TUMON, Guam –
Military leaders spoke about the rebalance to the Pacific during the Guam Economic Development Authority (GEDA) Symposium at the Hyatt Regency Guam in Tumon, Oct. 23.
About 120 international businessmen and women met during the conference to discuss Guam's economy and what factors affect the future investment climate.
Paul Vosti, senior advisor, Guam policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, addressed how Guam meets the needs for projecting American military presence in the region. He stated that the military structure in Asia needs to be geographically distributed, operationally resilient, and politically sustainable.
"From a strategic policy perspective, the U.S. is evolving from a series of really bilateral defense arrangements in Asia," he said. "We are now talking more in a trilateral and even a multilateral context with a lot of both treaty allies and other partners in the region that we don't have formal treaty arrangements with."
The three-day event offered a variety of speakers who addressed current issues, including Guam's critical strategic role in the rebalance to the Pacific.
Joint Region Marianas Chief of Staff Capt. Anthony Anglin spoke about the current military presence on Guam and the importance of the region in regard to operating forward to ensure the security of the United States and its allies. He also discussed the relocation of U.S. Marines from Okinawa, Japan, to Guam and how it is important for the relocation to be done correctly.
"Pacific rebalance is not only about security interest in this area, it's not just about DoD-centered initiative," he said. "It involves diplomatic, economic and political initiatives as well. It's about partnership in this part of the world."
The confirmation of the relocation of the Marines to Guam was a concern from some of the participants of the symposium.
"Confidence was definitely established in what we heard today," E.J. Calvo, GEDA's chairman said. "For some people, it renewed confidence in regard to the relocation and realignment with the U.S. military."