Indonesia, US marines co-host symposium

Jakarta, Indonesianpost.com – The Indonesian and US Marine Corps are co-hosting the 9th Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium (PALS) in Bali, Indonesia, from July 9–14, 2023.

The symposium is seeking to bring together senior marine corps, naval infantry, and military leaders from across the Indo-Pacific, Central America, South America, and Europe, according to a statement issued by the US Embassy in Jakarta on Monday.

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This is the first PALS to be co-hosted by the Indonesian Marine Corps and is set to be one of the largest PALS since its inaugural gathering in 2015.

According to the US Embassy, delegations from 25 countries are expected to participate in the symposium.

Through in-person dialogue and interactions, PALS will seek to strengthen relationships and cooperation among amphibious leaders and forces to maintain a secure and stable Indo-Pacific region, it said.

The theme of this year’s symposium is “Multilateral Amphibious Contributions to Maritime Security in the Indo-Pacific.”

The event will feature speeches, panel discussions, bi-lateral and tri-lateral engagements, and a capabilities demonstration.

Throughout the event, participants will get the opportunity to share ideas, best practices, and recent experiences in areas of common interest. The topics covered at the symposium will include amphibious capabilities and interoperability, force modernization, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

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“PALS provides an invaluable forum to meet face-to-face with fellow leaders to share lessons learned and new ideas,” Commander of the US Marine Corps, Pacific, Lt. Gen. William Jurney, said.

“It’s also an incredible opportunity to learn and benefit from colleagues with deep knowledge and diverse experiences, leading to improved capabilities, integration, and readiness,” Jurney added.

PALS is a premier annual gathering of regional amphibious forces. It was instituted in 2015 to bring together a growing list of like-minded allies and partners committed to ensuring peace and prosperity in the region.

Each country’s delegation has a vested interest in the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific.

The participating delegates come from many countries that have populations affected by natural disasters like typhoons, tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions due to their proximity to the Ring of Fire and the Indian or Pacific Ocean.

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“The work we do at PALS contributes to regional peace and security, and will save lives during a crisis,” Jurney said.

“We gather at PALS because we know that, working together, we can improve our response capabilities, increase our integration, and bolster our cooperation in this vibrant region,” he added.

PALS 23 demonstrates US commitment to regional allies and partners, and will seek to build on the successes of previous iterations, the US Embassy said in its statement.