KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—The 14th Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference, alongside the 49th Indo-Pacific Armies Management Seminar (IPAMS) and the 11th Senior Enlisted Leaders Forum (SELF), concluded this week, firmly anchoring cooperation and partnerships at the forefront of military dialogue.
Co-hosted by the Malaysian and United States Armies, these collaborative events provided a significant platform for dialogue and cooperation among regional land forces, enabling them to address common security challenges.
More than 190 participants from 25 countries attended, including 12 army chiefs, who engaged in discussions aimed at fostering a collective understanding of regional security concerns.
Malaysian Chief of Army Gen. Muhammad Hafizuddeain highlighted the uniqueness of the gathering, emphasizing that gathering various military leaders to discuss shared challenges is no small feat.
“This is something you don’t see anywhere in other parts of the world,” he stated at a post-event briefing.
“We’re not talking about who’s taking which side. It’s about getting everybody to have the same understanding about the importance and difficulty of maintaining peace and stability in the region.”
U.S. Army Pacific Commander Gen. Ronald Clark echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the theme of this year’s conference, “Forging Synergy.”
“This captures the essence of what we strive to achieve. By working together, we are building a land power network to ensure our armies are ready, resilient, and united in our mission to uphold peace and stability,” he said.
While army chiefs held roundtable discussions, a separate event—the Indo-Pacific Armies Management Seminar (IPAMS)—was concurrently underway.
This seminar allowed deputy chiefs and senior-ranking officers, ranging from Lt. General to Lt. Colonel, to participate in panel discussions, sharing insights on various topics critical to military collaboration.
IPAMS, which has evolved since its inception in 1977, continues to play a vital role in the U.S. Army Pacific’s Theater Security Cooperation Program, focusing on operational-level collaboration between ground forces across the Indo-Pacific.
During the seminar, participants engaged in four panel discussions addressing diverse topics, from technological advancements to lessons learned from the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Col. Philip Buswell, Director at TRADOC’s Proponent Office-Synthetic Training Environment, facilitated discussions on the U.S. Army’s focus on drone warfare and the accelerated introduction of new technologies.
“Using the existing Games for Training Program to introduce drone warfare allows Soldiers across the Army to start experimenting with how to fight with and against drones,” Buswell explained.
He underscored the rapid pace of technology and innovation within the Army, saying, “We are reacting, changing quickly, and introducing new capabilities to the force.”
Panelist Lt. Col. Jonathan Wilkes, from the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine, provided insights into warfare strategies drawn from the Ukraine War.
He emphasized the importance of dominance in all operational spectrums, stating, “We are pushing the boundaries and bridging the gap between operational needs and technological innovation.”
However, he noted that battlefield success ultimately relies on traditional virtues: “good old-fashioned will, endurance, and leadership adaptability.”
Amid the discussions, 85 bilateral engagements occurred, allowing senior officers to meet face-to-face.
These conversations covered numerous topics such as future collaborative exercises and modernization efforts.
Clark expressed gratitude, stating, “To have a venue to build up those relationships based on trust is very helpful. Thank you to the Malaysian army and Malaysian people for allowing us to gather under the spirit of peace and cooperation on your soil.”
Gen. Hafizuddeain conveyed pride in hosting the successful event and committed to using the discussions’ outcomes to foster deeper cooperation in the future.
“Our work does not stop here,” he asserted. “The outcomes of our discussions will serve as the foundations for deeper cooperation in years ahead.”
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