US leaders send mixed messages to Indo-Pacific nations

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Army officials from 25 different Indo-Pacific nations recently met in New Zealand to hammer out cooperative defense strategies. Simultaneously, the top political leaders in the United States were sending conflicting messages about its partnerships in the region. The 50th Indo-Pacific Armies Management Seminar (IPAMS) was held in Auckland in late September, and it emphasized “practical cooperation, interoperability and regional partnerships.” This year’s IPAMS theme was that “the sum is greater than the parts: security and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.” “Across…