Summary of GEAB bulletin 192 – Is Europe’s present Asia’s future?

As we enter the New Year of the Snake, the LEAP team invites you to explore the future of the Asian continent. Our work has led us to a fundamental question for the world’s future: is the European Union’s crisis a glimpse into ASEAN and Asia’s future? Or, conversely, does Asia hold the key to Europe’s revival?

Ultimately, the challenges faced by these two regions share striking similarities. ASEAN, the economic and financial powerhouse of Asia, mirrors many aspects of the European project. As development levels begin to converge, geopolitical shifts—particularly the impact of U.S. policies under Trump—are reshaping relations between these two blocs and the global order.  The key question remains: which direction will they take?

Among the recent shockwaves, DeepSeek sends a strong message to the world that the founding ideals of the digital revolution are still alive and within reach. Moreover, this signal is coming from the East rather than the West, reigniting competition, reshuffling global dynamics, and restoring hope to those seeking to regain control over societies increasingly dominated by unregulated financial markets.

The influence of DeepSeek is only the beginning. Our team anticipates that China is poised to deploy a broader AI-driven strategy, including what we call a “Reverse Opium War”—flooding the West with cutting-edge digital tools and making citizens, economies and governments on the other side of the planet increasingly dependent on them.

Meanwhile, the move toward financial consolidation in Asia is gaining traction. A new Asian currency index is expected to be unveiled at the ASEAN+6 Summit in 2026. This initiative aims not only to strengthen the region’s economic power, but also to resolve the cohesion challenges within BRICS+, which have been competing with the Western-led financial order.

To provide a deeper understanding of the region’s strategic visions, we will critically analyse key policy documents shaping Asia’s trajectory. This research, as always, will inform our investment recommendations.

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The headlines of the GEAB 192 (bulletin to be released on 15 February):

• Editorial – 2025: Meanwhile, Asia is playing …
• Is the European current crisis the preview of ASEAN’s future?
• Asia 2025: A few trends for an (overly?) optimistic outlook
• 2026 – ASEAN+6 push for a new regional financial order
• China 2035: AI as the architect of the new economic world order
• DeepSeek and open source: Back to the future
• Decoding Asia’s future: A Critical review of key players’ strategies
• Investments, trends and recommendations