On DW News, Ken Moriyasu explains why Pakistan positioned itself between Iran and the United States during the ceasefire negotiations. He also examines the growing importance of middle powers—what he calls “swing states." Moriyasu argues that, to counter China, the United States should pay attention to key land-based chokepoints across Eurasia, where these swing states hold significant geopolitical leverage.
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Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan, Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and Indonesia's Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka during the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 22, 2025. (Getty Images)