WASHINGTON — U.S. Army Pacific hosted a multilateral gathering of regional military partners to align on collective defense strategies across the Indo-Pacific on Sept. 24, as the command works to build partner capacity amid rising tensions driven by Chinese military modernization.
The event is part of USARPAC’s ongoing effort to deepen interoperability with allied and partner nations in the region, according to the U.S. Army.
The gathering reflects the Pentagon’s deterrence-by-coalition approach — one of the central pillars of the current National Defense Strategy — which relies on strengthening alliances and partnerships to counter potential adversaries rather than depending solely on U.S. military power.
China’s continued military buildup, including naval expansion, missile development and island-building in the South China Sea, has driven increased urgency for the United States to coordinate defensive strategies with regional partners. The Indo-Pacific theater is widely regarded within the Defense Department as the priority region for great-power competition.
USARPAC serves as the Army’s primary command for the Indo-Pacific region, overseeing approximately 90,000 soldiers and managing relationships with dozens of allied and partner militaries. The command’s convening role reflects the Army’s contribution to what is often characterized as a maritime and air-power-dominated theater.
Collective security discussions at the USARPAC level address practical questions of interoperability — whether allied forces can communicate, coordinate and fight effectively alongside American troops in a crisis. Building that capacity requires sustained peacetime engagement, joint exercises and aligned planning.
The multilateral format of the gathering signals the Army’s emphasis on network-based deterrence, in which the collective capability of multiple partner nations creates a more credible defense posture than any single bilateral relationship.