The world is entering a new Cold War between the United States and China, requiring a comprehensive, aggressive strategy to counter China’s rising influence, according to the authors. In managing this new strategic reality, the book emphasises innovation, alliances, and vigilance, while raising important questions about the sustainability and endgame of this geopolitical rivalry.

Strategic minilaterals like the Quad, AUKUS, and TSD exemplify flexible security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, balancing between governance and military alignment. While unlikely to evolve into formal alliances, their growing integration positions them as adaptable coalitions for regional stability and crisis response

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's meeting with Vladimir Putin in October, and his absence at the Ukraine Peace Summit in June, raises critical questions about the role of international organisations in addressing conflict: Is the UN a moral arbiter, or should it prioritise dialogue, even with those who perpetrate violence?

East Asian states adopt varied strategic responses to China's rise—balancing, hedging, or bandwagoning—driven primarily by geography, democracy, and historical identity. These factors shape threat perceptions and policies, underscoring a complex regional landscape influenced by proximity, political systems, and collective memory.

Australia’s proposed social media ban for those under 16 aims to protect youth mental health but risks unintended consequences. International examples show that restricting access to mainstream platforms may push vulnerable youth into unregulated online spaces, increasing their exposure to radicalisation and harmful ideologies

In October 2024, four key Southeast Asian countries became partners of BRICS, making the organisation much closer to home for Australians. So why have Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam put themselves on a path to membership?

Despite escalating geopolitical tensions, India and China maintain a paradoxical relationship of economic interdependence. This dynamic reveals a delicate balance where strategic competition coexists with pragmatic cooperation, driving global supply chains and sustaining mutual economic benefits.

Ukraine faces mounting challenges as battlefield victory becomes unlikely, with Donald Trump’s proposed “peace plan” offering a ceasefire based on territorial concessions. While Russia’s vulnerabilities may push Vladimir Putin toward negotiations, the outcome risks freezing the conflict and undermining the international rules-based order.

Shigeru Ishiba’s ambitious foreign policy agenda—ranging from amending Article 9 and proposing an Asian NATO framework to strengthening the Japan-US alliance and exploring nuclear sharing—faces significant hurdles amid domestic political setbacks and regional skepticism. While Japan remains a critical player in the Indo-Pacific, Ishiba’s goals will require careful navigation of constitutional constraints, alliance dynamics, and the complexities of regional diplomacy.

The removal of a despised dictator brings a moment of euphoria for Syrians. But the future is uncertain as relations between rebel factions and external actors remain complicated.