Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, introduced legislation to strengthen security cooperation between the United States and its Indo-Pacific allies and partners.
“Amid China’s escalating aggressive and coercive tactics, we must bolster security cooperation with our allies and partners to enhance multilateral deterrence,” said Bennet. “This legislation strengthens key alliances and partnerships to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Specifically, the legislation requires the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a strategy to strengthen multilateral deterrence by expanding coordination with allies and partners, including Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Australia – such as by enhancing multilateral access, basing agreements, and intelligence-sharing. The legislation also requires the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress on additional resources and policy changes needed to implement this strategy.
Last month, Bennet and Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) introduced the Quad Economic Security Act to strengthen cooperation among the Quad – comprising Australia, India, Japan, and the United States – in securing strategic supply chains, safeguarding critical infrastructure, and countering economic coercion in the region. In June, Bennet and Senator Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) introduced the Quad Space Act to strengthen space cooperation among the four members of the Quad to address shared challenges, such as China’s dangerous behavior in space. Bennet also recently introduced bipartisan legislation to bolster Taiwan’s self-defense and strengthen the AUKUS partnership between Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
The text of the bill is available HERE.