September 1, 2026
VICTORIA, British Columbia — OCJCS Spokesperson Joe Holstead provided the following readout:
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine delivered opening remarks Sept. 1 at the 28th annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Conference in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Gen. Caine thanked the Canadian Armed Forces and U.S. Pacific Command for convening the gathering and emphasized collective security as a shared responsibility. He called on nations to invest in their own capabilities and in the strong militaries, resilient societies, and robust industrial bases that underpin alliances and partnerships, while deepening interoperability and integration to deter aggression, prevent dangerous miscalculations, and preserve stability in a region where nations exercise their sovereignty free from coercion.
Gen. Caine also addressed the changing character of war and the accelerating effects of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies on awareness, decision-making, sustainment, and operations across domains. He called on regional military leaders to translate cooperation into measurable outcomes, including faster information exchange, stronger logistics, increased maritime awareness, more resilient networks, and greater readiness. He underscored that Pacific security is a shared responsibility that demands shared solutions from capable nations prepared to act together with collective strength.