Indeed, in recent years, the United States and its like-minded partners, Australia and India, appeared to recognize the need for closer military cooperation. The next phase of defense cooperation in the Indian Ocean should therefore focus on strengthening the enabling foundations of military cooperation: delegated authorities, crisis communications, and routine operational interaction. The game examined two crisis scenarios in the Indian Ocean to “stress-test” the “enabling foundations” of military cooperation — that is, the capabilities and arrangements that allow partners to operationalize military cooperation. The experience of Australia and Japan illustrates how rapidly military cooperation can deepen through sustained institutional contact. Field training exercises alone are unlikely to provide the type of routines and regular engagement necessary for effective crisis cooperation.