Central Asia & Caucasus Data

In recent months, sections of the media and strategic commentary have been abuzz with claims that countries such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey are moving toward the creation of an “Islamic NATO.” This narrative suggests that amid a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape in West Asia, the eastern Mediterranean and South Asia, Muslim-majority states are The post The myth of an emerging Islamic NATO appeared first on Asia Times.

Indonesia’s government has recently thrown a political and economic spanner into the works of the country’s crucial textile industry. Through the state investment authority Daya Anagata Nusantara, or Danantara, it plans to take on an aggressively expansionist role by building a textile state-owned enterprise from scratch. According to reports, the directive comes straight from the The post Danantara’s big plan to cannibalize Indonesia’s textiles appeared first on Asia Times.

China sought to prove its capabilities through major projects in South Asia, but those same projects now challenge its image as a rising power. Over the past two decades, China has expanded its footprint across South Asia, presenting itself as a reliable provider of infrastructure and stability. The US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 further The post China’s fading power and prestige in South Asia appeared first on Asia Times.

The United States’ official departure from the World Health Organization in January 2026 creates a profound vacuum in global health governance. While news cycles focus on the immediate financial crisis—a US$260 million funding gap and management teams cut in half—the deeper shift is structural. As Washington retreats, Beijing is not merely filling a seat; it The post From charity to connectivity: China remaking global public health appeared first on Asia Times.