Indo-Pacific Treaty Organization Act
Rep. Lawler Proposes Task Force to Study NATO-Style Alliance in the Indo-Pacific
This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and is being reviewed by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. It is actively moving through the system, but no future hearings or votes have been scheduled yet. There is no companion bill listed at this time.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Rep. Lawler's bill would create a task force to study whether the U.S. should form a NATO-style collective security alliance with countries in the Indo-Pacific region. The group would analyze threats from China and North Korea and recommend whether a formal defense pact makes sense.
From policy text
“determine whether a collective security agreement between the United States and Indo-Pacific allies and partners could serve as an effective deterrent to further aggression”
View in full text - The task force would be chaired by the Secretary of State and include top national security officials from Defense, Treasury, Commerce, and intelligence agencies. It must be created within 180 days of the bill becoming law.
- Potential partners named in the bill include Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Thailand, New Zealand, and India. The task force could also add other countries in the Indo-Pacific that it sees fit.
From policy text
“The Indo-Pacific allies and partners described in subsection (a)(2) may include Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Thailand, New Zealand, India, and any other country in the Indo-Pacific region the Task Force determines appropriate.”
View in full text - The task force must deliver a report to Congress within one year of being established. That report would include its analysis and any recommendations about what a collective security agreement should look like.
From policy text
“Not later than 1 year after the date of the establishment of the Task Force, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate a report that contains the results of the analysis described in subsection (a) and any recommendations of the Task Force with respect to the terms of such a collective security agreement.”
View in full text
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Introduced in House
Related News
5 articles
Calls grow in US for NATO-like alliance in Indo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific Treaty Organization Act was submitted by Republican Representative Mike Lawler of New York. The bill proposes a task force to analyze the security situation and determine whether a NATO-like coalition would effectively deter aggression from China and North Korea.
8 NATO envoys to visit Seoul to discuss Indo-Pacific security
In a parallel development, a US congressman has introduced the Indo-Pacific Treaty Organization Act, aimed at assessing the need for a NATO-esque coalition. Rep. Mike Lawler stated the legislation will establish a task force to analyze whether such a pact would deter regional aggression.
Indo-Pacific Treaty Organization Act
Introduced on June 4, 2025, by Congressman Lawler, H.R. 3721 aims to establish a dedicated Task Force responsible for assessing regional security threats and evaluating the feasibility of forming a collective security alliance with diverse Indo-Pacific nations like Japan and South Korea.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Indo-Pacific Treaty Organization Act
Data Sources
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