Most US naval fleets to be shifted to Pacific: Panetta

DHAKA: The United States will shift the most of its naval fleet to the Pacific by 2020.

Pentagon chief Leon Panetta came up with the disclosure while speaking to defence officials from across the region at the Shangri-La security dialogue, a summit organised by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore on Saturday.

The decision was made as part of a new strategic focus on Asia, Leon said.

With a view to expanding a network of military partnerships in the region, the decision to deploy more ships to the Pacific Ocean was taken, Panetta added.

He further added that the decision was part of a “steady, deliberate” effort to bolster the US role in an area deemed vital to America’s future.

The US Navy currently has a fleet of 285 ships, with about half of those vessels deployed or assigned to the Pacific.

The United States also planned to boost the number of military exercises in the Pacific and to conduct more port visits over a wider area extending to the Indian Ocean.

BDST: 1200 HRS, JUN 02, 2012
Edited by: Mohammed Humayun Kabir, Sr Newsroom Editor