US to rely more on global network of allies

WASHINGTON — The United States will strengthen its global network of allies, particularly those in the Asia-Pacific, as a key plank of its military strategy, the Pentagon said in a report this week.

Calling Japan one of the country’s “advanced partners”, along with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Australia and South Korea, the report said strengthening the network of allies and partners is “central” to efforts in keeping peace and security.

The National Military Strategy report released on Wednesday reflects Washington’s intent to increase dependence on allies amid its tight finances and growing security threats.

“Since the last National Military Strategy was published in 2011, global disorder has significantly increased while some of our comparative military advantage has begun to erode,” General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wrote in his introduction to the strategy document.

“We now face multiple, simultaneous security challenges from traditional state actors and transregional networks of sub-state groups — all taking advantage of rapid technological change,” Gen Dempsey continued. “We are more likely to face prolonged campaigns than conflicts that are resolved quickly.”

The US will “press forward with the rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region, placing our most advanced capabilities and greater capacity in that vital theatre”, and will strengthen alliances with Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Thailand, according to the report.

“We also will deepen our security relationship with India and build upon our partnerships with New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Bangladesh.

“Such efforts are essential to maintaining regional peace and building capabilities to provide for missile defence, cybersecurity, maritime security and disaster relief.”

Japan, which hosts a number of US military bases in its southern prefecture of Okinawa and elsewhere, has been shifting its security policy under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to enable the country to engage in collective self-defence, or coming to the aid of allies under armed attack even if Japan itself is not, under certain conditions.

Those that are acting in a manner that threatens US security interests include countries such as Russia, Iran, North Korea and China, the report said, as well as non-state groups such as the Islamic State and the Taliban.

Regarding North Korea, it said its pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technologies “directly threaten its neighbours, especially (South) Korea and Japan”. It added: “In time, they will threaten the US homeland as well.”

It also referred to China’s land-reclamation projects in the South China Sea and said its claims to nearly the entire South China Sea are “inconsistent with international law” and its actions are “adding tensions to the Asia-Pacific region”.

“The international community continues to call on China to settle such issues cooperatively and without coercion. China has responded with aggressive land reclamation efforts that will allow it to position military forces astride vital international sea lanes.” Kyodo News