The United States has announced more than US$55 million in new maritime law enforcement funding for countries in the Indo-Pacific, as part of its broader push to counter illicit activities and challenge China’s unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea.
“Maritime security is vital to advancing U.S interests in the Indo-Pacific,” the State Department said in a fact sheet released on 23 September.
“Capital flows through these waters are critical to global peace and prosperity. Unlawful claims and destabilising actions put this at risk.”
The new funding will support Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Pacific Islands, and South Asian maritime nations.
According to the Department, the investment will help partners “counter illicit maritime activities, exercise sovereign rights, and interdict illicit fishing and trafficking operations.”
The Biden administration highlighted that since 2017, the United States has invested over US$1.5 billion into maritime security in the region. These funds have gone into strengthening maritime domain awareness (MDA), expanding maritime law enforcement, boosting national defence capabilities, and conducting joint maritime operations with partners.
“We have deep economic and security interests in ensuring that the Indo-Pacific remains free, open, prosperous, and secure,” the Department stated.
China’s “expansive and unlawful maritime claims” were singled out as a major threat. The Department warned that Beijing’s militarisation of reclaimed features in the South China Sea and its “dangerous and destabilising activities” directly undermine international law and freedom of navigation.
The U.S has placed particular emphasis on improving surveillance of Indo-Pacific waters. Through the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA), launched by the Quad in 2022, Washington has already contributed over US$120 million in MDA support.
In addition, US$13 million in projects have supported 14 Pacific Island countries and Vietnam, with training and technology delivered to regional organisations like the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).
“Over 19 countries have already strengthened their MDA capacity through this initiative, and we are now expanding to the Indian Ocean Region,” the Department said.
Since 2017, the U.S has provided US$136 million to maritime law enforcement partners in the Indo-Pacific. The assistance is meant to help nations protect commercial shipping lanes, tackle illicit fishing, and strengthen sovereignty in contested waters.
At the defence level, nearly $955 million has been directed to East Asia and Pacific island nations through training, maritime patrol aircraft, uncrewed systems, and refurbished vessels. Another US$70 million has gone to South Asia.
“These programmes reduce the burden on U.S maritime assets while ensuring our partners can defend their territorial seas,” the Department noted.
The U.S military presence in the Indo-Pacific remains a core element of its strategy. Since 2017, U.S forces have conducted more than 45 Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) to challenge unlawful maritime claims.
The U.S Coast Guard has also expanded its role, stationing Fast Response Cutters in Oceania and exercising shiprider agreements with 12 countries. These agreements allow U.S cutters to embark local law enforcement officers to target illegal fishing and trafficking.
The Department stressed these efforts “demonstrate U.S commitment to uphold freedom of navigation for all nations.”
Alongside military and law enforcement efforts, Washington has been active in diplomatic channels, working through the Quad, ASEAN forums, and trilateral partnerships with Japan and the Philippines, as well as Japan and South Korea.
“Through these partnerships, we are aligning resources, sharing information, and coordinating responses to threats across the maritime domain,” the Department said.
The U.S said it will continue to deepen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, making clear that its goal is to safeguard trade routes, uphold international law, and counter destabilizing actions at sea.
“The United States is committed to ensuring the Indo-Pacific remains free and open,” the Department concluded. “This is not only an American interest—it is a global one.”
