A new Security Nexus Perspective by Dr. Andrea Malji, a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, examines the strategic role of small states in the Indo-Pacific and their growing influence in global geopolitics. Malji highlights how nations such as Kiribati, the Solomon Islands, Maldives, and Dominica, despite their small populations, occupy critical positions in the contest for global influence. Their decisions on diplomatic recognition, infrastructure partnerships, and alignment with major powers carry significant weight in shaping the regional balance of power. The analysis underscores a key argument: geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific is not limited to major capitals but is equally shaped by the choices of small states navigating external pressures and domestic challenges.