In June, we witnessed a dangerous escalation of conflict in West Asia, as Israeli and US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, followed by retaliatory Iranian missile attacks, raised fears of a wider regional war and deepened concerns over the future of of the Iran nuclear deal and the global non-proliferation regime. In our latest APLN Pulse series, APLN members Tanya Ogilvie-White, Nobumasa Akiyama, C Uday Bhaskar, Tong Zhao, and Salma Malik considered the implications of the Israel-Iran conflict for Iran’s nuclear programme and the upcoming 2026 NPT Review Conference.

In this month’s APLN Korea Times column, APLN member Eunjung Lim explained how South Korea’s growing success in civilian nuclear exports reinforces the importance of upholding non-proliferation commitments, arguing that any move toward nuclear armament could undermine economic growth, international trust, and domestic stability.

Weighing in on the confirmation of North Korean troop presence in Ukraine, Fei Su examined the expanding military partnership between the DPRK and Russia, emphasising how their mutual defense treaty and potential transfers of military technology could reshape regional security dynamics. Meanwhile, Roshan Kulatunga drew attention to Sri Lanka’s strategic position in the Indian Ocean and the country’s fragmented maritime security approach, urging stronger institutional coordination and regional collaboration to align maritime security with broader economic and strategic goals.

As part of our ongoing Asia Dialogue on China-US Relations, APLN hosted two important events this month. In Washington DC, experts explored the potential and likely US roles in the Asia-Pacific, and discussed the status and possible trajectory of US-China relations. In Beijing, the discussions focused on political and nuclear risk reduction measures aimed at reducing uncertainty and stabilising the bilateral relationship.

We were also pleased to welcome five new members to the APLN network this month, including Alka Acharya, Zamir Akram, Humayun Kabir, Salma Malik, and Pankaj Saran. Their fresh perspectives and expertise will help deepen our understanding of regional challenges and strengthen our collective impact.

Thank you for your continued engagement and support. We welcome your feedback and look forward to staying connected.

We invited five APLN members to comment on how the events from the Israel-Iran war are being viewed in the region, specifically the Israeli and US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and what consequences these may have on Iran’s nuclear programme as well as, ultimately, on the upcoming NPT Review Conference in 2026. Tanya Ogilvie-White, Nobumasa Akiyama, C Uday Bhaskar, Tong Zhao, and Salma Malik share their views and concerns in this week’s Pulse series on the Israel-Iran war.

Eunjung Lim argues that South Korea’s recent achievements in civilian nuclear exports underscore the necessity of upholding its non-proliferation commitments, cautioning that any move toward nuclear armament could undermine economic growth, international trust, and domestic stability. President Lee Jae-myung’s pragmatic strategy – linking economic revival with alliance-based security – merits broad support, especially from the business sector, which should publicly oppose nuclear weapons development to protect Korea’s global credibility and economic interests.

Fei Su examines the growing defence and security collaboration between North Korea and Russia, formalised by their 2024 Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The deployment of North Korean troops to Russia and potential technology transfers, ranging from space systems to tactical nuclear capabilities, mark a significant boost to Pyongyang’s military posture. She warns that this deepening alliance could reshape regional security dynamics in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific, with implications likely to persist regardless of how the war in Ukraine unfolds.

Roshan Kulatunga argues that despite Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean, it lacks a coherent maritime security strategy, leading to fragmented and inefficient responses to growing non-traditional threats. The current disconnect between strategic ambitions and limited capabilities, exacerbated by economic constraints, underscores the urgent need for a more comprehensive, integrated approach to maritime security, aligning with Sri Lanka’s broader security and economic objectives through enhanced institutional cooperation and regional collaboration.

On June 3, 2025, APLN partnered with the ASEAN and Indo-Pacific Studies Initiative at American University (AIPSI) to host its inaugural annual Washington conference as part of its Track-II Asia Dialogue on China-US Relations. Participants encompassed a range of regional specialisations and senior government, policy, and academic backgrounds. The workshop engaged with themes from our recent Seoul plenary conference, explored potential and likely US roles in the Asia-Pacific, and discussed the status and possible trajectory of US relations with China and with states across all four subregions.

On June 12, APLN and Grandview Institution (GVI) co-hosted a workshop with Chinese, US, and Korean experts in Beijing with the support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and Longview Philanthropy. The dialogue focused on the evolving China-US relationship and explored political and nuclear risk reduction measures to reduce uncertainty and stabilize the relationship. APLN Vice Chair Chung-in Moon, APLN members Kim Won-soo, Tong Zhao, Wu Riqiang, Senior Research Adviser Frank O’Donnell, Policy Fellows Joel Petersson Ivre and Fang Liu participated in the workshop.

APLN is pleased to welcome five new members to its network:

• Professor Alka Acharya (India), Director of the Institute of Chinese Studies, Delhi (ICS).
• Ambassador Zamir Akram (Pakistan), Advisor to the Strategic Plans Division, Government of Pakistan, former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva (2008-2015).
• Ambassador Humayun Kabir (Bangladesh), former Ambassador of Bangladesh to the United States (2007-09), Nepal (2003-06), and High Commissioner to Australia and New Zealand (2006-07).
• Dr. Salma Malik (Pakistan), Associate Professor at the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.
• Ambassador Pankaj Saran (India), Former Deputy National Security Adviser of India; former Ambassador of India to Russia, and former High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh.