Category: US Indo Pacific Command

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

BAY OF BENGAL  –  

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97) conducted a trilateral exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to strengthen interoperability and readiness between the three nations, in the Bay of Bengal, Feb. 17-18.

The exercise included the Takanami-class destroyer JS Sazanami (DD 113) of the JMSDF, the Anzac-class frigate HMAS Warramunga (FFH 152) of the RAN, and USS Halsey.

Throughout this exercise, participants conducted trilateral operations designed to enhance interoperability through maneuver, communications, and information sharing. The exercise increased the collective ability of the three nations to maintain maritime security and readiness to respond to any regional contingency.

“It’s a privilege to sail alongside our allies and partners from Australia and Japan,” said Capt. Justin Harts, commander of Task Force (CTF) 71. “Fortifying our interoperability is paramount for CTF 71 and amplifies our mission of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

The last time the three nations conducted a naval exercise as a trilateral force was on Feb. 15^th, in the South China Sea.

Australia and Japan have both forged long-standing alliances with the U.S., built on shared interests, promoting global security, stability, and economic prosperity.

Halsey is assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force.

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.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii   –  

The U.S. Department of Defense will participate in the Singapore Airshow 2024 with aerial demonstrations and static displays at Changi Exhibition Center, Republic of Singapore, Feb. 20-25.

SA2024 is one of the largest defense exhibitions and tradeshows in the Pacific and this year it continues with over 1,000 exhibitors expected to participate. Some of the DoD aircraft and equipment scheduled to participate in this year’s event are the F-35A, MQ-9, and P-8 among others.

The DoD is excited for the opportunity to build upon already strong ties with Singapore, showcase equipment and aircraft systems, enable engagement with foreign partners, and further power projection capabilities.

For more information about the airshow click here.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

BARRIGADA, Guam  –  

About 20 Airmen from the Guam Air National Guard’s 254th Security Forces Squadron “Defenders” are on active-duty orders to secure fighter jets operating from the Guam International Airport during Cope North 24, during the month of February. Among those charged with the security mission are Master Sgts. Jordanna Escobar and Misty Palomo, commanded by Lt. Col. Stephen Leon Guerrero.

“Our mission is to perform airfield security including entry control points, roving patrols, and a base defense operations center,” said Escobar.

The Airmen are working out of a newly acquired Domestic Operations Trailer, which houses office space for computer stations and communications equipment, exterior floodlights, and an arms room to store weapons. The work being performed by the Defenders allows pilots participating in Cope North 24 to integrate with civilian airports, enabling more options for takeoff and landing during Cope North 24, part of the Air Force’s concept of agile combat employment.

Cope North 24 is a multinational, U.S. Pacific Air Forces-sponsored, field training exercise focused on airborne integration for large-force employment and agile combat employment. Aimed to further integrate Ally and partner contributions towards enhancing security and stability to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific, approximately 1700 U.S. Airmen, Marines, and Sailors are training alongside 700 Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Royal Australian Air Force, French Air and Space Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and Republic of Korea Air Force service members. By the end of the exercise, about 85 allied aircraft will have flown 1400 missions across three islands and six airfields.

Lt. Col. Stephen Leon Guerrero, commander of the 254th SFS, expressed the importance and pride with which his defenders have volunteered for this mission. “Participating in named exercises like Cope North gives our Airmen an opportunity to see their critical role in not only the defense of Guam and the Marianas, but how we fit in the larger National Defense Strategy and the ACE concept. It gives us a sense of purpose and pride in our role as Defenders of our Island, and our free way of life,” said Leon Guerrero.

According to Master Sgt. Palomo, being from Guam helped smooth the process working with civilian counterparts with the Guam airport and added a sense of meaning to the mission. “We’re all from here, and we all know the mission,” said Palomo. “It’s nice to already have that relationship with our civilian counterparts, which is part of our culture, and it just feels natural. We’re so proud to do this to represent our island and the United States Air Force.”

