Statement from George Little on the CSIS Report
July 24, 2012

Today the Department of Defense transmitted to Congress the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) independent assessment of the United States defense posture in the U.S. Pacific Command area of responsibility. This report was commissioned as a requirement of section 346 of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2012 (P.L. 112-81). The department also transmitted to Congress Secretary Panetta’s comments on the report.

The secretary appreciates the hard work of the CSIS team and the extensive analysis they have undertaken, and he values their insights.

U.S. policy calls for rebalancing defense, diplomatic, and economic resources toward the Asia-Pacific region. Essential to this strategy is the effort to strengthen alliances and partnerships in the region and to advance a common security vision through those relationships.

The CSIS assessment is consistent with the major elements of the department’s defense strategy. The report supports the department’s approach to enhancing the U.S. defense posture in the Asia-Pacific and highlights some of key steps that will need to be taken in the future to achieve that goal.

In the coming days, department leaders will meet with members of Congress to discuss the report’s findings. We look forward to consulting with the Congress, whose support is essential to ensuring that we can fulfill our nation’s defense needs in the Asia-Pacific region.