By Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal
Adm. Scott Swift talks to students about regional issues in the Indo-Asia Pacific Region during the Naval War College cooperative strategy forum. (U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal) >>
HONOLULU — Adm. Scott Swift, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, spoke to more than 100 personnel at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) during a cooperative strategy forum co-hosted by the Chief of Naval Operations Dec. 14.
During the forum Swift delivered a keynote speech to attendees that shared his expectations of those operating in the waters of the Indo-Asia-Pacific.
"I'm focused on the behavior of all naval and maritime forces in the region, not on any specific country," Swift said. "I expect all naval and maritime forces, including my own, to operate responsibly, safely and in full compliance with international law."
The event involved representatives from ten partner nations with a focus on participants gaining a better understanding of each other's viewpoints and fostering improved future collaboration.
Capt. Patrick Gibbons, chief of Naval Operations Staff operations, plans and strategy legal adviser and oceans policy adviser, explained how the forum builds relationships and strengthens collaborative efforts between the U.S. and its allies.
"This forum is designed to facilitate an exchange of views among all our allies and partners in the region," Gibbons said. "This exchange of views helps us to understand each other's approaches to the challenges in the region but it also facilitates personal relationships between the attendees. We have flag officers, O-6s, O-5s, and in the case of some countries O-4s who are going to be here and spend two days with their U.S. and other foreign country counterparts."
Cmdr. Jonathan Odom APCSS military professor and Cooperative Strategy Forum organizer said that the APCSS also benefits from these types of multinational events.
"One of the top three priorities in our curriculum both in workshops and courses that we teach is now maritime security," Odom said. "For us to hold an event here where you have the leaders or representatives of the leaders of the navies throughout this region discussing ways to cooperate on maritime issues is clearly quite an opportunity for us."
As part of the event, Swift explained why maintaining cooperation between partner nations in the region is important.
"Today all Indo-Asia-Pacific nations benefit from a rising tide of prosperity," Swift said. "We all have major stakes in this region's continued success, especially at sea, where so much of our trade, investment and interaction take place."
Swift then offered his thoughts on the way ahead for the Indo-Asia-Pacific Region.
"I'm convinced the continued promotion of the rules-based system that evolved over the past 70 years remains the best way forward for all nations in this region, large and small, to continue to rise peacefully, confidently, securely, and economically," Swift said. "My concern is that after many decades of peace and prosperity at sea, we may be seeing the leading edge of a return of 'might makes right' to the region. Such an approach may once again impact the vibrant but vulnerable waters of Southeast Asia."