Valentin Grangier is a French international relations student at Leiden University (BA International Studies), specialising in the politics, economics, defence, and culture of East Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region. Deeply interested in geopolitics and global security, Valentin brings a nuanced perspective to the evolving dynamics that connect East Asia with the wider Indo-Pacific, including the strategic interplay between major powers and the central role of organisations like ASEAN. With a particular passion for Japan, supported by intermediate Japanese language skills, he explores the region through a lens that blends constructivist, realist, liberal, and democratic theories. Valentin is dedicated to analysing the complex forces shaping the Indo-Pacific’s future, from shifting alliances to economic integration and security challenges.