Hagel: Despite military cuts, U.S. to deliver on its Asia-Pacific security promises
Source: Omaha World Herald
By Joseph Morton
SINGAPORE — Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel today sought to allay concerns among Asia-Pacific nations that steep military spending cuts will prevent the United States from delivering on its promises to place a new emphasis on security in the region.
“It is true that the Department of Defense will have fewer resources than in the past,” Hagel said during his much anticipated speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue. “It would be unwise and shortsighted, however, to conclude that our commitment to the rebalance cannot be sustained.”
President Barack Obama previously announced the “rebalance” or “pivot” of U.S. military attention to the Pacific. Hagel's predecessor, Leon Panetta, filled in a few details at last year's Shangri-La, an annual conference of Asia-Pacific defense ministers that draws leaders from across the world.
But there has been a drumbeat of news from Washington about the ongoing budget cuts known as the sequester. That's caused anxiety in this part of the world — that the Pentagon would lack the financial resources to deliver on its new strategy.
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