U.S. Allies In Asia Do Not Understand The U.S. Pivot To The Region

Allies Confused by Pivot-to-Asia Strategy -- Yasmin Tadjdeh, Nation Defense

U.S. military leaders have talked about a so-called strategic shift to Asia, but allies in that region don't truly understand what the Defense Department is planning to do, a congressman said June 4.

"As far as meeting with ambassadors and other military leaders in that area, they like the concept, [but] they don't understand the concept because we didn't do very good messaging," said Rep. J. Randy Forbes, R-Va., co-chairman of the Congressional China Caucus.

Asian allies are waiting to see more U.S. assets brought into the region, but so far, there has been little additional presence, Forbes told Washington, D.C.-based reporters.

While there may be an intention to send more ships and troops to the Asia-Pacific region, Pentagon leaders underestimated what would be needed in the Middle East. Continuing unrest there has delayed the movement of assets to the Pacific, Forbes said.

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My Comment: Leon Panetta tries to explain the US re-balance towards the Asia-Pacific last year (see above video) .... but after watching it I am still "confused". The problem is that the rhetoric is not matching the actions .... and until the U.S. deploys the necessary assets into the region, talk about a pivot-to-Asia will just be that .... talk.