“Military and Private Sector HADR – Now a Sophisticated Tool for Strategic Competition,” is the title of a paper by Drs. Deon Canyon and Benjamin Ryan, for Security Nexus. This paper illustrates how humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) has emerged as a sophisticated diplomatic tool for strategic competition.

Abstract
The delivery of HADR by the military has become standard practice, especially in the Indo-Pacific. In this region, proactive efforts to enhance military-to-military and military-civilian integration are now maturing and have been primed for the next phase, integration of the private sector. This sector has more local capacity than any other agency or organization combined. Their direct relationship with communities can help ensure aid reaches all areas of society, increasing the likelihood of a rapid response and recovery.

Dr. Canyon is a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. Dr. Benjamin Ryan is a Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University. The views expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the DKI APCSS or the United States Government.

Security Nexus is a peer-reviewed, online journal published by the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.

-END-