Medium Navy: A Trilateral Capability Building for HA/DR in Asia Pacific

Navies should invest not only for defense but also for responding effectively and efficiently to “Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HA/DR) Operations”. Asia Pacific is one of the most vulnerable regions to disasters which require urgent HA/DR operation by navies. For this reason, capability building is emerging as a new area for HA/DR operations as region's navies’ short term goals. Considering wide area of the region, foreign HA/DR contribution is crucial to handle with widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts of disasters. This study examines the response of navies to Indian Ocean and Japan earthquake. The lessons taken from these disasters initiated the regional and foreign commitment with their navies to prepare for such tragic events. In this regard, this study recommends a trilateral HA/DR path for medium navies: 3Bs, Build HADR Platforms + Build Logistic Centers + Build Cooperation.