The Diplomat  |  Author

Prashanth Parameswaran

Prashanth Parameswaran

Dr. Prashanth Parameswaran is a Senior Columnist at The Diplomat, a Fellow at the Wilson Center’s Asia Program, and the Founder of the weekly ASEAN Wonk newsletter.

Dr. Prashanth Parameswaran is a Senior Columnist at The Diplomat, a Fellow at the Wilson Center’s Asia Program, and the Founder of the weekly ASEAN Wonk newsletter, a research hub focused on advancing a global and comprehensive approach to analyzing Southeast Asia and Indo-Pacific foreign and security policy.

A political scientist by training, Dr. Parameswaran’s research and analysis focuses on Southeast Asian political and security issues, Asian defense affairs, U.S. foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific and global geopolitical and geoeconomic developments. He has held roles linked to think tanks, media, business, and government in the United States and in the Asia-Pacific.

Dr. Parameswaran has conducted grant-based field research across the region, consulted for companies and governments, taught courses affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of State, and authored policy reports, journal articles, and book chapters on Asian affairs. His research and commentary have been published widely in the United States and across the region in leading publications and journals including CNN, The Washington Post, The South China Morning Post, The Straits Times, Asia Policy, and Contemporary Southeast Asia. His first book, Elusive Balances: Shaping U.S.-Southeast Asia Strategy, which was published in 2022, developed an original framework for understanding major power commitments to regions and applied it to the evolution of U.S. commitment to Southeast Asia.

Dr. Parameswaran holds a Ph.D. and an MA focused on international relations, international business, and U.S. foreign policy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and a BA in foreign affairs and peace and conflict studies from the University of Virginia.

Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn, and get in touch via email.

Posts by Prashanth Parameswaran
Page 6 of 187
April 07, 2020

What’s in the New Coronavirus Ceasefire Talk in Myanmar’s Ethnic Conflict?

By Prashanth Parameswaran
While calls for a pause in violence are notable, it remains to be seen whether they will be heeded or can be sustained and translated into positive developments.
April 06, 2020

South China Sea and the Coronavirus: New Vietnam-China Incident Spotlights Old Realities

By Prashanth Parameswaran
The sinking of a Vietnamese vessel last week is a tangible remainder of the need to pay attention to the South China Sea flashpoint even amid the focus on COVID-19.

April 06, 2020

What’s in Vietnam’s New Coronavirus Assistance to Cambodia and Laos?

By Prashanth Parameswaran
A closer look at the significance of a recent development with respect to COVID-19 in mainland Southeast Asia.

April 06, 2020

New Marine Corps Amphibious Vehicles Request Spotlights Indonesia’s Defense Capabilities

By Prashanth Parameswaran
The event spotlighted one of the aspect of Indonesia’s development of its military capabilities.

April 06, 2020

How Will the Historic Southern Thailand Insurgency Coronavirus Ceasefire Affect Peace and Conflict?

By Prashanth Parameswaran
While the development is a notable and encouraging one, how it will impact the insurgency’s future dynamics is less clear.
April 02, 2020

Watch Asia’s Security Flashpoints Closely Amid the Coronavirus Challenge

By Prashanth Parameswaran
Managing Asia’s key flashpoints could prove challenging - in some senses even more so - as governments are managing the continued fallout from COVID-19.

April 01, 2020

Defense Ministers Interaction Highlights China-Singapore Security Ties

By Prashanth Parameswaran
The recent development spotlighted the defense aspect of the relationship between the two countries.
April 01, 2020

What Did the 2020 China-Cambodia Golden Dragon Military Exercise Actually Achieve?

By Prashanth Parameswaran
A closer look at how the recent drills, held amid the coronavirus crisis, actually played out.

April 01, 2020

The Geopolitics of Southeast Asia’s Coronavirus Challenge

By Prashanth Parameswaran
While the dust is still settling, it is worth examining what the potential geopolitical implications of COVID-19 will be on the region.

March 31, 2020

China-Laos Relations in Focus with New Railway Project Milestone

By Prashanth Parameswaran
The kicking off of track laying work spotlighted the development of a key infrastructure project within the bilateral relationship.

March 31, 2020

China’s Mekong Security Role in the Headlines with New Joint Patrols

By Prashanth Parameswaran
The latest patrols spotlighted China’s efforts to boost security collaboration with Mekong states despite the challenges that remain.
March 31, 2020

What Lies Ahead for Thailand’s Outer Space Ambitions?

By Prashanth Parameswaran
The postponement of a planned launch nonetheless spotlighted Bangkok’s wider space plans.

Page 6 of 187