Biden eyes bigger Indo-pacific role for US military
With an eye on China, US President targets Nato-like American military presence in the region
WASHINGTON: The US will “maintain a strong military presence in the Indo-pacific” just as it does with NATO in Europe, and it will retain an “over-the-horizon” capability as it leaves Afghanistan in September, President Joe Biden has said in his first address to a joint session of Congress.
In a 65-minute speech to a chamber sparsely populated in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, Biden recalled major accomplishments of his first 100 days in office such as a rescue plan and laid out his agenda for the remainder of his term that many experts described as the most progressive for a Democratic president in decades.
“America is on the move again,” he said as he started his speech that was focused mostly on domestic issues, such as the handling of the pandemic, economic recovery, health care expansion, gun rights reforms, immigration policy, eradication of child poverty, raising the minimum wage to $15, equal pay for women, among others.
On China, Afghanistan
The US president spoke on foreign policy issues such as America’s relations with China, the main competitor, and the pullout of troops from Afghanistan that he has pledged to wrap up by September 11.
“We will maintain a strong military presence in the Indo-pacific just as we do with NATO in Europe – not to start conflict – but to prevent conflict,” Biden said he told China’s President Xi Jinping when the latter had called to congratulate him.
No details were available immediately of plans to boost US military presence in the region.
Former US president Donald Trump had also spoken of a strong military presence in the Indo-pacific, but at the expense of US presence in Europe, by moving troops from Germany.
On China, Biden said, “America will stand up to unfair trade practices that undercut American workers and industries, like subsidies for state-owned enterprises and the theft of American technologies and intellectual property.”
As for Afghanistan, he said, “After 20 years of American valour and sacrifice, it’s time to bring our troops home. Even as we do, we will maintain an overthe-horizon capability to suppress future threats to the homeland.”