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| US SecDef: Ash Carter |
By Prashanth Parameswaran
Defense secretary announces fresh move at Asia’s premier security summit.
This weekend, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter delivered an address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier security summit held annually in Singapore.
In his speech, Carter articulated the U.S. vision for a stronger regional architecture in the Asia-Pacific to address shared challenges comprising five elements: reaffirming long-standing rules and norms; strengthening regional institutions; modernizing alliances and partnerships; enhancing capacity-building; and improving connectivity. The address built on recent remarks by Carter and other U.S. defense officials on ‘the next phase’ of the U.S. rebalance to the Asia-Pacific (See: “TPP as Important As Another Aircraft Carrier: Defense Secretary”).
Unsurprisingly, maritime security featured prominently in Carter’s speech. In particular, Carter said that the Department of Defense would be launching a new Southeast Asia Maritime Security initiative. He said Congress had already taken steps to authorize up to $425 million dollars for these maritime capacity-building efforts.
Read the full story at The Diplomat