Category: Indo-Pacific

Category Added in a WPeMatico Campaign

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U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific participates in Keen Edge 24

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii   –  

U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific participated in Keen Edge 24 Feb. 1-8, 2024, throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

Keen Edge 24 was a bilateral command post exercise with the U.S. and the Japan Self Defense Forces, with Australian Defense Force participation. This year’s exercise explored critical space and cyberspace issues within a multi-domain environment across the spectrum of conflict.

As space continues to remain an increasingly essential domain for military operations, communication and intelligence gathering, strong partnerships and collaborations with international Allies, such as those in Keen Edge 24, are considered imperative for ensuring the security and safety of space-based assets.

“This is the first time that our component field command has participated in Keen Edge,” said Maj. Justin Cunningham, Logistics and Cyber Director, SPACEFOR-INDOPAC. “This exercise solidifies the sheer effectiveness and capabilities provided by SPACEFOR-INDOPAC.”

The exercise was a series of joint-multilateral command post exercises designed to increase integrated joint operational capability, refine command and control procedures and enhance interoperability of all participants. Cooperation alongside Allies and partners is critical in ensuring and maintaining the safety, security, stability and sustainability of the domain.

“Like every other component of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, our goal was to train interdependently with our Allies and partners,” said Cunningham. “We’re not alone out here in the Pacific, and we’re not alone in the defense of Space.”

Approximately 125 people making up the total joint force – from Guardians, Airmen, Soldiers, Marines, and civilians directly supported SPACEFOR-INDOPAC’s team.

“I’m incredibly proud of the work the team accomplished during this exercise. The level of integration and synchronization across all domains was the best I’ve seen,” said Brig. Gen. Anthony Mastalir. “Space is a critical component of the joint force, and the opportunity to integrate with space forces from Japan and Australia better informs how we must fight in the Indo-Pacific.  This was no small feat for the newest service.”

Keen Edge is part of the annual U.S.-Japan exercise series that alternates between field training exercises (Keen Sword) and command post exercises. During Keen Edge 24, Japanese, U.S. and Australian headquarters staffs will employ computer simulations to practice responses in the event of a crisis or contingency.

SPACEFOR-INDOPAC provides USINDOPACOM a cadre of space experts who can work with allies and partners to integrate space activities into shared operations, activities, and investments. By doing this, SPACEFOR-INDOPAC enhances security stretching from the Indian Ocean across South and East Asia to the West coast of the United States. Furthermore, SPACEFOR-INDOPAC promotes regional stability and advances U.S. partnerships in the region.

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U.S. Marines Complete Emergency Relief Operations in Mindanao

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

CAMP COURTNEY, Okinawa, Japan  –  

U.S. Marines from III Marine Expeditionary Force assisted the Government of the Philippines by providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in response to the natural disaster in Mindanao, Republic of the Philippines, Feb. 12-15, 2024.

At the request of the Government of the Philippines, Marines from Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, supported the U.S. Agency for International Development with 10 support missions, delivering much needed supplies using KC-130J Hercules aircraft. Supplies were appropriated to disaster-affected people in Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao de Oro provinces.

“III MEF rapidly transported 15,000 family food packs – ensuring over 75,000 people devastated by heavy flooding and landslides had access to life sustaining assistance,” said Ben Hemingway, the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance Regional Director. “The rapid deployment and close coordination of the skilled III MEF aviators and logisticians was critical to the delivery of life saving assistance in support of our Philippine Allies.”

III MEF’s forward posture in Japan allows Marines to quickly move personnel and equipment around the region to support allies and partners in times of need. As a crisis response force, III MEF has a long history of providing assistance in support of safety and security in the region.

For questions regarding this release, please email III Marine Expeditionary Force Communication Strategy and Operations at IIIMEFmedia@usmc.mil.

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South Carolina Guard Comes to Aid of Partner Colombia

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina National Guard is assisting Colombia, its State Partnership Program partner, in dealing with dozens of wildfires.

To help emergency responders battle as many as 30 active fires in and around Bogota in late January, the South Carolina National Guard loaned Colombia multiple helicopter buckets. 

