The Indo-Pacific has become the most dynamic — and at the same time, the most unstable — strategic space in the world today. More than 60 percent of global trade passes through the sea lines of communication in this region. At the same time, U.S.-China strategic competition, North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, disputes in the South China Sea and rising military tensions in the Taiwan Strait overlap and reinforce one another, making the region more critical to global security than ever before. As reflected in last year’s meeting between the defense ministers of the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and Japan, instability in the Indo-Pacific now directly translates into risks for global supply chains. What happens in this region no longer remains a regional problem. It affects energy markets, raw materials, financial flows and the stability of the global economy. It is not an exaggeration to say that Indo-Pacific security has become a global priority. In this environment, a crucial change is underway in how security cooperation is built. Declaratory statements a