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Top admiral touts US partnerships in Asia-Pacific region
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert made clear Tuesday his service is building new partnerships and enhancing existing ones in the Asia-Pacific region as China flexes its muscles.
Greenert called for increased U.S.-China military talks and cooperation to avoid a miscalculation that could lead to a conflict.
But he also repeatedly pointed to nations in China’s neighborhood with which the Navy is closely working, touting cooperation with Japan, Singapore, Australia, India, Indonesia and other Asia-Pacific nations during an appearance at a forum sponsored by the Center for a New American Security.
Those nations and Washington are committed, he said, to investing as needed in combat platforms needed to ensure they can maneuver freely in that region.
Greenert announced that Singapore has offered to host the U.S. Navy’s shore-hugging littoral combat ships. Singapore also has erected a facility that will allow an American nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to dock there, the chief of naval operations said.
Most of the deployed American naval ships are operating in the Asia-Pacific, and that will continue going forward, Greenert said.
When asked by an attendee whether that shift will cause the U.S. Navy to turn a blind eye toward the Middle East, Greenert said no.
“There won't be a taking an eye off the ball in the Middle East,” he said.
To that end, Greenert said the one issue that “keeps me up at night” is Iran’s threat to close the Straight of Hormuz, a key transit point for oil out of the Middle East.
“We have been there, and we will continue to be there,” Greenert said of both the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions.
