YCAPS is pleased to invite you to join the Subic SQUAD Forum 2026, taking place from 8–12 November 2026 in Subic and Manila, Philippines.
What is the Subic SQUAD Forum? The Subic SQUAD Forum is a YCAPS regional program that brings together scholars and practitioners working on Indo-Pacific security, defense cooperation, and regional governance. The program connects participants from Australia, the Philippines, Japan, and the United States and explores the Philippines’ growing role in regional security cooperation, specifically through the Australia–Philippines–Japan–United States (SQUAD) partnership.
The Forum brings together the program's Fellows and Mentors with invited scholars, practitioners, experts, and regional partners for several days of field visits, expert briefings, policy discussions, and informal exchange.
Why Join?
The Subic SQUAD Forum offers a different experience from a traditional conference. Participants will have the opportunity to:
- See the Philippines' strategic role firsthand through visits and briefings in Subic, one of the country's most important maritime and strategic hubs.
- Engage directly with government, maritime, business, academic, and security stakeholders involved in the development and security of Subic and the broader region.
- Exchange perspectives with regional experts and emerging leaders from the Philippines, Japan, Australia, and the US working on Indo-Pacific security.
- Explore the intersection of maritime security, economic development, defense cooperation, and regional governance through a combination of site visits and substantive discussions.
- Build professional and regional connections in a more informal, interactive setting than a conventional conference.
- Gain a deeper understanding of the Philippines' evolving role in regional security cooperation and the opportunities and challenges this creates for its partners.
Whether you are a scholar, policy professional, practitioner, or regional expert, the Forum is designed to provide firsthand exposure, substantive discussion, and opportunities for meaningful regional connections.
Participation:
The participation fee is USD 1,250 per participant.
The fee includes:
- Hotel accommodation during the Forum
- Meals during the program
- Ground transportation for Forum activities (including airport transfers to/from Manila or Clark)
- Site visits, briefings, and other program activities
International airfare and personal expenses are not included.
To assist participants seeking institutional or external funding, YCAPS can provide official invitation letters, the program agenda, and other supporting documentation as needed for funding applications, travel authorization, and leave requests.
Participation is open to a limited number of invited participants from the Philippines, other ASEAN member states, and the following security partner countries: the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, and France.
The Subic SQUAD Forum Fellows are listed here. The Forum will include senior mentors and regional experts who will participate in discussions and activities throughout the program. Confirmed:
- Dr. John Bradford — Executive Director, YCAPS
- Prof. Bec Strating — Director of the La Trobe Centre for Global Security, La Trobe University
- Prof. Yoichiro Sato — Former Dean, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan
- Prof. Narushige Michishita— Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Tokyo
- Mr. Julio Amador — Founder, FACTS Asia, Philippines
Draft Agenda
Sunday, November 8 | Arrival & Subic
Arrival and travel to Subic
Welcome dinner
Monday, November 9 | Subic
Maritime, port, and industry visits and briefings
Subic Dry Dock visit and tour
Yacht cruise and dinner
Tuesday, November 10 | Subic
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority visit and briefings
Maritime policy, development, and environmental activities
Policy discussions and presentations
Wednesday, November 11 | Subic → Manila
Travel to Manila
Cultural and historical visits
Thursday, November 12 | Manila
University of the Philippines, Diliman – Institute of Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea (IMLOS) conference
The program is subject to change.
Expressions of interest are welcome until 30 September 2026. If you are interested in joining the Subic SQUAD Forum, or would like to refer a colleague who may be interested, please contact Ivy Ganadillo, SQUAD Forum Program Manager, at ivy.ganadillo@ycaps.org