Strengthening Allies and Partners: The Optimal Strategy for Prepositioned War Reserve Materiel in the Indo-Pacific
Abstract
To accomplish the operational requirements associated with the USINDOPACOM's theater strategy, leaders must leverage prepositioned war reserve material (PWRM) stock during the initial phases. Currently, the USINDOPACOM does not possess the PWRM framework to support potential joint warfighting requirements across the region. According to a recent study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the region's vast size and lack of host nation agreements (HNAs) are the primary challenges specific to PWRM stock. Although USINDOPACOM maintains two of the military's largest PWRM warehouses in Japan and South Korea, both locations are within China's long-range strike capability. These warehouses may potentially serve as critical vulnerabilities for China to target and exploit during military conflict. To address these challenges, USINDOPACOM must enhance partnerships with other nations in the region to expand basing options and develop HNAs to support the improvement of its PWRM framework. A diverse basing footprint with multiple partners will maximize combat power projection against the theater's adversarial threats. Moreover, the development of added HNAs offers a more efficient means to maintain, store, and transport PWRM throughout the region. With a stronger PWRM framework, the USINDOPACOM is better prepared for military conflict against the region's most notable adversaries.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 08, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1178298
Entities
People
- Cheston Hickman
Organizations
- Naval War College