Security Threats in the Western Pacific: A Former III MEF Commander’s Perspective

On February 13, 2019, Sasakawa USA hosted LtGen Lawrence Nicholson (USMC, ret.), former Commander of the III Marine Expeditionary Force (2015-2018), for a Policy Lunch Series event on “Security Threats in the Western Pacific: A Former III MEF Commander’s Perspective.” Chris Rodeman, Research Fellow at Sasakawa USA, moderated the off-the-record discussion.

Nicholson’s talk focused on emerging regional threats that have shaped the development of U.S.-Japan cooperation in security and defense, and their affect on the development of Japan’s defense strategy and its Self Defense Forces’ training, organization, and doctrine.