“We are sorry our friends and state partners are experiencing significant fires this year impacting cities like Bogota,” said Maj. Gen. R. Van McCarty, adjutant general of South Carolina. “The South Carolina National Guard stands committed to assist Colombia with helicopter buckets, which are an invaluable fire-retardant tool.”

The helicopter buckets on loan to the Republic of Colombia can transport 700 gallons of water to drop on fire areas. 

The equipment loan is just a recent example of the success of the partnership between the South Carolina National Guard and Colombia, which began in 2012.

“The State Partnership Program is about supporting the development of capabilities,” said South Carolina Air National Guard Lt. Col. Daniel O. Linkroum, who directs the SPP program with Colombia. “It was satisfying to get a call to support an immediate need and be able to respond with resources in short order. It reaffirms the South Carolina National Guard’s commitment to our partner nation.”

This effort has been years in the making, supported and sourced by the Civil Affairs and Humanitarian Assistance Directorate at U.S. Southern Command.

The Department of Defense State Partnership Program is a cooperative military-to-military exchange administered by the National Guard Bureau. It facilitates cooperation between U.S. National Guard units and foreign allies. 

The program began in 1993 and has grown to include 100 nations.

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Readout of U.S., South Korea Nuclear Consultative Group Framework Signing

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Department of Defense Spokesperson Cmdr. Jessica Anderson provided the following statement:

Dr. Vipin Narang, U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, and Mr. Cho Chang Lae, ROK Deputy Minister of Defense for Policy, co-chairs for the bilateral Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), signed the NCG Framework document on Feb. 12, 2024, at the Pentagon, Washington, DC.

The NCG Framework document describes the objectives of the NCG, which was established as a key outcome of the historic April 2023 Washington Declaration between President Joe Biden and President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The NCG is an enduring bilateral consultative body to ensure the ability to strengthen extended deterrence through joint ROK-U.S. nuclear and strategic planning in the context of the nuclear threat posed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

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Many Nations, One Effort: Cope North 24

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Recently, members from the 35th Fighter Wing’s 14th Fighter Squadron and 14th Fighter Generation Squadron headed out to support the trilateral joint exercise, Cope North 24, alongside U.S. Sailors, Marines, and troops from Australia, Canada, France, South Korea and Japan.

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Statement from NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson Marking the Two-Year Anniversary of the Indo-Pacific Strategy

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Sunday, February 11, 2024 marks the second anniversary of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. Over the past two years, we have made historic progress in advancing an Indo-Pacific that is free and open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient. Thanks to President Biden’s leadership, the United States has never been in a stronger position in the Indo-Pacific.

In the two years since we have launched the Indo-Pacific Strategy, we have reinvested and revitalized our alliances and partnerships and taken them to new heights. We have deepened and elevated alliances with Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Australia, the Philippines, and Thailand. We upgraded our bilateral relationships with Vietnam and Indonesia, and our partnership with ASEAN. We have expanded our partnership with India in unprecedented ways. We have surged our efforts in the Pacific, including with two historic summits for Pacific Island leaders at the White House and the establishment of the Partners of the Blue Pacific.

In addition, President Biden hosted the historic U.S.-Japan-ROK trilateral summit at Camp David to open a new chapter in this important partnership. Under President Biden’s leadership, we have elevated the Quad with Australia, India, and Japan to a leader-level summit and have delivered concrete results for the Indo-Pacific region, from vaccines to maritime domain awareness to scholarships for students.  And three of the four Official State Visits President Biden has hosted were with leaders of Indo-Pacific countries: the Republic of Korea, India, and Australia. This year, the President will welcome Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan. We have also undertaken historic cooperation between the United States, Japan, and the Philippines. 

We have also built closer ties between Europe and the Indo-Pacific, including through the launch of AUKUS, a historic partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Today, we see a recognition both in Europe and the Indo-Pacific that the opportunities and challenges in one region directly affect the other. We’ve seen that with historic support from some of our Indo-Pacific partners for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s brutal invasion. And we see that recognition from our European partners as we work to address the direct military support from the DPRK to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

After just two years, our execution of the Indo-Pacific Strategy has made our country and the Indo-Pacific region more secure and more prosperous. All of this strengthens the United States’ position in the Indo-Pacific, and advances our interests in and vision for the region amidst strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China. And even as we confront challenges elsewhere, the United States will proudly continue to prioritize our work in this critical region for our future. 

