Asia Geopolitics

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.

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.

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.

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?”

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.

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.

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.

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.