Shangri-La Dialogue: Pete Hegseth on how the US is re-establishing defence deterrence in Asia

Key Concepts:

• Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific
• Forward Force Posture
• Allied Defense Capabilities
• Defense Industrial Base Revitalization
• Interoperability
• Maritime Security Consortium
• Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN)
• Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience (Piper)
• Regional Integrated Air and Missile Defense

I. Improving Forward Force Posture

• Goal: To deter by denial along the first and second island chains in the Western Pacific.
• Philippines:
  • Deployment of Nemesis, a US Marine Corps mobile anti-ship missile system, to the Batanes Islands on the Luzon Strait (between the Philippines and Taiwan).
  • Purpose: To enhance interoperability and improve readiness on cutting-edge platforms.
  • US Special Operations Forces and Philippine Marines training together on complex landing scenarios in the Batanes Islands.
• Japan:
  • Upgrading US Forces Japan (USFJ) headquarters.
  • Purpose: War fighting, deterrence, and improving interoperability.
• Australia:
  • US Army plans to conduct its first-ever live fire test of its mid-range capability system.
  • Significance: First time the system is fired west of the international date line and tested on foreign soil.
• Homeland Defense:
  • Strengthening missile defenses for the US homeland (Golden Dome).
  • Improving regional missile defenses in the Indo-Pacific.
  • Deploying key missile defense technologies and data-sharing partnerships with Japan and Australia.

II. Strengthening Allied Defense Capabilities

• Goal: To empower partners, not create dependencies.
• Maritime Security Consortium:
  • Partnership with US industry to build and sustain maritime domain awareness.
  • Employing unmanned aircraft and vessels.
  • Objective: Deliver real operational effects quickly and at a lower cost to defense partners in Southeast Asia.
• Interoperability:
  • Increasing interoperability through joint exercises.
  • Examples:
    • Bali Katan exercise in the Philippines (largest ever).
    • Regular maritime activities with Australia, Japan, and the Philippines.
    • Tiger Triumph exercise with India.
    • Talisman Saber with Australia and Cobra Gold in Thailand.
• Quad Cooperation:
  • Leading the Indo-Pacific Logistics Network (IPLN) to enable Quad partners to leverage shared logistics capabilities.
• Disaster Response:
  • Example: Joint response with the Thai military to an earthquake, demonstrating readiness for unexpected events.

III. Revitalizing Defense Industrial Bases

• Goal: To create an integrated defense industrial base to support multinational forces.
• Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience (Piper):
  • US-initiated multilateral forum of 14 allies and partners.
  • Involves industry, capital providers, and non-governmental stakeholders.
  • Objectives: Strengthen industrial resilience, expand capacity, and accelerate deliveries.
• First Piper Projects:
  • Establishing repair capability for P8 radar systems in Australia.
    • Benefits: Allows Indo-Pacific allies (New Zealand, Republic of Korea) to repair aircraft within the region.
  • Developing standards for small unmanned aerial systems across the Indo-Pacific.
    • Focus: Identifying secure sources of production for critical components and increasing global supply chain resilience.
• Regional Sustainment Framework:
  • Expanding existing contracts for US Army watercraft repair.
  • Goal: Bring in more providers and expand repair capability across the Indo-Pacific.
  • Leveraging allies' ship repair capabilities to enhance US Navy operational effectiveness.
• Cooperation with Australia:
  • Deepening cooperation on guided weapons and explosive ordinance.
  • Agreement for Australia to produce 155-millimeter ammunition and assemble guided multiple launch rocket systems (GMLRS).
• Cooperation with India:
  • Co-producing equipment needed to deter aggression.
  • Negotiating an agreement to bring industrial bases closer.
  • US-India industry-government experts exchange to produce and field state-of-the-art autonomous systems (US-India Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance).

IV. Key Arguments and Perspectives

• Reestablishing Deterrence: The US is actively working to reestablish deterrence in the Indo-Pacific through a multi-faceted approach.
• Allies as Partners: The US aims to empower allies and partners, fostering collaboration rather than dependence.
• Importance of Logistics: Emphasizing the critical role of logistics in military operations ("Rookies talk strategy, pros talk logistics").
• Peace Through Strength: The speaker emphasizes that preparing for war is essential to deter war and achieve peace.

V. Notable Quotes

• "President Trump said it himself last month in Riad and will never hesitate to wield American power swiftly and decisively if necessary that is reestablishing deterrence."
• "We want to empower you as partners not dependents to work more capably with the United States."
• "They say rookies talk strategy pros talk logistics."
• "Those who long for peace must prepare for war."

VI. Synthesis/Conclusion

The US is actively enhancing its defense posture and strengthening alliances in the Indo-Pacific to deter aggression and maintain peace. This involves improving forward force posture, bolstering allied defense capabilities, and revitalizing defense industrial bases. Key initiatives include deploying advanced military systems, increasing interoperability through joint exercises, and fostering industrial cooperation through frameworks like Piper. The ultimate goal is to achieve "peace through strength" by preparing for war to deter it, respecting cultures, and building a better future for all nations involved.