Strengthening Global Security Ties: US Military-to-Military Relations with Southeast Asian Countries

Source: Official US Navy Page
Since the Obama Administration announced its “pivot” to Asia in 2011, one of the United States’ primary foreign policy goals has been to maintain its global security presence in the Asia-Pacific region. While recent efforts include a new strategic posture from the Department of Defense, one that encourages regional policies that are “geographically distributed, operationally resilient, and politically sustainable”[1], the shift in focus is especially evident in increasing levels of military cooperation with countries in Southeast Asia. Such cooperation includes the United States participating in joint exercises with Southeast Asian militaries and supporting Southeast Asian armies’ Humanitarian Aid/Disaster Relief (HA/DR) efforts in times of crisis. This has resulted in improved security relations with several Southeast Asian countries, but also a more expansive and influential American presence in the region.

Over the last few years, the United States has participated in several joint military exercises with Southeast Asian militaries. Currently, the United States takes part in over 150 exercises annually with Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam, among others.[2] According to Dr. Phillip C. Saunders at the National Defense University, the United States has spent over $100 million on several major exercises involving joint military forces, interagency activities, and several partner nations.[3] This includes bilateral exercises such as the MALUS AMPHEX exercise with the Malaysian Armed Forces and the PHIBLEX exercise with Philippine service members. Meanwhile, the United States has participated in larger multilateral exercises with Southeast Asian militaries such as the Kiwi Flag aerial exercise with Singapore, Australia, France, and New Zealand.

The United States has also expanded its involvement with Southeast Asian militaries through HA/DR support. Major natural disasters, such as tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, and volcano eruptions are prevalent in Southeast Asia and have made HA/DR a high priority for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).[4] Yet, ASEAN’s faltering economic growth has limited the amount of funds available for regional HA/DR preparedness and has forced such funds to come into competition with other forms of government spending.[5] In recent years, the United States has supported Southeast Asian militaries by taking part in HA/DR missions in times of crisis. In 2014, the United States contributed to the search for the missing Malaysian airliner. It also supported aid efforts after Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 and Cyclone Nargis in Burma in 2008. The United States has also requested to use Thailand’s U-Tapao airfield as a permanent HA/DR facility to facilitate the transfer of food, medicine, and supplies to Southeast Asian militaries.[6] Furthermore, the United States has participated in bilateral HA/DR training exercises, such as the Gema Bhakti exercise with Indonesia, to help Southeast Asian armies create response plans and react more efficiently in the wake of natural disasters.[7]

By increasing the number of joint exercises with Southeast Asian militaries and HA/DR support methods in the region, the United States has successfully demonstrated its increasing interest in engaging with the Asia-Pacific region. Participating in joint exercises has helped Southeast Asian participants boost mutual trust and deepen cooperation with the United States and has allowed them to learn from more advanced militaries and prepare for shared regional challenges. The United States’ regional HA/DR role has expanded the scope of its military engagement program and has displayed its commitment to the Asia-Pacific region. Given the current fragile security situation in the Asia Pacific today, the United States should further enhance military-to-military relations with countries in Southeast Asia to promote peace, prosperity, and security in an increasingly important part of the world and to further institutionalize the United States’ security commitment to the region.


References

[1] Helvey, David. "Rebalance to the Asia-Pacific II: Defense and Security: Cooperation and Challenges." Lecture, from U.S. Department of Defense, Washington, April 25, 2013.
[2] Saunders, Phillip C. "The Rebalance to Asia: U.S.-China Relations and Regional Security." National Defense University Press. August 1, 2013. Accessed May 30, 2015.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5]  Chalk, Peter. "The US. Army in Southeast Asia: Near-Term and Long-Term Roles." Rand Arroyo Center. 2013. Accessed June 6, 2015.  
[6] Ibid.
[7] Lombardo, Corine Master Sgt.. “ARMY.MIL, The Official Homepage of the United States Army.” Gema Bhakti Staff Exercise. June 1, 2013. Accessed July 22, 2015.


Alexis Dale-Huang is a rising junior at the University of Southern California.