Asia-Pacific army meet

Senior army officials of the Asia-Pacific regions will join a seminar in Dhaka from Sunday to discuss “opportunities and challenges” of the region.

Titled ‘Pacific Armies Management Seminar’, this is the brainchild of the US Army Pacific.

The seminar will mostly focus on the challenges and opportunities of land forces of the Asia-Pacific region from the Indian subcontinent to the western shores of the Americas.

But this region has become an epicentre of global politics as it covers two oceans – the Pacific and the Indian – that are increasingly linked for shipping and strategy.

It is also home to almost half the world’s population and is home to emerging powers like China and India.

Bangladesh is co-hosting this seminar with the US Army Pacific after 22 years.

“It is a rare honour,” the Inter-service Public Relations (ISPR) said while inviting journalists for the seminar between Sept 14 and Sept 17.

It says about 32 countries will join the seminar.

The US Army Pacific began this seminar only with nine countries at Honolulu, Hawaii in 1978 and since then it is being organised in different parts of the world.

It is a multinational military seminar that offers a forum for officers from lieutenant colonels to lieutenant generals in land armies of Asia-Pacific to exchange views and ideas.

The 38th annual seminar hosted in Bangladesh comes at a time when the US is seeking to 'rebalance' its Asia strategy.

Secretary of State John Kerry recently said America's “security and prosperity are closely and increasingly linked to the Asia Pacific”.

That’s why he said President Barack Obama undertook to rebalance US' Asia strategy in 2009.

After a recent tour in some countries of the Asia-Pacific, he said he would “redouble” his own efforts in the region in the next two and a half years.

He outlined four key opportunities -- creating sustainable economic growth, powering a clean energy revolution, promoting regional cooperation, and empowering people.

He identified climate change as the biggest challenge to the region.

Japan, an ally of the US, has adopted a plan to combine the Pacific and Indian Oceans for expanding its economic outreach and strategic space.

The emerging power China is pursuing its own vision of silk-road route and maritime silk-road connecting the entire region.

Announcing the seminar, the US embassy in Dhaka says one of the long-term objectives of the seminar is “to support the Army’s efforts in rebalancing the Asia-Pacific theatre”.

“….and reassuring regional allies and partners in the interests of national security, of the US Army’s commitment to the region."

The theme of the seminar is “A new focus on the Asia-Pacific region: Opportunities and challenges for land forces”.

It seeks to help in capacity building through exchange of information and dialogue on theme and topics relevant to promoting “security cooperation in an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect”.

“It is not only a forum to enhance understanding of the subjects studied”, the embassy said, “it also provides an opportunity for the future leaders of the region’s armies to establish and cultivate a set of strong interpersonal relationships."