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Asia Summit 2026

The Rise of Middle Powers: Geopolitics and the New Global Economic Architecture

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The global economic order is being reshaped by the major powers’ geopolitical rivalries, industrial policy competition, and rapidly shifting avenues of trade and investment. The “middle powers,” meanwhile, are leveraging their strategic geography to build momentum away from the great powers, re-shaping trade architectures, and building parallel multilateral coalitions. This panel explores what the “middle power moment” means for Asia-Pacific security, supply chains, and the future of multilateralism. How will emerging blocs, security tensions, and economic fragmentation redefine opportunity and risk in the decade ahead? What signals should businesses and investors watch as international organizations and governments navigate this new era of geoeconomics?

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    Moderator

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    Robin Hu

    Chair Emeritus, Asia, Milken Institute

    Speakers

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    Bilahari Kausikan

    Former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore
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    Paul Thoppil

    High Commissioner for Canada in Singapore
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    Adam Ward

    Managing Editor, Oxford Analytica