Officials said the US Defense Department would upgrade and expand military bases in Guam and Australia, highlighting its focus on China as its top defence competitor.
Washington:
According to the Pentagon, the US military would strengthen deployments and bases aimed at China and Russia while maintaining forces in the Middle East sufficient to deter Iran and jihadist organisations, according to the conclusions of a review.
Officials said the US Defense Department would upgrade and expand military installations in Guam and Australia, highlighting its focus on China as its top defence competitor.
According to sources, the contents of the “global posture review,” which was commissioned at the outset of President Joe Biden’s administration earlier this year, would stay classified to avoid disclosing secrets to adversaries or revealing sensitive plans with allies.
According to Mara Karlin, a top Pentagon policy official, the evaluation verified that the US military’s top priority region was the Indo-Pacific.
She told reporters that the assessment “directs increased cooperation with allies and partners across the region to advance efforts that contribute to regional peace and deter future Chinese military actions and threats from North Korea.”
It also “strengthens the combat-credible deterrent against Russian aggression in Europe” and “allows NATO forces to function more effectively,” she added.
After the protracted disputes in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Middle East, on the other hand, remains a tumultuous area for the Pentagon.
“We have global duties and must ensure that our forces are ready and modernized,” Karlin added.
“These factors lead us to adjust our Middle East posture on a regular basis, but we always have the potential to quickly send forces to the region based on the threat environment.”
Separately, a senior Pentagon official who did not want to be identified discounted the possibility of significant changes.
“We would not develop a substantial strategic-level shift to our stance in the first year of a government,” the official said.
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