Secretary of Protection Lloyd J. Austin III underscored the facility of U.S. partnerships within the Indo-Pacific as he presided over the U.S. Indo-Pacific change of command ceremony at this time at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
The Secretary praised the lots of of 1000’s of Indo-Pacom service members and civilian personnel for the lengthy strides the U.S. and its allies have made in bolstering freedom and safety all through the area.
“Each day, Indo-Pacom retains the watch in our precedence theater of operations,” Austin stated. “And along with our unmatched community of allies and companions, you are advancing our shared imaginative and prescient of a free and open Indo-Pacific — each one among you.”
These strides, Austin stated, are crucial amid a variety of challenges all through the area, starting from China’s more and more coercive conduct throughout the Taiwan Strait, East and South China Seas and elsewhere all through the area.
“[China] is the one nation with each the desire — and, more and more, the capability — to dominate the Indo-Pacific and to reshape world order to go well with its autocratic imaginative and prescient,” he stated, noting that China stays the Protection Division’s pacing problem.
These challenges are additional compounded by the threats posed by North Korea, Russia and violent extremists within the Indo-Pacific.
“However Indo-Pacom has risen to fulfill the second, along with our allies and companions,” Austin stated. “And it has moved us nearer to our shared imaginative and prescient of an Indo-Pacific that’s free and open and safe — time and again and once more.”
Austin credited outgoing Indo-Pacom Commander Navy Adm. John C. Aquilino for his management in reworking the US’ posture within the area throughout “a decisive time for our protection technique” below his tenure.
The secretary famous Aquilino’s main voice behind main investments in crucial munitions and drive to arm the warfighter with crucial capabilities.
He additionally highlighted Aquilino’s management in deepening partnerships all through the area — a crucial element of U.S. technique to discourage battle all through Indo-Pacom’s expansive space of duty.
“Indo-Pacom is working with our regional allies and companions like by no means earlier than,” Austin stated noting a sequence of main mixed regional workouts which might be indispensable for bolstering interoperability with key allies.
Austin additionally famous the lengthy strides made with allies and companions in strengthening the US’ regional power posture — from stationing essentially the most superior Marine Littoral Regiment in Japan to increasing U.S. entry to 4 new websites below the Enhanced Protection Cooperation Settlement with the Philippines.
He additionally famous milestones below the Main Protection Partnership with India and the AUKUS partnership with Australia and the UK.
“Our allies are additionally working collectively in unprecedented methods, just like the rising trilateral relationship amongst Japan, the Republic of Korea and the US,” Austin stated. “And we have continued to strengthen our ties throughout the area, together with with [the Association of Southeast Asian Nations], the Quad and different teams of companions.”
That dedication to partnerships was on full show main as much as the change of command ceremony as Austin hosted a sequence of conferences together with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines at Indo-Pacom headquarters on Thursday.
In a press convention following the conferences, the leaders underscored their dedication to additional bettering interoperability between their forces and selling peace and safety all through the area.
“We have gathered right here as a result of we share a imaginative and prescient for peace, stability and deterrence within the Indo-Pacific,” Austin stated. “We have charted an formidable course to advance that imaginative and prescient collectively, and that is why at this time’s conferences had been so vital.
Through the change of command ceremony, Navy. Adm. Samuel J. Paparo assumed command of Indo-Pacom.
Paparo, a Naval Aviator with 37 years of service, most just lately served because the commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Austin highlighted Paparo’s expertise flying crucial missions around the globe and deep expertise within the Indo-Pacom theater.
“It is all been main as much as this — to the problem of main United States Indo-Pacom,” Austin stated. “Sam, we all know that you’ll excel. We all know that you’ll lead with precept and delight. And we all know that you’ll hold America protected.”
In his deal with, Paparo additional underscored the significance of shut partnerships with allies in making certain a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“As we glance to the longer term, the joint power will meet this nice duty with power, resolve and confidence,” he stated. “Indo-Pacom, along with our companions, is positioned to disclaim and defend in opposition to makes an attempt to interrupt the peace afforded by worldwide rules-based order.”
Adm. Aquilino will retire after 40 years of service. He holds the title of the longest-serving Naval Academy graduate on lively obligation.