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Fact Sheets from Interagency Partners:
 

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Strengthening the U.S.-Uruguay security partnership: Gen. Richardson meets with senior government, defense leaders in Uruguay

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (Feb. 8, 2024) — The commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, visited Uruguay Feb. 5-8, 2024, and met with senior government and defense leaders to discuss the bilateral defense partnership between the United States and Uruguay.

The visit was Richardson’s first to Uruguay as SOUTHCOM commander. During her visit, the general got a firsthand look at Uruguay’s Armed Forces and their enduring contributions to domestic and regional security and their support to global peacekeeping.

On Feb. 6, Richardson met with Uruguayan Minister of Defense Javier García to discuss defense cooperation. Later, she met with Chief of the Defense Staff of the Uruguayan Armed Forces, Gen. Rodolfo Pereyra, to discuss continued cooperation and explore ways to strengthen the longstanding U.S.-Uruguay defense partnership. Also on Feb. 6, the general met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Omar Paganini and discussed regional security and security cooperation.

During the meetings, Richardson was accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Uruguay Heide B. Fulton.

Richardson’s engagements on Feb. 7 focused on the Uruguayan armed forces. Richardson visited the Uruguayan Air Force, Navy and Army headquarters and met with the top leadership and senior staff of Uruguay’s military services to discuss continued cooperation and the strong partnership between both nation’s armed forces. She held discussions with Uruguayan Air Force Commander Gen. Luis De León, Uruguayan Navy Commander Adm. Jorge Wilson and Uruguayan Army Commander Gen. Mário Stevenazzi.

Also on Feb. 7, the general visited the Escuela Nacional de Operaciones de Paz del Uruguay which trains Uruguayan service members for participation in United Nations Peacekeeping missions. Uruguay is a renowned supporter of peacekeeping operations worldwide and per capita, contributes more peacekeepers to U.N.-sponsored missions than any other Western Hemisphere nation.

Richardson rounded out her Feb. 7 armed forces engagements during a discussion focused on Women, Peace and Security. The general and Amb. Fulton joined Minister of Defense García and Undersecretary of Defense Rivera Elgue to talk with Uruguayan service members about ways to advance opportunities for women in security.

On the final day of the visit, Richardson took part in a ceremony as the United States donated firefighting support equipment — including “Bambi Buckets” and 40 self-contained breathing apparatuses — to Uruguay’s Sistema Nacional de Emergencias (Sinae) that will bolster the nation’s disaster response capabilities.

The United States and Uruguay share a longstanding defense partnership. Both nations cooperate in areas of mutual interest, including disaster preparedness; peacekeeping; human rights; maritime security; cyber security; space cooperation; defense capacity building; professional education and training; and the integration of women in peace, defense, and security missions.

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Philippines, US partner in Maritime Cooperative Activity in South China Sea

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

SOUTH CHINA SEA  –  

The U.S. Navy and the Philippine Navy (PN) conducted the third iteration of the Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the South China Sea, reaffirming both nations’ commitment to bolstering regional security and stability, Feb. 9.

Participating ships included Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10), embarked with a MH-60S Sea Hawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 from the U.S.; and the Philippine Navy’s BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PS-15) and AW109 Helicopter (NH434).

The MCA displays the enduring partnership between the two militaries and advances combined capabilities in the evolving maritime domain through routine goodwill activities at sea.

During the activity, the allied forces sailed together and participated in advanced planning and maritime communication operations to enhance interoperability.

“We welcome any opportunity to conduct maritime activities with our allies. Sailing and operating together demonstrates our commitment to improving our interoperability and continued coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said Capt. Sean Lewis, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7 commodore.

