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Carrier Strike Group 5 joins USS Blue Ridge, allies to begin Exercise Valiant Shield 2024
June 7, 2024 — Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) of Carrier Strike Group 5 (CSG-5) joined with surface vessels and aircraft from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s (INDOPACOM) joint forces and Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) to conduct a formation sailing and fly-over event as part of the first-ever multinational exercise Valiant Shield, June 7... MORE

240607-N-ER894-1394 PHILLIPPINE SEA (June 7, 2024) The U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), steams in formation with the flagship of U.S. 7th Fleet, USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser, USS Robert Smalls (CG 62), Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, USS Higgins (DDG 76) and USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), along with Japanese ships, Taigei-class attack submarine, JS Jingei (SS 515), Izumo-class helicopter carrier, JS Izumo (DDH 183), and Maya-class guided-missile destroyer, JS Haguro (DDG 180), as four F/A-18 Super Hornets attached to Carrier Air Wing 5, two U.S. Air Force (USAF) B-1 Lancer heavy bombers, four USAF F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft, four USAF F-16 Falcon fighter aircraft, two Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Mitsubishi F-2 multirole fighters, two JASDF Mitsubishi F-15 Eagle air superiority fighters, one USAF RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft, and one USAF KC-46 Pegasus tanker conduct a formation fly over in support of Valiant Shield 2024 in the Philippine Sea, June 7. Exercises such as Valiant Shield allow the Indo-Pacific Command Joint Forces the opportunity to integrate forces from all branches of service and with our allies to conduct precise, lethal, and overwhelming multi-axis, multi-domain effects that demonstrate the strength and versatility of the Joint Force and our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Dimal)

Readout: Pacific Fleet commander’s travel to Republic of Singapore May 21-24
May 23, 2024 — Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, traveled to the Republic of Singapore, May 21-24, 2024 to affirm the partnership and strong relationship between Singapore and the United States... MORE

Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, meets with Rear Adm. Sean Wat, Republic of Singapore Chief of Navy, at the Singapore Fleet Headquarters on Changi Naval Base, May 23, 2024. The visit to Singapore underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening alliances and partnerships for an enduring resilient, free and open Indo-Pacific. (Photo courtesy of the Republic of Singapore Navy)

US Army Pacific, ally military leaders discuss deepening partnership
May 15, 2024 — The most senior military officers with U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), the Republic of Korea Army, and the Australian Army spoke optimistically about the potential for broader and more frequent cooperation between their forces in a panel May 15, 2024, during the Land Forces in the Pacific (LANPAC) conference hosted here by the Association of the U.S. Army... MORE

Gen. Charles A. Flynn, Commander, U.S. Army Pacific, Gen. Yasunori Morishita, Chief of Staff, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, Gen. An Su Park, Chief of Staff, Republic of Korea Army, and Lt. Gen. Simon Stuart, Chief of Army, Australia present their armies' positions on security issues during an international panel at the Landpower in the Pacific conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, May 15, 2024.

U.S., Philippine Air Force to conduct exercise Cope Thunder for enhanced bilateral cooperation
April 1, 2024 — Cope Thunder - Philippines 24-1, a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored exercise, is scheduled to begin on April 8 with primary flight operations over the newly renovated runway at Basa Air Base, Philippines, and run through April 19... MORE

Pacific Partnership 2023 Arrives in Samoa
September 14, 2023 — USS Jackson (LCS 6) has arrived in Apia, Samoa in support of Pacific Partnership, the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Pacific, Sept. 13... MORE

The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Jackson (LCS 6) arrives in Apia, Samoa, for Pacific Partnership 2023, Sept. 13.

Pacific Amphibious Leaders Strengthen Relationships, Modernize Force
July 14, 2023 — The Commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, Lt. Gen. William Jurney, and Indonesian Marine Corps Commandant, Maj. Gen. Nur Alamsyah, co-hosted the 9th Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium in Bali, Indonesia, July 9 - 14, 2023... MORE

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. William M. Jurney, left, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, and Indonesian Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Nur Alamsyah, commandant, Korps Marinir Republik Indonesia, deliver remarks during the closing ceremony of the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium, Bali, Indonesia, July 13, 2023. PALS strengthens our interoperability and working relationships across a wide range of military operations – from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to complex expeditionary operations. This year's symposium hosted senior leaders from 24 participating nations who are committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific, with the objective of strengthening and developing regional relationships.

Unprecedented Interchangeability: U.S. Marines and Aussie Aviators Fly, Maintain and Operate Joint Strike Fighters Together
July 12, 2023 — U.S. Marines and Marine Corps F-35C Lightning II aircraft from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, have been training with Allies at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Williamtown, New South Wales, Australia for three weeks... MORE

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, work together with Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aviators with RAAF No. 3 Squadron, at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, Australia, June-July, 2023. This is part of unit-level and bilateral training events designed to enhance U.S.-Australian relationships and further develop and sustain capabilities in the Indo-Pacific Region.

MRF-D 22 Ground Combat Element Integrates Into 1st Brigade To Enhance Combined Littoral Lethality
September 7, 2022 — The Marine Rotational Force-Darwin 22 ground combat element, led by 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, participated in exercise PREDATOR’S RUN, integrating into the Australian Defence Force’s 1st... MORE

DARWIN, Australia – U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force-Darwin 22 and Australian Army soldiers secure an objective during exercise Predator's Run 22 at Mount Bundey Training Area, NT, Australia, Aug. 27, 2022. Predator's Run 22 is a multinational exercise that simulates littoral combined arms maneuver in a large-scale force-on-force environment.

Lee Kuan Yew (1923-2015) and the Singapore-U.S. Strategic Partnership
April 10, 2015 — Singapore's founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, was an extraordinary strategic thinker whose counsel on foreign policy was sought by leaders around the world. Central to his strategic view was his... MORE

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates shares a laugh with Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew during a meeting in Singapore, June 2, 2007. Gates was in Singapore to attend the 6th International Institute for Strategic Studies conference, the Shangri-La Dialogue. Defense Dept. photo by Cherie A. Thurlby