The US Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) will conduct a series of logistical exercises in East Asia this summer to test troop mobilization and supply structures, strengthen coordination with regional allies such as Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and adapt to the military expansion and regional threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party in the South China Sea and surrounding Taiwan.
During his visit to East Asia, TRANSCOM Commander Randall Reed told Reuters on Friday (June 6) that the series of exercise activities will help the US military rapidly mobilize and deploy across regions in the event of regional crises, countering threats that disrupt peace and security.
The primary role of the U.S. Transportation Command is to deploy weapons and other equipment globally through various means such as land, sea, and air before conflicts arise, while also conducting supply operations when conflicts erupt. Conducting a series of transportation exercises in East Asia will be a key strategic move to counter the expansion by the Chinese Communist Party in the Indo-Pacific region.
Reed revealed during a phone interview, “We will conduct a series of exercises to test whether our current logistical structures and infrastructure can sustain operational freedom.”
However, he did not disclose specific locations and schedules, only adding that one of the exercises, named “Mobility Guardian,” aims to “demonstrate our capability to rapidly mobilize and deploy troops from the continental United States to various locations in this region.”
“This will help deepen our relationships and collaborate more closely than ever before to enhance regional security,” he said.
During his Indo-Pacific visit, Reed has already visited Japan and the Philippines and will be heading to South Korea, all of which are treaty allies of the United States.
According to the updates shared by TRANSCOM on social media, Reed also made stops in Guam during this trip, where he met with the Joint Region Marianas Headquarters, the Joint Task Force – Micronesia, and the 734th Airlift Squadron at Andersen Air Force Base to discuss force postures and transport operations in the Indo-Pacific region.
On Thursday (June 5), Reed, for the first time as the Commander of TRANSCOM, visited the Philippines and met with Lt. Gen. Jimmy Larida, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and MaryKay Carlson, the US Ambassador to the Philippines, to discuss deepening cooperation in the military logistical field.
The discussions also covered the base rotation arrangements under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), allowing US forces to deploy and transfer equipment in multiple military bases in the Philippines through the agreement.
Reed emphasized that maintaining such bilateral coordination mechanisms is strategically significant for ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region.