Pentagon strategy prioritises cybersecurity and AI systems to counter regional threats across a vast theatre spanning half the Earth’ s surface
US INDO-PACIFIC COMMAND
Pentagon strategy prioritises cybersecurity and AI systems to counter regional threats across a vast theatre spanning half the Earth’ s surface
The vast expanse of the Indo- Pacific region, described as the“ epicenter of 21st-century geopolitics”, serves as the operational backdrop for the United States Indo- Pacific Command( INDOPACOM). Designated by the Department of Defense( DoD) as the“ priority theater”, INDOPACOM oversees an area staggering in scale – encompassing roughly half the Earth’ s surface, 38 nations, over half the world’ s population and immense cultural and economic diversity. Within this vibrant yet volatile landscape, INDOPACOM’ s core mission is clear: deter aggression, maintain regional stability, strengthen alliances, respond to crises and, if deterrence fails, be prepared to fight and win – a mission which hinges on partnership, presence and military readiness.
However, executing this mission faces extensive challenges. The region is marked by significant geopolitical competition, most notably the rise of the People’ s Republic of China, identified by the DoD as the“ most comprehensive and serious challenge” to US national security. Beyond China, threats from North Korea’ s nuclear and missile programmes, transnational issues like terrorism and piracy and the
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