The U.S. Navy regularly conducts events to strengthen ties among allied and partner nations. MCA enhances combined readiness and capabilities in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Gabrielle Giffords is on a rotational deployment to the Indo-Pacific, conducting operations, exercises and port visits throughout the region and working hull-to-hull with allied and partner navies to provide maritime security and stability, key pillars of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

DESRON 7 serves as the primary tactical and operational commander of littoral combat ships rotationally deployed to Singapore, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7’s Sea Combat Commander and builds partnerships through training exercises and military-to-military engagements.

U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

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Improving Service Member Quality of Life: Construction begins on SOUTHCOM’s New Military Housing Complex

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

DORAL, Fla. (Feb. 9, 2024) – Across the street from U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) headquarters, tractors and earth movers are clearing the land and laying the groundwork for a new military housing community that will dramatically increase the quality of life of service members and families assigned to SOUTHCOM.

The work at the site represents a major milestone in the birth of a new military community; a 139-unit development that will be the first military housing in South Florida since the closure of housing units at Homestead Air Force Base in the wake of Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

The beginning of construction is the first tangible progress in a years-long effort to provide affordable, safe and quality housing for personnel assigned to SOUTHCOM.

“It’s a great sight for all of us to come to work in the morning and look across the street and see this new community coming to life from the ground up,” said SOUTHCOM Chief of Staff, Marine Maj. Gen. Scott Jackson. “Finally, after more than 8 years of work, the start of construction of this much-needed housing is a reality.”

The new housing will alleviate the strain on SOUTHCOM service members and families moving to the greater Miami area. The region has become one of the most desirable locations in the United States, with recent record growth and the rising cost of housing that comes with it.

The complex will also address long-standing readiness challenges with housing key and essential service members near the SOUTHCOM headquarters.

“The impacts of increased cost of living and housing costs was a driving factor to develop affordable, permanent housing to take care of our number one priority — our military service members and their families,” Army Gen. Laura Richardson, the commander of SOUTHCOM, said at the site’s groundbreaking in early 2023.

The new housing community is expected to boast 139 state-of-the-art units, including 60 apartment units that are designed to serve 120 unaccompanied service members, 24 duplexes, 48 townhouses and seven single-family homes.

The housing is being built on 51 acres of federal land that the Federal Aviation Administration transferred to the Army at no cost. Lendlease, an Army privatized housing partner, is constructing the new housing and will operate and maintain the community once completed.

Site development and preparation is expected to be complete by January 2025 and actual housing units will be completed in phases with some housing available by the Summer of 2026 and all of the housing completed by early 2027.

The SOUTHCOM housing project is part of the Department of Defense’s Military Housing Privatization Initiative aimed at providing service members with affordable and comfortable housing that is conveniently located near their duty stations. 

Authorized in the mid-1990s, the program leverages competitively selected private sector housing partners and their investment capital to revitalize existing housing or construct new housing, then operate and maintain it over a 50-year period.  There are no upfront costs to the military departments and housing partners recover their investments by collecting rent consistent with service members’ housing allowances over the life of the community.

SOUTHCOM is one of the nation’s six geographically focused unified commands. The command is responsible for U.S. defense and security cooperation with partner nations in the Caribbean, Central America and South America, as well as U.S. military operations in the region.

The headquarters is comprised of more than 1,200 military and civilian personnel representing all U.S. military services and several other federal agencies. The command was established in 1963 and based in Panama until 1997, when the headquarters moved to South Florida.

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U.S., Japan and Australia Conduct Trilateral Operations

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

SOUTH CHINA SEA  –  

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) and Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) conducted trilateral operations with allied maritime forces from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in the South China Sea, Feb. 7-8.

“This multinational sail fortifies our relationship between the U.S., Japan and Australian allies,” said Cmdr. Earvin Taylor, commanding officer of John Finn. “We promote transparency, rule of law, freedom of navigation and all principles that underscore security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.”

The U.S. Navy regularly participates with allies and partners in high-end maritime exercises and operations, which have continued to grow in scale, scope, and complexity, to create combined operations that enhance interoperability, boost deterrence, and demonstrate shared resolve.

“Australia has maintained a robust program of international engagement with regional nations for decades and cooperative activities at sea during routine deployments are crucial for enhancing mutual understanding and our ability to operate together,” said Australia’s Joint Force Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Jonathan Ley, RAN.

U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.