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

AURORA, Colorado  –  

The Commander of U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific, Brig. Gen. Anthony Mastalir, participated in an international senior-leader panel during the Air and Space Forces Association’s Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado, Feb. 13.

The four-person panel, with more than 4,000 people in attendance, focused on the imperative of thwarting present and evolving air and space threats in the Indo-Pacific region.

“Space Force Guardians are there to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific, to uphold the rules-based international order,” Mastalir said. “Rules-based international order has underscored nearly 80 years of prosperity for every nation that chooses to participate.”

Speaking on denying competitors’ space malign operations and campaigning for counterspace operations, Mastalir emphasized the need to work closely alongside U.S. allies and partners.

Mastalir was joined by U.S. Air Force Col. David J. Berkland, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces; Japan Air Self Defense Force Col. Sugiyama Kimitoshi, Commander, Space Operations Group; and Republic of Korea Air Force Col. Jongseo “Jay” Park, Air & Space Attaché.

“I strongly believe that multilateral cooperation is really important and very effective, especially in the Indo-Pacific,” Kimitoshi said. “That’s how to get three countries to work together.”

Mastalir highlighted the importance of partner nations training together on a regular basis. He spoke about the recently completed exercise KEEN EDGE, an annual multi-national event in the Indo-Pacific emphasizing enhanced interoperability across all spectrums of warfare. He underpinned the value space superiority yields in a conflict and the ability to practice space operations in a major training exercise.

“The value of having these three nations represented here, exercising together, can’t be overstated,” Mastalir said. “When you actually go through the exercise you start to understand where you are like-minded, and what’s important to each sovereign nation and their respective defense forces.”

Mastalir also shed light on why the rules-based international order is essential to ensuring peace and stability and spotlighted how a free and open Indo-Pacific is not possible without the Space Force’s efforts.

“Space superiority not only ensures the combined force has access to space capabilities, but also gives us the ability to deny the adversary the use of space capabilities to protect the combined force from space-enabled attack,” he said.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

CAMP MUJUK, Republic of Korea  –  

U.S. Marines from Japan arrived in the Republic of Korea, Feb. 11, to participate in the latest iteration of Korea Marine Exercise Program.

The exercise is a regularly scheduled, annual training event that takes place with their ROK Marine Corps counterparts across the Korean peninsula.

U.S. Marines with III Marine Expeditionary Force based in Okinawa, Japan, will train alongside ROK Marines for multiple training events designed to enhance their combined tactical integration and defensive capabilities.

“We always enjoy the opportunity to deploy and train with our ROK Marine Corps allies and continue to strengthen the professional relationship between the U.S and ROK Marine Corps,” said Maj. Majeski, III MEF Korea exercise officer.

This year’s annual, joint, and bilateral KMEP will feature live-fire exercises, force-on-force training, close air support training, and subject matter expert exchanges.

“Tough, realistic, and high-fidelity training with our ROK Marine Corps counterparts ensures that the ROK-U.S. alliance continues to be one of the strongest in the region.”

In addition to U.S. Marines deploying to the ROK, III MEF Marines also employed the Maritime Prepositioning Force to transit equipment via naval shipping from Japan to the ROK in support of KMEP. The off-load of the equipment also created a valuable training opportunity for the Marines as soon as they arrived in the ROK.

“This gives us an opportunity to train our Marines and Sailors, at the lowest level, on many of their far-reaching mission essential tasks in support of every element of the MAGTF,” said Col. Andre Ingram, commanding officer of Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III MEF. “It makes the concepts we’ve discussed and planned for tangible in their execution and application.”

The successful deployment of U.S Marines and their equipment to the ROK to train with their ROK Marine Corps counterparts demonstrates the Combined Marine Component Command’s readiness, capability, and iron-clad commitment to the ROK-U.S. alliance.

For additional United States Forces Korea information, visit the USFK website at www.usfk.mil. For questions or comments, contact the III Marine Expeditionary Force Communication Strategy and Operations Office at IIIMEFMEDIA@USMC.MIL

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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