39 Fall 2024 Proceedings Coast Guard cutter Bertholf transits the Andaman Sea as a patrol boat from the Indian Coast Guard moves into formation for an atsea exercise on March 9, 2024. The Sea Defender 2024 exercise promoted interoperability between the two countries through drills, flight operations, and formation sailings. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Steve Strohmaier stability in a dynamic region, and the U.S. Coast Guard plays a critical role in this effort. Through Operation Blue Pacific, the Coast Guard plays a crucial role in upholding the maritime rules- based international order. Through collaborative efforts with the U.S. Navy and in-person outreach with partners and allies, we are jointly countering threats to regional security and stability. 7 As the strategic landscape continues to evolve, the Coast Guard stands ready to meet the challenges of the future and maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. are in place. The IUUF COE is reaching beyond the COFA states, with engagements in Vietnam, Singapore, and Fiji planned for 2024. Coast Guard operations in the Indo-Pacific are guided by its values of upholding maritime governance, adher- ing to the rule of law, and modeling professional behav- ior. These values are reflected in key partnerships and engagements with regional stakeholders. For example, the Coast Guard’s relationship with the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS) in Honolulu has facilitated dialogue and collaboration on key security issues facing the Indo- Pacific. One of six regional Department of Defense aca- demic centers, its mission is to provide a forum where military and civilian leaders from the Indo-Pacific gather to address regional and global security. The Coast Guard has invested in this dialogue by providing a one-year military fellow and a military faculty member. Through the Coast Guard’s partnership with DKI APCSS, the knowledge base and collaboration of U.S. partners and allies has grown exponentially. These positions fre- quently interact with executive leaders from the Indo- Pacific region, offering a soft-power perspective not commonly discussed. In 2023, the Coast Guard also cre- ated a military faculty position at the newly established Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security in Anchorage, Alaska. Conclusion It is an exciting time to operate in the Indo-Pacific region. The Coast Guard’s approach to bilateral and multilat- eral relationships in the region emphasizes cooperation through diplomatic, defense, and development lenses. Through multiple bilateral and multilateral agreements, the Coast Guard has strengthened its regional leader- ship and engagements. The United States’ strategic pivot to the Indo-Pacific is essential for ensuring security and About the authors: CAPT Erin Williams is a career prevention officer with assignments at Coast Guard Activities Europe and Far East, Marine Safety Office San Diego, Marine Safety Units Valdez and Duluth, and the World Mari- time University in Sweden. She joined the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in 2023. CDR Yvonne Yang is a career response officer and is currently serving as the Coast Guard Pacific Area strategic engagements section chief, over- seeing the Marine Environmental Response Regional Activities Center and the Illegal, Unregulated, Unreported Fishing Center of Expertise located on Ford Island, Hawaii. She recently completed a one-year fel- lowship as the Coast Guard military fellow at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia- Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu. Endnotes 1. White House. Indo-Pacific Strategy of the United States. Washington, D.C.: White House, February 2022. Available at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/ wp-content/uploads/2022/02/U.S.-Indo-Pacific-Strategy.pdf 2. Ibid 3. U.S. Department of Defense. National Defense Strategy of the United States of America. Washington, D.C.: Department of Defense, 2022. Available at: https://media.defense.gov/2022/Oct/27/2003103845/-1/-1/1/2022-National- Defense-Strategy-NPR-MDR.pdf 4. Ibid 5. U.S. Coast Guard. Operation Blue Pacific. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Coast Guard, 2023. Available at: https://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News-Article- View/Article/2421520/blue-pacific-campaign-seeks-regional-security-stability 6. Ibid 7. Ibid
