On September 24, 2024, Asia Pacific Initiative (API) hosted a roundtable featuring Dr. Bastian Giegerich, Director-General and Chief Executive of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in the United Kingdom. Dr. Giegerich, a specialist in European defense and security, has been leading the IISS, one of the world’s foremost think tanks, since October 2023.

The roundtable addressed the ongoing military conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as the growing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. The discussion centered on the recent surge in defense budgets and the rapid expansion of defense industries in European countries following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, alongside Japan’s response to shifting security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. Participants also explored the broader economic impacts of these security developments, including sanctions on Russia and supply chain issues with China.
Overall, the event offered a valuable exchange of insights, enhancing participants’ understanding of the current and future security landscape through a cross-regional perspective linking Europe and Asia.