Asia Geopolitics

Latest Episodes:

Will There Be a Putin-Trump-Xi Summit? Oct 26, 2026

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If so, to what end?

In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics Podcast, hosts Katie Putz and Ankit Panda discuss U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming travel itinerary to Asia, to include the ASEAN Summit in Manila, the Philippines, and the APEC Summit in Shenzhen, China. What’s grabbed headlines, however, is the possibility of a trilateral summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Putin and Trump have commented on the potential summit, highlighting very different agendas, and CHina has stayed mostly quiet about it.

You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; and watch the episode on YouTube.

#Trump #Asia #AsiaGeopolitics #APEC #Putin #Xi

Korean Dramas: Ukraine, Russia, and Where South Korea Begins Oct 23, 2026

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In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics Podcast, hosts Katie Putz and Ankit Panda take stock of two tiffs: the recent diplomatic tensions between South Korea and Ukraine, sparked by the disclosure by the Ukrainian president that Kyiv had sent two North Korean POWs to Seoul; and a the root of recent furor over comments made by the commander of U.S. Forces Korea regarding what South Korean territory begins. Putz and Panda put these diplomatic and rhetorical rows into the broader context of inter-Korean relations and the challenges of unification, highlighting the complex geopolitical dynamics in the region and the evolving perspectives within South Korean society regarding North Korea.

Is AUKUS Too Big to Fail? Sep 28, 2026

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In this episode of The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast, hosts Ankit Panda and Katie Putz mark the 5th anniversary of the AUKUS partnership with a discussion of the trilateral security agreement between Australia, the U.K., and the U.S., breaking down its significance, concerns regarding its sustainability amid a changing political landscape, the challenges faced by the U.S. submarine industrial base, and the implications of the partnership in the context of rising tensions with China.

For more, check out our recent video explainer, featuring Dr. Euan Graham, further exploring the AUKUS partnership.

You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; and watch the episode on YouTube.

Trump-Xi Meet Again: A Summit Without Substance? Sep 25, 2026

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In the latest episode of the Asia Geopolitics podcast, hosts Katie Putz and Ankit Panda are joined by Shannon Tiezzi, The Diplomat’s editor-in-chief, to discuss the outcomes – as we know them so far – from the latest Xi-Trump meeting, this time in Washington, DC. Xi’s state visit was heavy on vibes, as Tiezzi wrote in the aftermath, but light on substance. All the same, the meeting has implications for trade, tech, Taiwan and more.

You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; and watch the episode on YouTube.

The Mecca Pact: What Do We Actually Know? Aug 24, 2026

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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 Aug 20, 2026

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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 Jul 31, 2026

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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? Jul 30, 2026

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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 Jun 30, 2026

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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? Jun 26, 2026

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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.

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