In just over 100 days, President Trump’s second administration has set a fast-moving and unpredictable course in U.S. foreign policy. Executive orders, outcomes of high-profile meetings, and policy shifts have forced allies, partners, and adversaries alike to recalibrate their strategies.

What does this mean for South Asia? U.S.-India ties remain strong but continue to navigate trade tensions. Pakistan seeks to leverage counterterrorism cooperation to bolster its relationship with Washington. A U.S. aid freeze raises pressing concerns for Bangladesh, while Sri Lanka grapples with economic uncertainty amid shifting U.S. trade policies. Meanwhile, China’s growing regional influence and intensifying U.S.-China competition continue to create new geostrategic challenges.

Join the Asia Society Policy Institute for a timely webinar analyzing President Trump’s first 100 days and the impact on South Asia. Expert panelists will analyze the shifting global order; dissect critical policy transformations in trade, security, and immigration; assess emerging trends; and discuss how the region can navigate a Washington driven by an “America First” agenda.

The virtual discussion, moderated by Farwa Aamer, Director of South Asia Initiatives, Asia Society Policy Institute, will feature Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, former Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States; Vivek Mishra, Fellow, Americas & Deputy Director, Strategic Studies Program, Observer Research Foundation India; Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director, Centre for Policy Dialogue, Bangladesh; and Bhagya Senaratne, Director of Education, Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, Sri Lanka.

Speakers

Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry has served as a member of the Foreign Service of Pakistan for over 37 years, rising to the rank of Foreign Secretary. His last diplomatic assignment was as Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States of America. He also served as Ambassador of Pakistan to the Netherlands, Foreign Office Spokesman, Additional Secretary for UN and Disarmament, and Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations in New York. During his career, he remained closely associated with India-Pakistan peace process and Pakistan’s relations with the United States. After his retirement from the Foreign Service, Ambassador Chaudhry served as the Director General of Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad. Presently, he is serving as Chairman of Sanober Institute Islamabad, an independent voice on issues of strategic significance.

He has authored three books and numerous research and opinion articles, including his memoir ‘Diplomatic Footprints’. Ambassador Chaudhry holds Masters in International Relations from Tufts University, Massachusetts.

Dr Fahmida Khatun is the Executive Director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), a civil society think tank in Bangladesh. Earlier, she worked as a Research Fellow at the BIDS, an Environment Specialist for the UNDP, and an Economist for the USAID Mission in Bangladesh. She taught economics at universities in Bangladesh and England and was a Visiting Fellow at various international research organizations.

She is a member of the Board of Bangladesh Bank and the High-level Advisory Board on the Productive Capacities Index of UNCTAD. She is also a member of the BRAC Board, the largest non-governmental organization in the world, which works for the cause of the left-behind people. Dr Khatun is a member of the Task Force on Climate, Development, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), an initiative of Boston University, USA. In 2023, she was the Co-Chair of the T20 Task Force on “Accelerating SDGs: Exploring New Pathways to the 2030 Agenda” to the G20.

She did her Postdoctoral research at Columbia University, USA, and undertook joint research with Professor Jeffery Sachs. She has a Masters and PhD in Economics from University College London (UCL), University of London. She has also participated in the Leadership Decision-Making programme at Harvard University, USA.

Dr Khatun’s expertise includes macroeconomic policy, climate change, environment, energy economics, aid effectiveness, international trade and WTO issues, digital economy, youth employment, social issues including health and education, interests of Least Developed Countries, Sustainable Development Goals, and women’s contribution to the economy.

Dr Khatun regularly speaks on economic issues in the national and international media and hosted popular talk shows on national television on economic issues. She is a columnist for the Daily Star, a leading daily in Bangladesh.

Vivek Mishra is a Fellow, Americas & Deputy Director, Strategic Studies Program, ORF. His work focuses on US foreign policy, domestic politics in the US, America’s role in the Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific, particularly its role in shaping South Asian security. His other interests include Indo-US defence ties and great power competition.

Vivek was previously Research Fellow at the Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi; Assistant Professor (International Relations) at NIAS, Kolkata and Fulbright Nehru visiting scholar at the Saltzman Institute of War and Peace, SIPA, Columbia University (2015-16).

Vivek has a PhD and MPhil in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He has one single authored book: Covid 19 and Post Covid-19 Indian Diplomacy (KW Publishers, 2022); two co-authored books, Sapru House: A Story of Institution building in World Affairs (KW Publishers, 2021); India in the United Nations General Assembly (Vol I & II) (KW Publishers, 2019) and an edited volume The Regional Great Game in the Indian Ocean and India’s Evolving Maritime Strategy (KW Publishers, 2020). He over 16 peer reviewed journal articles and 15 book chapters.

Dr. Bhagya Senaratne is Director of Education at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, Sri Lanka, where she leads educational initiatives, creates innovative teaching programmes and fosters global understanding. Previously, she was Postdoctoral Fellow of Global Asia at the Center for Global Asia, NYU Shanghai leading led the project ‘BRI and South Asia’, and the CGA BRI Talk Series. As a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Strategic Studies, at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka, she has impacted over 5,500 students. Her research intersects Foreign Policy Analysis, China Studies, Ocean Politics, Maritime Security and Strategic Communications. She co-edited Sri Lanka’s Post-Independence Defence Policy: Past, Present and Future Projections in 2023 and Pakistan-Sri Lanka Relations: A Story of Friendship in 2017.

Farwa Aamer is the Director of South Asia Initiatives at the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) in New York where she oversees the institute’s policy work and projects in South Asia.

Prior to ASPI, Farwa worked at the Stimson Center where she led research on the security, political, and socio-economic dimensions of transboundary river governance in the Himalayan region. Through her work, Farwa has organized and convened high-level Track II dialogues and discussions designed to facilitate greater inter-and intra-regional cooperation on issues and opportunities concerning water, energy, climate change, and sustainable development in South Asia, MENA, and Central Asia. Farwa also worked on highlighting the disproportionate impacts of climate change and water insecurity on women. From 2017 to 2021, Farwa was with the EastWest Institute (EWI) and served as the Director of the South Asia program. At EWI, Farwa worked on promoting non-traditional channels of diplomacy and establishing multi-stakeholder platforms for shared economic, financial, and geopolitical interests by bringing together policy shapers, media influencers, thought leaders, and business experts from within South Asia and across the globe.

Farwa received her Bachelors of Science degree in Economics from University College London (UCL) and has a Masters in Management with Finance from BPP Business School, London.