criminal Court. If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTunes here; if you use Windows or Android, you can subscribe on Google Play here, or on Spotify here. If you like the podcast and have suggestions for content, please leave a review and rating on iTunes and TuneIn. You can contact the host, Ankit Panda, here.

The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) discuss the evolving U.S. approach to alliances and much more. If you’re an iOS or Mac user, you can also subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on iTunes here; if you use Windows or Android, you can subscribe on Google Play here, or on Spotify here. If you like the podcast and have suggestions for content, please leave a review and rating on iTunes and TuneIn. You can contact the host, Ankit Panda, here.