Aligning Across Hemispheres: The Indo-Pacific Four and the NATO Summit

July 9, 2026 — As NATO deepens its partnerships beyond Europe, the Indo-Pacific Four (IP4)—Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand—have become increasingly central to discussions about global security, defense cooperation, and the future of the rules-based international order. Following the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, the Asia Society Policy Institute convenes leading experts to examine what the IP4 accomplished—both symbolically and in substance—and what the NATO-IP4 partnership reveals about growing security linkages between Asia and Europe. The discussion explores how Asian capitals are responding to evolving U.S. expectations for defense burden sharing, the impact of recent diplomatic tensions, and whether middle-power strategic engagement is gaining momentum in an increasingly contested global landscape. Speakers include Mira Rapp-Hooper, senior adviser at The Asia Group; Yuka Koshino, adjunct research fellow, Research Institute for Advanced Innovation and GeoStrategy (RAIS) at the International House of Japan; Reuben Steff, assistant professor at Mendel University, Brno, Czech Republic; and Kuyoun Chung, associate professor of political science at Kangwon National University. Emma Chanlett-Avery, ASPI's director for political-security affairs, moderates the discussion. Subscribe for more videos like this: http://AsiaSociety.org/YouTube --- Support Asia Society today: http://AsiaSociety.org/Donate --- Subscribe to our newsletter to stay connected: https://asiasociety.org/email-subscri... --- Facebook:   / asiasociety   Instagram:   / asiasociety   Twitter:   / asiasociety   LinkedIn:   / asia-society   #natosummit #indopacific #geopolitics #asiasocietypolicyinstitute 00:00 – Introduction 03:49 – Discussion