ARCHIVE: ASD for Indo-Pacific

2. Weeks later, the United States and Japan announced the first U.S. forward deployment of a Marine Littoral Regiment – the Marine Corps’ most advanced formation – to Japan. defense.gov/News/News-Stor…

1. In December, we announced several new force posture initiatives with Australia to increase our capabilities across a range of domains, including U.S. Bomber Task Force rotations, fighter rotations, and future rotations of @USNavy + @USArmy capabilities. defense.gov/News/News-Stor…

3⃣ Our leaders expressed their strong support of Japan’s decision to increase defense spending and acquire counterstrike capabilities, which will be vital to modernizing the Alliance and enhancing regional security and stability.

2⃣ The Ministers welcomed Japan’s updated national strategy documents – which @SecDef described in December as reflecting “Japan's staunch commitment to upholding the international rules-based order and a free and open Indo-Pacific.” His full statement: defense.gov/News/Releases/…

The stationing of the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment in Japan by 2025, in accordance with the basic tenets of the 2012 Realignment Plan, will serve to strengthen our Alliance deterrence and defense capabilities for decades to come.

We continue to see the PRC intensify diplomatic, political, and military pressure against Taiwan. This new report highlights increasing PRC military pressure on Taiwan through 2021, and rising in 2022.

The CMPR finds that the PLA is also strengthening its nuclear, space, and counterspace capabilities. Learn more: defense.gov/CMPR/

The U.S. and Japan are now facing a level of unprecedented challenges in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. That’s why our Alliance matters more than ever. That’s why we’re strengthening our relationship by modernizing our roles, missions, and capabilities together.

I was pleased to host Japan’s 🇯🇵 Minister of Defense Hamada at the Pentagon today to further our Alliance and our shared goals, including modernizing in the face of challenges to the international order. I look forward to working together closely. #FreeandOpenIndoPacific

I had a very productive call today with Indian 🇮🇳 Defense Minister @rajnathsingh. We're poised to make great strides in U.S.-India defense cooperation ahead of the 2+2 Ministerial next spring.

A productive visit to Hanoi for the U.S.-Vietnam Defense Policy Dialogue, where Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Chien and I discussed ways to advance our bilateral defense cooperation. defense.gov/News/Releases/…

It was an honor to join @RajnathSingh, @DrSJaishankar & @SecBlinken for a terrific U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial. Our discussions reaffirmed that we're building one of the most consequential partnerships of our times, as we work together to sustain a #FreeandOpenIndoPacific. 🇺🇸 🇮🇳

Productive U.S. - India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue today where we finalized major defense initiatives including the signing of a new Space Situational Awareness arrangement forging the way to more advanced cooperation. defense.gov/News/Releases/…

.@SecDef: I'm pleased to announce that, just a few moments ago, [the U.S. and India] signed a bilateral Space Situational Awareness arrangement.