The ADF and the Indo-Pacific Operating Environment

By Professor Peter J. Dean

The Indo-Pacific promises a new geography for the Australian Defence Force (ADF). As Australia’s conception of its region expands westwards to include the Indian Ocean Rim, the ADF faces a new and markedly different operating environment. The extension of sea lines of communication linking the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and the emergence of ‘urban littoral zones’ pose questions regarding access and the conduct of military operations. Australian defence planners need to develop new approaches to the structure and deployment of the ADF, which reflect the distinctive physical, human and technological geographies of the new Indo-Pacific region.