USINDOPACOM and Regional Leaders Conclude MILOPS 2025 in Hawaii

11 September 2025

From U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

HONOLULU — Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, hosted the 36th annual international Military Law and Operations strategic engagement bringing together leaders from over 30 nations for a four-day discussion in Honolulu, Hawaii, Sept. 8-11, 2025.

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Dwayne Mosbey, administrative officer for the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, dictates the historic background of the cemetery to Indo-Pacific regional leaders from more than 30 nations during the 36th annual international Military Law and Operations strategic engagement in Honolulu, Hawaii, Sept. 9, 2025. MILOPS provides an opportunity for participants to strengthen partnerships, engage with leading experts, and reaffirm shared commitment to international law, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, fighting to win. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Bellino)

President of Palau Surangel Whipps Jr. delivers keynote remarks at the 36th annual international Military Law and Operations strategic engagement to leaders from more than 30 nations during a four-day discussion in Honolulu, Hawaii, Sept. 8, 2025. MILOPS provides an opportunity for participants to strengthen partnerships, engage with leading experts, and reaffirm shared commitment to international law, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, fighting to win. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Bellino) (This photo has been enhanced due to low-light environment.)

Indo-Pacific regional leaders from more 30 nations attend the 36th annual international Military Law and Operations strategic engagement in Honolulu, Hawaii, Sept. 8, 2025. MILOPS provides an opportunity for participants to strengthen partnerships, engage with leading experts, and reaffirm shared commitment to international law, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, fighting to win. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Bellino) (This photo has been enhanced due to low-light environment.)

Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, delivers keynote remarks at the 36th annual international Military Law and Operations strategic engagement to leaders from more than 30 nations during a four-day discussion in Honolulu, Hawaii, Sept. 8, 2025. MILOPS provides an opportunity for participants to strengthen partnerships, engage with leading experts, and reaffirm shared commitment to international law, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, fighting to win. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Bellino) (This photo has been enhanced due to low-light environment.)

Indo-Pacific regional leaders from more than 30 nations join together for a group photo during the 36th annual international Military Law and Operations strategic engagement in Honolulu, Hawaii, Sept. 8, 2025. MILOPS provides an opportunity for participants to strengthen partnerships, engage with leading experts, and reaffirm shared commitment to international law, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, fighting to win. (U.S. Navy photo illustration by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Bellino) (This photo illustration has been enhanced due to low-light environment.)

Indo-Pacific regional leaders from more than 30 nations visit the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific during the 36th annual international Military Law and Operations strategic engagement in Honolulu, Hawaii, Sept. 9, 2025. MILOPS provides an opportunity for participants to strengthen partnerships, engage with leading experts, and reaffirm shared commitment to international law, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, fighting to win. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Bellino)

Paparo, alongside President of Palau Surangel Whipps Jr., Governor of Hawaii Josh Green, M.D. and senior naval leaders from Australia, France and Canada were welcomed as keynote speakers for MILOPS.

“This 36th MILOPS is the largest we've ever done,” said Paparo. “It includes a broad spectrum of government and military leaders, operators, legal professionals and academic scholars coming together for one objective: advancing freedom, security and prosperity to all.”

This year’s theme, “Peace Through Strength: Advancing Indo-Pacific Security through Legal Vigilance and Legal Diplomacy,” guided conversations centered on monitoring manipulation of the law and building consensus through transparent dialogue.

“We tailored this year’s theme to address current threats and enhance deterrence,” said U.S. Navy Captain Dustin Wallace, Indo-Pacific Command Staff Judge Advocate. “We are focusing on legal vigilance and legal diplomacy. We are working to expose and oppose malign behavior from our adversaries, and at the same time, highlight the legitimacy of our own actions.”

MILOPS 2025 aims to foster enduring partnerships and promote security, freedom, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region through open dialogue and concrete initiatives focused on the rule of law. It empowers nations to address common challenges and determine how to better work together to deter and respond to coercion, aggression and legal warfare.

“In combination, legal vigilance and legal diplomacy enable deterrence because they increase the cost of coercion, they expose malign actions, and they reduce the space for misunderstanding, highlighting our unity and our strength when we're working together,” Paparo said.

USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, prevailing in conflict.