"Asian NATO" Brings New Competition to Indo-Pacific

From battle lines to trade routes

The phrase “Asian NATO” has entered and exited the world stage for several years now. But comments by Shigeru Ishiba, the newly crowned Japanese prime minister, have given new life to the idea. Prior to taking office, Ishiba published a paper with an American think tank outlining his vision for collective defense in Asia. Shockingly, Ishiba did not wince away from his justification for an Asian NATO. In a press conference, he highlighted the “decline” of the US, making a regional defense treaty in Asia more necessary.

This alone should make many sit up in their seats.