CNAS to carry out policy study on Indo-Pacific region

The Center for a New American Security will carry out a study for the Pentagon about policy in the Indo-Pacific region.

The think tank said today it would lead the evaluation, which lawmakers called for in the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act.

"CNAS' findings in this study will play an important role in shaping the department's approach to forward defense, assured access, and alliance formation in this complex region," David Helvey, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, said in a statement.

The legislation instructed the Defense Department to have an "independent" group lead a policy study that would feature "a determination of the geopolitical conditions in the Indo-Pacific region, including any change in economic and political relations, that are necessary to support United States military requirements for forward defense, assured access, extensive forward basing, and alliance and partnership formation and strengthening in such region."

CNAS said it will submit the study to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee and both chambers' Armed Services panels prior to the conclusion of 2019.

The provision and forthcoming report come as the Pentagon adjusts to its new National Defense Strategy, which stresses a move to a period of great power competition with nations like China and Russia.