Multilateral defense cooperation in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region: Tentative steps toward a regional NATO?

ABSTRACT

Some U.S. military leaders have asserted that the United States, Japan, Australia, and India and the Republic of Korea are developing multilateral defense cooperation to deter aggression and uphold norms much like North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has in Europe. Frequent military exercises and China’s threats to freedom of navigation (FoN) and North Korea’s nuclear missiles comprise the motive force for such cooperation. However, cooperation thus far has been trilateral and minimal, given divergent national interests and dispersed geopolitical locations. Cooperation among Japan, Republic of Korea (ROK), and the United States is increasing given the threat, but ROK’s public opinion is divided about Japan. Australia, Japan, and India have increased cooperation with the United States but are reluctant to conduct FoN operations with the United States to challenge China’s expansionism in the South China Sea. If China becomes more aggressive and blocks FoN or seizes territory, development toward an Asian NATO is possible.

KEYWORDS:

• Multilateral defense cooperation
• Indo-Asia-Pacific
• freedom of navigation
• information-sharing
• missile defense

Acknowledgements

This paper is based on a research report for the USAF Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and the Department of Defense Minerva (R-DEF) Program.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Stephen F. Burgess is Professor of International Security Studies, U.S. Air War College. His publications on Asian security issues include (2016) Rising Bipolarity in the South China Sea: The Impact of the US Rebalance to Asia on China’s Expansion, Contemporary Security Policy, 37. His books include The United Nations under Boutros Boutros-Ghali, 1992–1997 and South Africa’s Weapons of Mass Destruction. He holds a doctorate from Michigan State University and has been on the faculty at the universities of Zambia and Zimbabwe and Vanderbilt and Hofstra universities.

Janet Beilstein is International Education Program Specialist at International Officer School, Air University. She has conducted research on Asian security and strategic issues. Previously, she worked in the United Nations in the Division for the Advancement of Women. Her publications focused on the role of women in conflict and development. Ms Beilstein has an MA in International Affairs from Carleton University.

Notes

1 Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe at the time.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the Department of Defense Minerva (R-DEF) Program.