Since FORUM’s founding in 1975, it has spotlighted the United States Indo-Pacific Command’s (USINDOPACOM) commitment to the region as enshrined by its enduring presence over the decades.
The U.S.’s long-standing engagement in the region emanates from its shared history with other Indo-Pacific nations and its goals of achieving mutual benefits together. At the core of the U.S. approach is the nation’s commitment to maintain a Free and Open Indo-Pacific working with Allies and Partners to achieve prosperity for the region. This framework guides how the U.S. Defense Department coordinates security efforts with other nations and militaries.
Since its establishment in January 1947 as the Pacific Command, USINDOPACOM has been integral to not only defending the U.S. homeland but also to deterring destabilizing actions in the Indo-Pacific.
USINDOPACOM seeks to prevent conflict by demonstrating robust military capabilities and a consistent resolve in coordination with Allies and Partners, its Commander, Adm. Samuel Paparo, testified before the U.S. Senate Armed Forces Committee in April 2025. To achieve this posture, the U.S. continues to invest in advanced military technologies and maintain a credible forward presence throughout the region.
“In coordination with Allies and Partners, the Joint Force develops and demonstrates the ability to deny adversaries’ strategic objectives in all domains,” Paparo said. “Credible, prompt, and sustained combat power, visible across the Indo-Pacific region, will deter acts of military aggression that destabilize the region, undermine security and stability, and threaten the security, freedom, and prosperity of the United States.”
More than 100,000 U.S. personnel are stationed across the region, supported by key treaty allies, including Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand. That demonstrates the nation’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific and its capability to project power and deter aggression.
“Maintaining an agile posture and substantial forward presence ensures USINDOPACOM forces stand ready to rapidly and effectively respond to crisis in the region, deter malign activities, and, if necessary, prevail in conflict,” Paparo said.
USINDOPACOM is striving to make its force posture increasingly mobile, distributed, resilient and lethal as it moves toward a more dispersed and agile deployment model, he said.
Key examples include the increased rotational presence of U.S. bombers and fighter aircraft in Australia, boosted maritime and ground forces cooperation with regional powers, and enhancement of space and logistics capabilities. For instance, the U.S. Army has temporarily deployed its intermediate-range Typhon missile system to the Philippines to augment its long-range, precision strike capabilities.
Paparo also cited initiatives by Japan and the U.S. to modernize aspects of their longtime alliance to include missions and capabilities, such as improving coordinated command and control, increasing bilateral presence in Japan’s southwest islands, and enhancing Japan’s counterstrike capabilities.
He also noted that the joint United Kingdom-U.S. military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean remains critical for regional security.
Paparo praised France’s enduring presence in the region through its territories of New Caledonia and French Polynesia. The French Navy’s Carrier Strike Group deployed to the region in January and conducted the multilateral exercise La Pérouse 2025.
