U.S. Military Training in Asia: The Successes and Problems of the IMET program
A panel with
Lieutenant General Wallace “Chip” Gregson (USMC, Ret.)
Senior Fellow, Avascent International
and
John Sifton
Asia Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch
Moderated by
Murray Hiebert
Deputy Director and Senior Fellow, Sumitro Chair for Southeast Asia Studies, CSIS
April 8, 2013
10:00 am – 11:00 am
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Please join us for a panel discussion exploring the successes and shortcomings of the International Military Education and Training (IMET) in Asia and examining the future of U.S. military engagement in the region.
Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the IMET program is a military-military training program for foreign military officers, which aims to boosts defense cooperation between the United States and foreign countries. In addition to improving the professional capabilities of foreign militaries, IMET is a key avenue for leveraging U.S. influence in democracies and transitioning democracies. The United States implements several IMET programs in the Asia-Pacific, including in Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Thailand.
This event will examine the impact of the IMET program on security and human rights in Asia, especially with respect to U.S. military and diplomatic interests in the region. It will also explore shortcomings and potential negative consequences of the IMET program and opportunities for improvements in future implementation.
About the Speakers:
Lieutenant General Wallace “Chip” Gregson (USMC, Ret.) is a senior fellow at Avascent International. He most recently served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Asian and Pacific Security Affairs.
John Sifton is the Asia Advocacy Director at Human Rights Watch. Previously he served as the director of One World Research, a public interest research and investigation firm, and earlier as a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch focusing on Afghanistan, Pakistan, Southeast Asia, and terrorism and counterterrorism issues.
Please RSVP to the Sumitro Chair for Southeast Asia Studies by noon on April 5.
