Ben Bland

One of the best jobs in the business has just opened up (in my unbiased opinion). I'm not going anywhere until October. So reach out if you're interested in applying and please spread the word!

To be effective in the #IndoPacific, 🇬🇧 must work with European & regional partners. This isn't cooperation for its own sake but prep for a world in which the region will be ever more important to 🇬🇧 national interests. ~ @benjaminbland & @LivJOSullivan chathamhouse.org/2025/07/uk-nee…

"We have two family dynasties in control of Thailand and Cambodia. There's a potentially toxic mix of the domestic politics, nationalism in each country and the escalating violence." @benjaminbland (@CHAsiaPacific) joins @BeckyCNN to discuss the 🇹🇭🇰🇭 border crisis, via @CNN.

This week's visit to the UK by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was primarily about signing their recently concluded free trade agreement. However, it should also be seen as a maturing of the #India-#UK relationship as both countries work towards establishing a genuine strategic…

By understanding how 🇨🇳 is fusing technology, industrial power, economic might, military heft & diplomatic ambition, SE Asians & their partners can use their networks to respond more effectively in the #SouthChinaSea, write @benjaminbland & @WMatthewsChina foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/17/sou…

Good to see the UK and Australia signing a new defence industrial treaty, which should spark more cooperation across Indo-Pacific of the sort we've called for in our new policy paper chathamhouse.org/2025/07/why-in…

Report | Why the Indo-Pacific should be a higher priority for the UK The UK must give strategic weight to relationships in the Indo-Pacific and deepen joint initiatives with 🇦🇺🇯🇵🇳🇿🇰🇷. Read @benjaminbland, @Chietigj and @LivJOSullivan's latest research⤵️ chathamhouse.org/2025/07/why-in…

We had a packed audience for today's closed-door launch of our two new papers on 🇬🇧's strategy in #China & #IndoPacific. Great to have representation from a wide range of embassies & high commissions. Read the papers here ⬇️ 🇨🇳chathamhouse.org/2025/07/what-u… 🌏chathamhouse.org/2025/07/why-in…

Many in Southeast Asia fear that China is already on course to control the South China Sea. How might this happen and how can Beijing be stopped? Check out my piece with @WMatthewsChina for @ForeignPolicy yahoo.com/news/beijing-d…

How can the UK better 'join the dots' across its bilateral relationships and other interactions in the #IndoPacific? 🌏🇬🇧 @benjaminbland, @LivJOSullivan and @Chietigj explain all in their new @ChathamHouse report 👇 chathamhouse.org/2025/07/why-in…

🧵There are many calls on government time so why do I think the UK should make the Indo-Pacific a higher priority? Because our long-term future will be shaped by powers and trends emanating from the region, including the rise of China, India & SE Asia. 1/ chathamhouse.org/2025/07/why-in…

🚨JUST PUBLISHED🚨 In a new @CHAsiaPacific paper, @LivJOSullivan @Chietigj and I explain why the Indo-Pacific should be a higher priority for the UK and how the UK can do much more, using its impressive global networks chathamhouse.org/2025/07/why-in…