Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is reinforcing U.S. partnerships in the Indo-Pacific this week as he meets with key allies during his second visit to the region since taking office.
Brown arrived in the Philippines today to engage with Philippines armed forces Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and other military officials, highlighting the deepening U.S.-Filipino defense relationship. Later this week, he will travel to Japan for discussions on regional deterrence and security cooperation with senior government officials and military leaders, and will meet with U.S. service members at Yokota Air Base.
Brown emphasized the U.S. commitment to strengthening ties and building trust with allies across the region. “In the Philippines, we have a long-standing, shared interest in regional stability that’s backed by international law,” Brown said, noting the Philippines as one of the oldest U.S. treaty allies in the region.
Spotlight: Focus on Indo-Pacific
The United States’ approach to a free and open Indo-Pacific involves robust partnerships with key regional allies amid increased competition with China and threats from North Korea. Significant strides have been made in deepening U.S.-South Korean security cooperation under the April 2023 Washington Declaration, marking the 70th anniversary of their alliance.
Additionally, the U.S. has been enhancing trilateral cooperation with Japan and South Korea, a commitment reinforced during the August 2023 summit at Camp David. NATO has also expanded its partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, hosting high-level meetings with Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea during this year’s NATO summit in Washington.
Spotlight: NATO
Defense leaders highlight that these investments in regional ties will have long-term benefits. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III emphasized the positive impact of this expanding network of partnerships during the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore. “We are witnessing a new convergence around nearly all aspects of security in the Indo-Pacific,” Austin said, noting the creation of a stronger and more resilient network of partnerships.
Brown, reflecting on his first visit to the Philippines as a junior officer in 1987, observed the significant growth in the U.S.-Philippines partnership. He pointed to the Balikatan exercise, which saw its largest iteration this year with 16,000 U.S. and Philippine military personnel, along with troops from Australia and France, and observers from 14 other countries. Brown also noted the expansion of U.S. rotational access to four new sites in the Philippines under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, bringing the total to nine.
“I see that the relationship is gaining momentum,” Brown said, acknowledging the positive trajectory of Philippine relations with other regional allies.
Brown’s visit to the Indo-Pacific follows key engagements with global counterparts at the NATO summit and the African Chiefs of Defense Conference in Botswana. These interactions are crucial for building trust and strengthening partnerships worldwide, Brown emphasized.–News Desk