FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii – Senior Army and Marine land force leaders from the United States, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines, gathered in Tokyo, Japan, for the Land Forces Dialogue (LFD), a strategic forum dedicated to advancing combined deterrence, regional security, and multilateral cooperation across the Indo-Pacific.

The dialogue brought together Gen. Ronald P. Clark, Commanding General of USARPAC; Gen. Masayoshi Arai, Chief of Staff of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force; Lt. Gen. Simon Stuart, Chief of Army, Australian Defence Force; Lt. Gen. Antonio G. Nafarrete, Commanding General of the Philippine Army; and Lt. Gen. James Glynn, Commanding General of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific.

Key comments about the importance of this gathering included:

"As the host, I am very pleased that we could share the recognition on respective efforts of each country, and to discuss future cooperation. In recent years, we made sure that cooperation of land power among four countries has been dramatically developing. We must continue to enhance our cooperation in order to strengthen deterrence and response capabilities in the Indo-Pacific. As the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, we remain committed to contributing towards the realization of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.” -- Gen. Masayoshi Arai, Chief of Staff of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force

“By advancing interoperability and strengthening strategic trust, our partnerships safeguard our collective ability to deter aggression and respond decisively to any threat. Together, we are stronger, leveraging combined capabilities, shared values, and indisputable commitment to regional security. Together we ensure the Indo-Pacific remains free, open, and prosperous for generations to come.” -- Gen. Ronald P. Clark, Commanding General of USARPAC

"Geography may divide us, but security binds us together. No single nation, regardless of strength, can secure this region alone. Our challenges are interconnected, our vulnerabilities interlinked. Multilateral cooperation is therefore not a matter of convenience; it is a strategic necessity.” -- Lt. Gen. Antonio G. Nafarrete, Commanding General of the Philippine Army

“The Army I am privileged to steward is present across the breadth of the Australian continent — a national institution that underpins resilience and provides stability in times of crisis. Australian soldiers are also increasingly present across the Indo-Pacific, working alongside likeminded armies and Marines to demonstrate shared commitment, collective will, and resilience in the face of natural disasters, coercion, or aggression.” -- Lt. Gen. Simon Stuart, Chief of Army, Australian Defence Force

“Through the expansion of multidomain operations and the alignment of our efforts with allies and partners, we continue to build a stronger unified approach to regional security. This forum, and our efforts throughout the year, enable us to work seamlessly, fostering collaboration and readiness to support each other. Additionally, deliberate planning to sustain our multilateral force during crisis, conflict, and combat operations ensures we remain resilient and capable of meeting the demands of any challenge together." -- Lt. Gen. James Glynn, Commanding General of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific