Trump to visit Saudi Arabia in mid-May: Report    Worshippers in Makkah and Madinah perform Eid Al-Fitr prayer    Saudi authorities shut down food factories and branches over suspected poisoning cases    Saudi Arabia welcomes formation of new Syrian government, expresses hope for stronger ties    Saudi Transport Authority says passengers can ride for free if taxi meters are off    Ministry of Education forms 425 community partnerships with SR653 million impact    Defense, interior, and national guard ministers extend Eid greetings, praise efforts of military and security personnel    Syria forms new government with 22 ministers including one woman President Sharaa vows reform and transparency    Israeli army fires warning shots at UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon    Denmark rebukes US Vice President Vance over Greenland remarks    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Makkah and Madinah mobile data usage exceeds global average during Ramadan: CST    Elon Musk's xAI acquires X in all-stock deal    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Saudi creatives shine at Jeddah's Fawanees Nights with art, fashion, and storytelling    100 Thieves claim Marvel Rivals Invitational NA crown as 2025 scene heats up    T1 CEO confirms Gumayusi's return for LCK Spring after lineup shakeup    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Saudi Arabia hold Japan to goalless draw in Saitama to stay in World Cup hunt    NewJeans announces hiatus after setback in court battle    George Foreman, heavyweight champion and cultural icon, dies at 76    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



US will keep strong presence in Pacific
By Phil Stewart
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 23 - 10 - 2011


Reuters
ABOARD A USMILITARY AIRCRAFT — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta left on Friday for his first trip to Asia as Pentagon chief, aiming to reassure allies that the US military will keep a strong presence in the Pacific — even in an era of belt-tightening.
Such assurances cannot be taken for granted. The US military is facing at least $450 billion in defense spending cuts over the next decade, reductions that Panetta told Congress last week would take the Pentagon “to the edge.”
It is also gradually drawing down forces from Afghanistan and, as President Barack Obama announced on Friday, completely withdrawing from Iraq by the end of this year.
As it does so, the Obama administration is expected to shift more attention to Asia, where China's military advances have alarmed neighbors, and where the US military still has more than 80,000 forward-deployed troops in South Korea and Japan alone.
“There's a clear message that I'm going to bring to that region. And the message is this: that we will remain a strong Pacific force in the 21st century and we will maintain a strong presence,” Panetta told reporters on his flight, without referring explicitly to the budget debate in Washington.
Panetta's first stop will be Bali, the Indonesian island which is playing host to a meeting of defense ministers from the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). He will meet on Sunday with ASEAN defense ministers and hold talks with Indonesian leaders.
He then leaves for Japan on Monday before continuing to South Korea on Wednesday to complete the week-long trip, during which he will meet his counterparts and talk with US troops.
Speaking to US forces in Italy earlier this month, Panetta cited his concerns about China as he explained plans to keep a strong US presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
“In the Pacific, we're concerned about China. The most important thing we can do is to project our force into the Pacific,” he said. “To have our carriers there, to have our fleet there, to be able to make very clear to China that we are going to protect international rights to be able to move across the oceans freely.”
Fueled by its booming economy, China's military growth in the past decade has exceeded most US forecasts. Attention has focused on emerging capabilities, like its aircraft carrier program, stealth fighter jet and anti-ship ballistic missile.
China reacted angrily to the Obama administration's decision last month to give Taiwan a $5.85 billion arms package, including upgrades to F-16 A/B fighter aircraft.
Panetta told reporters on his flight to Indonesia the United States wanted a positive relationship with China and stressed it was important that “we continue to communicate. It's important that we work together.”
“At the same time, I think that China must recognize that in order to have that kind of relationship, that they have to be transparent,” he said.
“And they have to be working with us to try to recognize international rules so that all countries can enjoy security, can enjoy navigation rights, right of passage.”


Clic here to read the story from its source.