Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with U.S. treaty allies and other partners, America seeks to build an Indo-Pacific region where sovereignty and territorial integrity are safeguarded and the promise of freedom is fulfilled and prosperity prevails for all, Defense Secretary James N. Mattis said today in Singapore.
Addressing the 2018 International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue, the secretary said the Indo-Pacific strategy stands in firm support of America's recently released National Defense strategy.
“[The strategies] take a clear-eyed view of the strategic environment, and they recognize that competition among nations not only persists in the 21st century, in some regard it is intensifying,” Mattis said.
And both strategies affirm that the Indo-Pacific region is critical for America's continued stability, security and prosperity, he added.
“In [America's Indo-Pacific strategy], we see deepening alliances and partnerships as a priority. [The Association of Southeast Asian Nations'] centrality remains vital and cooperation with China is welcome wherever possible,” the secretary said.
“So, make no mistake — America is in the Indo-Pacific to stay,” he noted.
“This is our priority theater; our interests and the regions are inexplicably intertwined,”Mattis said. “Our Indo-Pacific…
