Balancing on a Knife’s Edge

Asia’s great powers are quietly redrawing the security architecture of the 21st century.

It’s finally the weekend,

The U.S. federal government remains shuttered, at a cost of up to $21.4B so far. We encourage you to contact your representative or senators and express your thoughts on the matter.

Meanwhile, it’s been an eventful week in defense and security. Israel and Hamas have reportedly reached a tentative ceasefire agreement. The U.S. Senate voted to repeal the 2002 authorization for the use of military force in Iraq. And Germany authorized its air defenses to shoot down drones intruding into national airspace.

But the most strategically consequential developments are unfolding in the Western Pacific and across Asia. The broader Indo-Pacific region remains the world’s economic and geopolitical center of gravity—accounting for nearly two-thirds of global growth and about 60% of total GDP, with half of all global trade—including energy and semiconductors—flowing through its sea lanes. For the United States, it’s also the primary theater of long-term strategic competitio…