USAF Leaders Rally Allies to Counter Pacing Threat

U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Flosi are participating in an international Air Force Forum hosted by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force in Tokyo Oct. 14-16.

"It is a privilege to meet with many leaders during this impactful forum hosted by our Japanese allies," Allvin said. "This event exemplifies how our defense ties with Japan's Air Self-Defense Force and other key partners in the region are meeting the challenges we face."

Flosi also emphasized the crucial role of alliances and partnerships.

"In today's complex global security environment, no nation can face these challenges alone," he stated. "Our engagements with allies and partners, such as the Air Force Forum in Japan, not only reaffirm our shared commitment, but also enhance our collective capacity to promote stability in the Indo-Pacific region."

The event included an Indo-Pacific Air Chiefs Conference today where Allvin spoke on a panel addressing senior leaders from over 20 nations. Joining Allvin on the panel were Royal Canadian Air Force Commander Lt. General Eric Kenny, and French Air and Space Force Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Philippe Morales.

During the hour-long panel, Allvin discussed how strengthening already robust alliances and partnerships will solidify a networked security architecture capable of deterring aggression, maintaining stability and ensuring free access to common domains in accordance with international law.

He also addressed the challenges the region presents.

"There is the tyranny of distance and contested logistics. There are connectivity challenges," Allvin said.

When asked what the U.S. Air Force is focused on to mitigate those issues and what a successful coalition air campaign in the region may require, Allvin was clear.

"The answer, the price of admission if you will, is in this room," he said. "We need true interoperability. That requires the will of all the nations here to work out systems interoperability, remove policy barriers and expand information exchanges to achieve a common operating picture so we can all respond at speed."

Allvin continued, "If I look at the future of conflict, one of the attributes I am focused on is speed. The speed of recognition. The speed of decisions. The speed of action. If we are doing that as individual nations and not together coherently, then we are less effective. The ability for all of us to see and recognize the environment - to be able to work with each other and have the dialogue at the speed of battle and operate as one - that will be the key ... If we achieve that, we will truly be a combined coalition force, and that is what we are focused on here."

The conference and forum at large center on the evolving security environment in the Indo-Pacific region. Appropriately, Allvin made it clear where his focus lies.

"Our National Defense Strategy is clear - this is our pacing theater," he said. "I am clear-eyed about the threat we face today, which is why this is my second visit to the region in six months."

On the sidelines of the conference, Allvin met with Japan Minister of Defense Gen. Nakatani, who also spoke at the conference.

"We are making significant investments in our own capabilities, supporting our allies and partners as they invest in theirs, and standing with our Indo-Pacific friends as they expand relations not just with us, but with each other," Allvin said.

Alongside U.S. Air Force Gen. Kevin Schneider, Pacific Air Forces commander, Allvin also participated in a trilateral meeting today with Japan Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Gen. Uchikura Hiroaki, and Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force Lt. Gen. Stephen Parreño.

"Real progress is being made as we move beyond bilats into multilateral events," Allvin said. "The more partners we pull in, the more impactful we all will be. This is a true asymmetric advantage over the pacing challenge."