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Monday May 13, 2013

US: Naval presence remains ‘unwavering’


The United States’ renewed naval presence in the Asia-Pacific region would be “absolute and unwavering” despite recent sweeping federal budget cuts, said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus during an official visit to Singapore.

Mabus was visiting the littoralcombat ship USS Freedom, docked at Changi Naval Base, ahead of the International Maritime Defence Exhibition & Conference (Imdex Asia), which begins tomorrow.

“We may have to vary the scope of some things, but the essential commitment here will not change.

“This is our focus, this is where we’re going to put the majority of our fleet.”

Federal budget cuts of US$85bil (RM$253bil) took effect in the United States on March 1, as part of an austere fiscal policy.

President Barack Obama’s administration had announced in No­­­­vem­­ber 2011 that the United States would “pivot” strategically to Asia, redeploying 60% of its navy to the region by 2020, up from 50% currently. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

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