Obama’s new military strategy shifts focus to Asia-Pacific, Middle East
07 Jan 2012
US President Barack Obama's new military strategy of shifting the focus to Asia-Pacific and the Middle East regions, besides identifying China and Iran as security threats, is expected to raise tensions with the Asian giant.
Unveiling America's defence strategic document, Sustaining US global leadership: priorities for 21st century defence, Obama told a news conference at the Pentagon (the first time an American president held a briefing there) that his country's economic and security interests were 'inextricably' linked with the Asia-Pacific region.
''We will be strengthening our presence in the Asia Pacific, and budget reductions will not come at the expense of this critical region,'' Obama told reporters. He was accompanied by secretary of defence Leon Panetta and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Martin Dempsey.
Obama's strategy directs the US military to rebalance towards the Asia-Pacific region and to rely on existing alliances, besides expanding networks to include new partners such as India. The American president also clubbed China along with Iran while dealing with security threats.
While the Chinese government did not react to his speech, state-run Xinhua was critical of Obama. ''While boosting its military presence in the Asia Pacific, the US should abstain from flexing its muscles,'' the agency noted. ''If the US indiscreetly applies militarism in the region, it will be like a bull in a china shop, and endanger peace instead of enhancing regional stability.''
Obama's strategy of beefing up its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region comes in the wake of financial constraints that is forcing the government to slash its defence budget. However, the rebalancing will happen at Europe's expense, with the strategy noting that the Continent had 'evolved' from being a 'consumer' of security to a 'producer.'
The new strategy has been announced even as the government is committed to slashing the defence budget by $450 billion over the next decade. The Obama administration wants an additional $500 billion cut in defence spending, if the Congress accepts the proposal.
Promising to rid 'outdated Cold War-era systems,' Obama declared that the US military would be leaner, ''but agile, flexible and ready for the full range of contingencies and threats.'' While emphasising on the need for the country to remain prepared for all eventualities, Obama declared: ''We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past - after World War II, after Vietnam - when our military was left ill-prepared for the future. So, yes, our military will be leaner, but the world must know - the United States is going to maintain our military superiority.''
