Rajnath Singh inaugurates 13th Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs Conference in New Delhi

Utkarsh Classes Last Updated 30-12-2023

Rajnath Singh inaugurates 13th Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs Conference in New Delhi

Defence 5 min read

The three-day (25 and 27 September 2023) Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference (IPACC) is being held at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh delivered the inaugural address of the 13th Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Staff Conference (IPACC) in New Delhi on September 26, 2023.

Chief of Defense Staff, Army Chief General Manoj Pandey and chiefs and representatives of armies of 35 countries were also present on the occasion.
Rajnath Singh said that the Indo-Pacific has developed as an important geopolitical region. The region is facing complex security challenges such as border disputes and piracy.
The Indian Army is also co-hosting the 47th Indo-Pacific Armies Management Seminar (IPAMS) and Senior Enlisted Leaders Forum (SELF) along with the 13th IPACC.

Theme of IPACC:

The main theme of this forum is 'Together for Peace: Sustaining Peace and Stability in the Indo-Pacific Region'.

Importance of Indo-Pacific region:

The Indo-Pacific region is home to 64 percent of the world's people.
This sector contributes 63 percent to the GDP.
This sector contributes 46 percent of total global trade.
The Indo-Pacific region unquestionably plays an important role in the world economy.

Climate change concerns highlighted:

During this IPACC conference, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh discussed issues related to climate change of small countries of the Indo-Pacific region, demand for climate change-friendly infrastructure, solutions to global challenges, etc.

IPACC Organizers:

The Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference (IPACC) was initiated in 1999 by the United States Army to discuss issues of mutual interest among the military chiefs of countries that share mutual interests.
IPACC is a biennial event co-hosted by the United States Army with the co-host country.
This year, the Indian Army is the co-host of IPACC.

IPACC Participating Countries:

Army chiefs and delegations from a total of 35 countries participated in this program.

Objectives of IPACC:

The objective of the conference is to develop a common strategy to ensure peace, prosperity and stability in the Asia-Pacific region against the growing Chinese threat.
The conference will discuss the role of military diplomacy in crisis situations, enhancing cooperation and interoperability among the armed forces of the region.

Indo-Pacific Armies Management Seminar (IPAMS):

Hosted annually by US Army Pacific with a co-host country. It is one of the largest gatherings of armies in the region.

Background:

The Indian and US armies are co-hosting the 13th IPACC, 47th IPAMS and 9th SELF, a three-day conference of chiefs of service and representatives of 35 nations in New Delhi from 25 to 27 September 2023.
The conference will provide an opportunity to the Service Chiefs and senior Army leaders primarily from the Indo-Pacific region to exchange views and discuss security and contemporary issues.
The main endeavor of the Forum will be to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region through mutual understanding, dialogue and friendship among the littoral partners.

United States Secretary of Defence: Lloyd Austin