United States / US
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Northeast Asia
Allies and Partners expand complex air exercises across Indo-Pacific
FORUM Staff Advanced air training is enhancing interoperability and forging relationships among Allies and Partners across the Indo-Pacific. Cope North 2025 in Guam, the United States Pacific Air Forces’ (PACAF) largest multilateral exercise, included more than 2,300 personnel from Australia, Japan and the U.S. Upwards of 80 air assets participated, including fighter jets, command and control and transport aircraft, tankers…
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Partnerships
Military technology, partnerships key components at POST Conference
FORUM Staff The need to rapidly advance military technology was a leading refrain at the Pacific Operational Science & Technology (POST) Conference in early March 2025. “The priority here is not just developing military technology but to do it in a way that can be expedited and transitioned rapidly,” said Choi Jang sik, director general of South Korea’s Advanced Force…
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Partnerships
Expanded multinational space domain component key part of Cobra Gold 2025
Tech. Sgt. Emerson Nunez/U.S. Air Force Exercise Cobra Gold, long a cornerstone of Thailand-United States military engagement in the Indo-Pacific, expanded into the space domain in 2025 with a multinational initiative to enhance interoperability and strengthen regional partnerships. “The goal is to establish a joint, combined, multinational component command specifically for space,” said Maj. Garry Stratiev, space operations planner for…
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Oceania
Australia expands naval engagements with key Indo-Pacific deployments
Peter Parson The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is expanding its operational reach across the Indo-Pacific, underscoring a strategic commitment to regional security and international partnerships. The recent deployments of the Royal Australian Navy vessels HMAS Brisbane, ADV Reliant and HMAS Hobart highlight the dual focus on strengthening defense capabilities and fostering cooperation. HMAS Brisbane, a Hobart-class destroyer, returned to Sydney…
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Conflicts - Tensions
U.S., Allies and Partners enhance Pacific island stability and security through shiprider agreements
FORUM Staff The United States Coast Guard cutter Midgett visited Australia, New Zealand and Tuvalu in February 2025 as part of the shiprider program, in which Indo-Pacific nations and territories partner to deter illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, counter drug trafficking, and strengthen bilateral relationships. Personnel also exchange expertise and best practices, and enhance interoperability. The bilateral maritime law…
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Partnerships
Cobra Gold exercise enhances multilateralism across Indo-Pacific
FORUM Staff More than 8,200 personnel from 30 countries participated in the 44th iteration of Cobra Gold, hosted by Thailand and the United States in Thailand. Key military contingents from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea participated in the exercise, which ran from February 25 to March 7, 2025, to strengthen relationships among Allies and Partners and bolster regional…
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Northeast Asia
USS Carl Vinson visit demonstrates ironclad commitment to South Korea
Reuters The USS Carl Vinson arrived in Busan, South Korea, for a scheduled port visit in early March, becoming the first United States Navy aircraft carrier to dock at a South Korean port in 2025. The arrival of the aircraft carrier and its strike group demonstrates the solid South Korea-U.S. alliance and boosts the interoperability of the longtime allies’ combined…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Philippines, U.S. highlight freedom of navigation with South China Sea joint air patrol
Sentry Contributor The Philippines and the United States recently conducted a joint air patrol over the South China Sea, a region fraught with territorial disputes and geopolitical tensions. The exercise, which underscored freedom of navigation, took place near Scarborough Shoal, a strategic location at the center of a long-standing territorial dispute between China and the Philippines. Philippine FA-50 and United…
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Global Commons
Aero India 2025 showcases India-U.S. ties, Indo-Pacific security
Sentry Contributor Aero India, one of the Indo-Pacific’s largest aerospace exhibitions, commenced in February 2025 against a backdrop of heightened security concerns in the Indo-Pacific. The event highlighted the push for enhanced defense manufacturing and exports. “Aero India 2025 is an ideal forum to showcase U.S. defense aircraft and equipment and ultimately contribute toward our compatibility and interoperability with other…
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Global Commons
Entering fifth decade, USNS Mercy still boosting humanitarian and disaster response
FORUM Staff The hospital ship USNS Mercy — “a floating medical marvel” — marks the 40th anniversary of its launch in 2025. The four-decade anniversary of its United States Navy commission comes in 2026. The ship, which is critical to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command humanitarian aid and disaster response (HADR) missions, didn’t start out as a medical facility. The National Steel…
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