Freedom of Navigation (FON)
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Land force leaders discuss AI, defense industry partnerships at LANPAC 2025
FORUM Staff Military and defense industry leaders from 33 Indo-Pacific nations met in mid-May 2025 for the annual Land Forces Pacific Symposium and Exposition (LANPAC) in Honolulu, Hawaii, to discuss cooperation and synchronization among Allies and Partners facing unprecedented challenges. Stressing the importance of interoperability, attendees at the three-day conference hosted by the Association of the United States Army addressed…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
U.K.-led Operation Highmast departs for Indo-Pacific deployment with Allies and Partners
FORUM Staff The United Kingdom’s Royal Navy flagship HMS Prince of Wales departed Portsmouth Naval Base in late April 2025 to lead a multilateral deployment to the Indo-Pacific. The eight-month deployment of the U.K.’s Carrier Strike Group 2025, called Operation Highmast, will be joined by vessels and/or personnel from 13 nations, including Australia, France, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand,…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
U.S. bolsters Diego Garcia base to support Indo-Pacific Allies, Partners
FORUM Staff The United States has deployed six B-2 bombers, a C-17 military transport aircraft and several refueling tankers to the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia to maintain operational readiness and ensure protection of strategic assets. The bombers, about one-third of the U.S. Air Force’s stealth bomber fleet, and other aircraft are stationed at the joint United Kingdom-U.S. base…
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Features
U.S. MINEX Operations
FORUM Staff During Valiant Shield in June 2024, the United States Pacific Fleet executed the first major joint mining exercise (MINEX) in 50 years. The MINEX showcased the U.S.’s advanced and diverse capabilities in cross-domain maritime mining, emphasizing quick deployment and multiplatform flexibility. The resurgence of mining operations within the U.S. military marks a strategic pivot to a naval warfare…
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Partnerships
Balikatan 2025 highlights multinational commitment to Philippine security, Indo-Pacific stability
FORUM Staff Japan joined the multinational military exercise Balikatan in the Philippines for the first time in late April 2025, participating alongside Australian, Philippine and United States forces. Observers came from 16 nations: Brunei, Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Lithuania, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United Kingdom and Vietnam. The Japan Maritime…
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Partnerships
Philippine-U.S. exercise Salaknib strengthens defense readiness
FORUM Staff About 5,000 Philippine and United States Soldiers launched Salaknib 2025 in late March. The 10th iteration of the annual exercise focuses on combined, joint all-domain operations, enhancing warfighting capabilities and reinforcing a commitment to safeguard the Philippines’ territorial integrity, Philippine Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala told The Manila Times. Philippine and United States Soldiers participate in Salaknib 2025…
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Partnerships
Indonesia-Vietnam EEZ deal upholds international law, sends message to China
FORUM Staff Indonesian and Vietnamese leaders said their countries expect to formally agree in 2025 on exclusive economic zone (EEZ) boundaries. The move not only settles a long-standing debate on the countries’ overlapping maritime territories, but it also presents a united front to oppose China’s expansive and illegal claims on the South China Sea. The boundaries on which Hanoi and…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Manila advances multilateral cooperation for regional, global security
FORUM Staff The Philippines is rapidly expanding international defense partnerships amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) illegally claims most of the economically vital and environmentally significant waterway. Beijing has become increasingly aggressive inside Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) — and other nations’ maritime territory — despite an international tribunal’s nearly decade-old ruling…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Chinese spies surveilled Philippine military installations, officials say
Agence France-Presse Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he was “very disturbed” and security officials vowed continued vigilance after authorities accused six Chinese nationals in January 2025 of surveilling the country’s military facilities and operations. Gen. Romeo Brawner, the Philippines’ military chief, said it was premature to conclude that the spying was state sponsored, with authorities yet to identify the…
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Features
Stronger Together
FORUM Staff Sri Lanka’s emergence from its economic crisis demonstrates the growing ability of Indo-Pacific partners to collectively accomplish herculean tasks in short order. The Indian Ocean nation was reeling in 2022 with soaring food, medicine and fuel prices, widespread financial uncertainty, and political disarray when France, India, Japan and the United States rallied to its aid. With restructured debt,…
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