The International Institute for Strategic Studies

The IISS occupies a unique position among global think tanks, explains our Director-General and Chief Executive Dr Bastian Giegerich. We are fiercely independent and non-partisan, drawing on our tr...

international organization theory international security international financial institutions intelligence services intergovernmental organizations

Widely known as Asia’s premier defence summit, this year’s IISS Shangri-La Dialogue once again offered unrivalled opportunities for cooperation among the region’s leading defence policymakers, whet...

viet nam peace and security multilateral diplomacy pan pacific relations international security

In an era of complex strategic interdependence and diverse security challenges, the protection of coastlines and coastal-adjacent shipping routes is vital. Transnational threats and emerging risks ...

maritime security international security ocean governance law of the sea collisions at sea

During the 6th IISS Raffles Lecture in Singapore on Tuesday 2 June 2026, Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan outlined his country's foreign-policy vision within an increasingly volatile global s...

international security foreign relations international relations diplomatic relations diplomats security

Two heads of state, 39 government ministers, over 550 delegates, 40 Young Leaders and over 1,500 supporting officials from nearly 80 countries translated into three packed days of defence diplomacy...

heads of state multilateral diplomacy international security diplomats security public diplomacy

Quantum technologies will make a significant impact on the defence and security sector in the near future, particularly in terms of sensing, communications and computing, explains Dongyoun Cho, Sen...

security sector new technologies dual use technology international security cyber security

Amid a proliferation of security challenges, cross-sectoral fault lines and deepening distrust, new forms of security partnerships are emerging. While some countries seek greater functional diversi...

international security peace and security multilateral diplomacy international cooperation diplomats security

sdg6 general debate sdg17 sdg16 sdg3

Conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, as well as rising tensions in the Asia-Pacific, have stretched existing conflict-management architectures or highlighted their shortcomings. Global strategi...

regional conflicts conflict management international security east west relations peace and security

In a Special Address to the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday 30 May, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Dr José Ramos-Horta urged the Asia-Pacific’s leading policymakers, busin...

peace and development peace and security disarmament development link peace building multilateral diplomacy

Recent conflicts and growing geopolitical tensions have highlighted the importance of defence-industrial capacity and security of supply, the challenges of building magazine depth, and the need to ...

disarmament development link international security transparency in armaments regional disarmament disarmament research

In an era of complex strategic interdependence and diverse security challenges, the protection of coastlines and coastal-adjacent shipping routes is vital. Transnational threats and emerging risks ...

maritime security international security ocean governance law of the sea collisions at sea

The 2025 National Security Strategy reaffirmed the US commitment to a ‘free and open Indo-Pacific’, including through a focus on ‘peace through strength’, while the 2026 National Defense Strategy o...

international security peace and security pan pacific relations multilateral diplomacy balance of power

The Republic of Korea has built up a robust defence-industrial base, with the ability to produce weapons at speed and scale, and at competitive prices, allowing it to help other nations around the ...

korean peninsula disarmament development link disarmament research regional disarmament korean question

Asia’s strategic landscape has grown increasingly complex in recent years. Competition among major powers, historical rivalries between regional powers and the proliferation of security flashpoints...

international security asia and pacific peace and security indo china situation east west relations

In his call for greater burden-sharing at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, US Secretary of War called on Asia-Pacific states to achieve a defence-spending level of 3.5% of GDP. However, as Dr Lucie Be...

military budgets asia and pacific government spending policy transparency in armaments disarmament development link

Reflecting on the lessons of the situation in the Strait of Hormuz beyond the Middle East, Nick Childs, Senior Fellow for Naval Forces and Maritime Security, explains that maritime security is now ...

maritime security maritime safety international security maritime boundaries ocean governance

‘The Asia-Pacific is an open space, and all countries with legitimate interests can have a role to play in contributing to its peace, stability and development,’ said His Excellency Tô Lâm, General...

viet nam peace and security peaceful coexistence laos question peace building

This year’s IISS Shangri-La Dialogue takes place just weeks after US President Donald Trump’s summit in Beijing with China’s President Xi Jinping. The result of the summit is one of tactical change...

east west relations east south relations diplomatic relations indo china situation multilateral diplomacy

There are six nuclear-weapons states that are either located in the Asia-Pacific or with a significant presence there, and each of these are modernising their capabilities and some are expanding th...

nuclear non proliferation nuclear disarmament nuclear weapon states nuclear arms race nuclear safety