# Indo-Pacific
Latest news and articles about Indo-Pacific
Total: 16 articles found
The Colombo Defiance: Sri Lanka’s Strategic Pivot and the Limits of U.S. Influence
Sri Lanka's new administration under President Dissanayake is redefining the nation's neutrality by refusing U.S. military access and strengthening ties with Iran. This shift, rooted in anti-imperialist ideology and strategic autonomy, challenges the dominance of major powers in the Indo-Pacific region.
US Littoral Combat Ships in Malaysia Highlight a Middle East Mine‑Clearing Gap
Two US littoral combat ships have been sighted in Malaysia while the US shifts forces toward the Middle East, raising questions about available mine‑clearing capacity in CENTCOM’s region. The sighting underscores long‑standing limits in US mine‑countermeasure readiness and the strategic trade‑offs of competing demands across theaters.
US Proposes 'F‑22 2.0' Overhaul to Remedy Range and Sensor Shortfalls Ahead of Great‑Power Air Competition
Lockheed Martin unveiled an F‑22 '2.0' upgrade concept aimed at fixing two key limitations of the Raptor: limited range and the lack of an internal IRST sensor. The US Air Force plans to upgrade its entire fleet to preserve the platform’s edge against evolving fifth‑generation threats, but technical, fiscal and fleet‑size constraints will shape the programme’s ultimate impact.
China’s Half-Year Military Review Signals Faster Modernization, New Tactics and Wider Reach
China’s six-month military review stresses new platforms, doctrinal shifts toward integrated, distributed warfare, and a broader operational reach. These changes complicate deterrence and crisis management in the Indo-Pacific and increase pressures on regional militaries to adapt.
Cobra Gold 2026 Expands into Space and Cyber as US-Led Drill Draws 30 Nations to Thailand
Cobra Gold 2026 opened in Thailand with about 8,000 troops from 30 countries, and for the first time formally integrates space and cyber operations into its training. The U.S.-led exercise underscores a shift toward multi-domain warfare and highlights competing narratives: alliance strengthening and interoperability on one hand, and Chinese concerns about U.S. intervention capabilities on the other.
Crew of Carrier Fujian Lines Up to Send New‑Year Message — A Showcase of China’s Naval Confidence
The PLAN’s carrier Fujian released a New‑Year photograph of its full crew delivering a holiday greeting that doubles as a slogan of leadership. The image underscores both the symbolic role the ship plays in China’s naval modernization and the gap that remains between symbolic displays and sustained operational capability.
Beijing’s 24‑Hour Counterpunch to Lai Ching‑te: Diplomacy and Air Power Tighten the Noose
Beijing responded within 24 hours to Vice President Lai Ching‑te’s comments and Taiwan’s defence budget push with coordinated diplomatic rebuke and intensified PLA air‑sea patrols. The episode highlights the erosion of informal cross‑strait norms and the rising tempo of coercive signalling that raises the risk of miscalculation in the Taiwan Strait.
Pentagon Readies Second Carrier for Middle East as Tensions Persist
The U.S. Department of Defense has ordered a second carrier strike group—the USS George H.W. Bush—to prepare for deployment to the Middle East, accelerating training off Virginia to meet a departure roughly two weeks away. The move aims to bolster deterrence and reassure regional partners but raises questions about strain on U.S. naval resources and implications for the Indo-Pacific balance with China.
As AUKUS Stalls, Analysts Float B-2 Purchase as a Stopgap for Australia’s Deterrent Gap
With the AUKUS submarine programme facing mounting delays and political hurdles, some Western analysts have proposed Australia acquire US B‑2 stealth bombers as an alternative means of long‑range deterrence. The proposal highlights the gap between strategic ambitions and procurement realities, but faces steep legal, logistical and political barriers that make it unlikely as a straightforward solution.
Boeing Withdraws Active Pursuit of F‑15EX Sale to Indonesia, Casting Doubt Over High‑Profile Deal
Boeing said it is no longer actively pursuing construction of F‑15EX fighters for Indonesia, casting doubt on a 2023 agreement for 24 jets that required U.S. government approval. The development signals friction between commercial plans and political clearance processes, with implications for Indonesia’s procurement choices and U.S. influence in the Indo‑Pacific.
After 15 Years, the Kennedy’s Sea Trials Highlight a Growing U.S.–China Carrier Gap
The John F. Kennedy began sea trials in January 2026 after a 15‑year build that highlights persistent technical and industrial challenges in the U.S. Ford‑class programme, notably the unreliable EMALS catapult. China’s carrier programme, which reportedly started construction of a Type 004 nuclear carrier in 2026, is advancing more rapidly, raising questions about future balance of naval power in the Indo‑Pacific.
U.S. Gears Misawa Base to Host 48 F-35A Stealth Fighters, Signalling a Pacific Posture Shift
The Pentagon is preparing Misawa Air Base in Japan to host 48 F-35A stealth fighters to replace 36 F-16s, part of a 2024 modernization plan. The upgrade strengthens U.S.-Japan deterrence, requires significant base infrastructure and will reverberate across regional strategic dynamics.