About The Event

The Indo-Pacific has emerged as a primary Area of Operations due to a five-fold increase in Chinese defense spending over two decades and the “breakneck speed” at which the People’s Liberation Army is preparing for a potential 2027 invasion of Taiwan. To counter this encroachment, the U.S. and international partners are prioritizing the region to overcome the “tyranny of distance” and fragile supply chains that threaten security. As modern conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza have exposed the vulnerabilities of legacy conventional systems, the Indo-Pacific necessitates a rapid shift toward a robust, localized defense industrial base capable of mass-producing affordable autonomous systems and precision weapons. This symposium exists to unite senior SOF leadership and industry stakeholders in Honolulu to secure this vital region through modernization and strengthened partnerships.