BANGKOK, Thailand – U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s 33rd annual Military Operations and Law Conference (MILOPS 22) took place Aug. 14–18 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The conference brought together senior military leaders, government officials, legal advisors and leading academics from more than 20 Allied and partner nations from throughout the Indo-Pacific and beyond to discuss important aspects of international law, military cooperation and the importance of the rules-based international order to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Continuing more than three decades of engagement, MILOPS returned after a two-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The theme for this year’s conference was “Strengthening Legal Partnerships to Uphold the Rule of Law – Tools for Peace, Stability and a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”
In an address to the MILOPS participants, Adm. John C. Aquilino, Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, emphasized how vital the Indo-Pacific region is to global stability, prosperity and the absolute necessity to defend the rules-based international order for the benefit of all.
“Your commitment to each other and to advancing the rule of law in this region has never been more important,” Aquilino said. “Strengthening our shared understanding and building consensus on key components of international law is necessary work, and I am grateful that you have assembled for this purpose.”
Participating nations included: Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Republic of Palau, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, United Kingdom and the United States. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) also sent delegates.
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command looks forward to building upon the important work done at this year’s MILOPS and hosting future MILOPS.