United States / US
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Philippines, U.S. strengthen alliance with new defense guidelines
Maria T. Reyes The Philippines and the United States finalized bilateral defense guidelines during Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s trip to Washington, D.C., in May 2023. The guidelines are part of an effort to modernize and strengthen the alliance in support of the nations’ shared vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, according to the U.S. Defense Department. (Pictured: Philippine…
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Global Commons
Japan, South Korea, U.S. boost electronic warfare capabilities to safeguard regional security
Felix Kim Electronic warfare (EW) — military activity conducted in the electromagnetic spectrum — is a growing priority for Indo-Pacific armed forces. Japan, South Korea and the United States are enhancing their EW capabilities in the air, at sea and on land in the face of regional threats posed by North Korea, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Russia.…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Indo-Pacific allies, partners preserve navigational rights, ensure secure, open global sea lines of communication
FORUM Staff The United States and its allies and partners continue engaging in maritime security activities to safeguard international waters and key global sea lines of communication (SLOCs). Thailand and the U.S., for example, conducted the 29th Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)/Marine Exercise (MAREX) Thailand in May 2023, which included five days of drills in anti-submarine warfare; visit, board,…
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Oceania
Indo-Pacific military personnel learn skills, build relationships at Pacific Defender exchange
FORUM Staff Pacific Defender exchanges improve interoperability and build relationships among military and security personnel from Indo-Pacific nations and elsewhere. The tutorials and discussions during the five-day program in early May 2023 in Honolulu, Hawaii, served to enhance regional security. The gathering at the United States military’s Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam involved military personnel from Canada and New Zealand. The…
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Partnerships
LANPAC bolsters connections among Indo-Pacific armed forces
FORUM Staff The Land Forces Pacific (LANPAC) Symposium & Exhibition drew more than 1,700 military personnel, academics, and security and defense professionals to Honolulu, Hawaii, in mid-May 2023. The event, in its 10th year, highlights the role of land forces throughout the Indo-Pacific. Participants and attendees included delegations from more than 25 nations, and army chiefs from Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Japan,…
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Partnerships
Singapore, U.S. demonstrate military ties with Exercise Tiger Balm, other joint defense engagements
Tom Abke Singaporean Soldiers joined United States counterparts in Hawaii for the 42nd iteration of Exercise Tiger Balm in May 2023. The longest-running exercise between the Singapore and U.S. armies, it enables the forces to collaborate and share tactics, techniques and procedures in activities such as command post and field training drills. (Pictured: Singapore Armed Forces personnel drill during Exercise…
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Northeast Asia
Japan, South Korea, U.S. discuss sharing North Korea missile data
The Associated Press Japan, South Korea and the United States are negotiating an agreement on sharing real-time data on North Korean missile launches, as cooperation among the three nations becomes increasingly important amid growing nuclear and missile threats from the North, Tokyo’s chief government spokesperson said in early May 2023. “I understand that defense authorities are vigorously proceeding to set…
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Across The Region
Indo-Pacific Countries Launch Major Trade Talks
Economic ministers from more than a dozen Indo-Pacific countries launched negotiations in September 2022 on the United States’ first major regional trade engagement effort in nearly a decade. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework talks in Los Angeles, California, were aimed at addressing future challenges and achieving “sustainable and equitable growth” in the region. U.S. President…
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Features
Improving Strategic Deterrence
Brig. Gen. Glenn T. Harris/U.S. Air Force and Maj. John Yanikov/U.S. Army, U.S. Strategic Command There is a reason that nuclear deterrence remains the most important mission within the United States military. U.S. Navy Adm. Charles Richard, former commander of U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), the command in charge of deterring strategic attacks and providing a decisive response should deterrence fail,…
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Features
Weapons with dual missions
Forward-deployed Strategic Long-Range Precision Fires (SLRPF) are major assets in the United States’ arsenal to leverage if the nation, along with its allies and partners, is forced to respond militarily to aggressive actions in the Indo-Pacific region, including those by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Strategically placed, these mobile U.S. Army warfighting systems provide significant deterrence in conjunction with existing…
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