Require the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a strategy to strengthen multilateral deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region.

This bill tells the Department of Defense to create and carry out a plan to work more closely with allies in the Indo-Pacific to prevent aggression. The plan focuses on teaming up with Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Australia to share bases and facilities, improve how commands work together, share intelligence, and run more joint training and operations. It also calls for better planning to protect key sea and trade routes across the region, including areas like the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, and the Aleutian Islands .

The Defense Department must detail what it will do over the next five years, including any added funding or policy changes needed. A written strategy is due within 180 days after the law takes effect, and an update on progress is due by March 15, 2027. For this bill, the “Indo-Pacific” includes the area covered by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and all of Alaska and its surrounding waters .

• Who is affected: U.S. Department of Defense; U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific (Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia) .
• What changes: More shared access to bases and facilities; stronger command-and-control links; expanded intelligence sharing and maritime awareness; more and larger joint exercises and operations; planning to protect key routes and chokepoints .
• When: Strategy due within 180 days; five-year actions outlined; progress report due by March 15, 2027 .