The United States is moving its military forces from the Asia-Pacific to the Middle East, causing security anxiety among regional allies

Given that Iran has increased its attacks on the Strait of Hormuz, about 2,500 U.S. Marines and up to three warships are being moved from the Asia-Pacific region to the Middle East. As the White House continues to channel military resources into the Iranian war in the Middle East, U.S. