America has unveiled a plan for a leaner, more flexible military but the new strategy and budget cuts will not weaken its presence in the Asia-Pacific, US President Barack Obama says.
The Asia-Pacific, along with the Middle East, were named as the two regions where the US will emphasise its global presence while the US military footprint in Europe is likely to diminish.
The new strategy confirms the vow Mr Obama made during his visit to Australia in November that "reductions in US defence spending will not - I repeat, will not - come at the expense of the Asia-Pacific".
During the November trip it was announced 2500 US marines will be stationed in the Northern Territory within five years.
"As I made clear in Australia, we will be strengthening our presence in the Asia-Pacific, and budget reductions will not come at the expense of that critical region," Mr Obama said in an address at the Pentagon on Thursday.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
America's renewed focus on the Asia-Pacific comes as China beefs up its military and economic presence in the region and an unstable North Korea remains a serious threat.
The review is expected to reduce army and Marine Corps personnel, a move that will reduce America's ability to embark on nation-building missions as it did in Iraq and Afghanistan the past decade. The army is expected to be reduced from 570,000 to about 490,000 personnel.
"First, the US joint force will be smaller, and it will be leaner," US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta told reporters.
"But its great strength will be that it will be more agile, more flexible, ready to deploy quickly, innovative and technologically advanced. That is the force for the future.
"Second, as we move towards this new joint force, we are also rebalancing our global posture and presence, emphasising the Pacific and the Middle East.
"These are the areas where we see the greatest challenges for the future.
The US military will increase its institutional weight and focus on enhanced presence, power projection and deterrence in the Asia-Pacific."
