NEWPORT, R.I., Oct. 17 (UPI) -- U.S. military officials unveiled the new U.S. maritime strategy at the International Seapower Symposium in Newport, R.I., Wednesday.
Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations; Gen. James T. Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps; and Adm. Thad W. Allen, commandant of the Coast Guard, today unveiled “A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower” that they say elevates war prevention to the same level of importance as warfighting.
“The American people expect -- demand -- that we as a Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard remain strong,” Roughead said, in a statement. “They also expect our services to defend their territory and to be able to protect our citizens.”
The new maritime strategy calls on the Navy to develop certain strategic imperatives as a global force, globally positioned, the admiral said. Despite the global initiative, U.S. Navy vessels will be concentrated in the western Pacific and the Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean region.
Additionally, the new strategy calls for an expanded core capability for disaster response and humanitarian assistance.
Roughead said trust is the key to the new maritime strategy. “We believe that trust cannot be surged. Trust is not something that has a switch and you can turn on and off,” Roughead said. “Trust is something that must be built over time. Trust is built through discussions, operations, activities and exercises and through initiatives that each of us may undertake and bring others into. It is built on seeking opportunities to work more closely together.”
Representatives from 98 countries attended the symposium.
