Katrina McFarland, assistant secretary of defense for acquisition, said on Tuesday that, due to cuts to the defense budget, the Pentagon's plans to pivot to Asia 'can't happen.' Shown is the amphibious assault ship Boxer during a scheduled deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (MC3 Trevor Welsh / US Navy)
Can The US Afford The Asia Pivot? -- Zachary Keck, The Diplomat
A senior U.S. defense official says the Asia pivot “can’t happen” if budget cuts continue.
A senior U.S. defense official told an industry audience on Tuesday that the pivot to Asia “can’t happen” because of budgetary cuts to U.S. defense spending.
According to the Navy Times, a privately owned publication, Katrina McFarland, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, told an industry conference on Tuesday: “Right now, the pivot is being looked at again, because candidly it can’t happen.”
This seemingly stood in direct contrast to previous statements from the U.S. Defense Department and Obama administration, which claimed that the Asia-Pacific would be shielded from the defense budget cuts.
Read more ....
Update #1: DoD Official: Asia Pivot 'Can't Happen' Due to Budget Pressures -- Defense News
Update #2: USFK intact, Asia pivot potentially in jeopardy -- Yonhap News Agency
My Comment: If these reports are true .... reaction in Asia will be predictable ... China will cheer and U.S. allies in Asia will be reviewing their options.
Update #3: Official Backpedals on Pacific Pivot ‘Can’t Happen’ -- DoD Buzz
Update #4: US official questions Asia 'pivot', backtracks -- AP
No comments:
Post a Comment