Podcast
Asia Geopolitics
Hosted by The Diplomat · EN
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.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
A Mid-Year Check on US Asia Policy
3w ago00:17:10Tap to summarizeGoodbye 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.
Transcribe →A Fragile Framework Deal for Iran, What’s Next?
3w ago00:15:17Tap to summarizeToday 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.
Transcribe →Understanding Cambodia's Scam Economy, with Jacob Sims
May 2700:20:07Tap to summarizeToday 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.
Transcribe →Southeast Asia’s Mandalas of Multialignment
May 1800:20:43Tap to summarizePrashanth 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.
Transcribe →The Geopolitics of the Trump-Xi Meeting
May 1200:20:08Tap to summarizeToday 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.
Transcribe →Iran Crisis: Pakistan’s Prominence and India’s Strategic Silence
Apr 2700:18:08Tap to summarizeWhile 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.
Transcribe →US Strategic Incoherence and the Iran War
Apr 2100:18:53Tap to summarizeThe 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.
Transcribe →Inside North Korea’s 9th Party Congress
Mar 900:15:50Tap to summarizeWhat 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.
Transcribe →What the US-Iran War Means for Asia
Mar 300:19:01Tap to summarizeAs 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.
Transcribe →Is China Conducting Secret Nuclear Weapons Tests?
Feb 1200:16:47Tap to summarizeIn 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.
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