American management rallies its allies and companions and evokes peculiar folks all over the world to work collectively towards a brighter future, mentioned Secretary of Protection Lloyd J. Austin III, who delivered the keynote tackle immediately on the Reagan Nationwide Protection Discussion board in Simi Valley, California.
Autocrats worldwide and terrorist teams need to weaken America’s management and its alliances and partnerships, he mentioned.
“Our unmatched community of alliances and partnerships is one in every of America’s nice strategic benefits. Our allies and companions enlarge our power. They venture our energy. They usually deepen our safety,” Austin mentioned.
The secretary pointed to the power of its alliances and partnerships, noting the 32 member nations of NATO, alliances with Australia, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand, 14 main non-NATO allies and main protection companions.
The U.S. additionally has entry to agreements with greater than 40 nations and logistics agreements with greater than 120, he mentioned. “That helps us venture energy with our companions the place we have to, when we have to, and the way we have to.”
As Austin prepares to depart immediately for a go to to Japan, he mentioned that a lot progress has been made with associates within the Indo-Pacific area, significantly important at a time when China has change into more and more aggressive and bullying to its neighbors.
Over the past a number of years, upgrades to U.S. posture throughout the Indo-Pacific have been made, fortifying its place from Northeast Asia to Australia and the Pacific Islands. He cited some examples:
Modernizing the command-and-control frameworks with Japan;
Forging a Protection Cooperation Settlement with Papua New Guinea;
Signing landmark defense-industrial-cooperation offers with India;
Securing trilateral safety cooperation among the many United States, Japan and South Korea;
Offering Taiwan with the self-defense capabilities;
Increasing the Enhanced Protection Cooperation Settlement with the Philippines to permit U.S. entry to 4 extra websites within the Philippines — for a complete of 9;
Integrating Japan into troop rotations in Darwin, Australia; and
Deepening the trilateral AUKUS partnership between the U.S., Australia and United Kingdom.
Elsewhere on the planet, Austin mentioned the U.S., allies and associate nations have come to the protection of Ukraine.
The Ukraine Protection Contact Group has helped be sure that Ukraine has had what it must defend itself — and to forge a future drive to discourage extra Russian aggression, he mentioned. “Collectively, we’ve got helped Ukraine survive an all-out assault by the most important army in Europe.”
Within the Center East, the U.S. has labored to help Israel to make sure that Hamas can by no means once more commit atrocities. The U.S. has additionally pushed arduous to guard Palestinian civilians — and to hurry humanitarian assist into Gaza, Austin mentioned, including that the U.S. additionally despatched a robust message of deterrence to Iran and its proxies.
The Protection Division has additionally invested within the protection industrial base with a view to outpace any rival and guarantee an everlasting army benefit.
“We’re rising our manufacturing capability. We’re implementing the first-ever Nationwide Protection Industrial Technique to modernize the protection industrial base. That may make our provide chains extra resilient and our acquisitions extra versatile,” he mentioned.
The division has additionally invested in its folks — service members, veterans and their households, he mentioned.
Base pay for troops is up nearly 10% since January 2021 and the 2025 price range proposal seeks one other 4.5% pay elevate, he mentioned.
The division has additionally taken actions to make strikes simpler, assist army spouses pursue their very own careers, introduce common pre-Ok in Division of Protection Schooling Exercise colleges and broaden entry to reasonably priced baby care and high-quality early childhood training, he mentioned.
The division has additionally labored arduous to finish sexual assault and harassment, forestall suicides and improve recruiting and retention, he mentioned.
“Immediately’s U.S. army is a unprecedented gathering of volunteers — courageous women and men of each race, colour and creed. America’s biggest strategic asset has all the time been the skills of the American folks. And we’re stronger once we welcome each certified patriot desirous to serve. That is not only a matter of nationwide precept. It is a matter of nationwide safety,” he mentioned.
American values matter, he mentioned, declaring that each service member swears to defend not simply the US but in addition the Structure.
“The baton will quickly be handed. Others will determine the course forward. And I hope that they are going to construct on the power that we’ve got solid during the last 4 years,” he mentioned.
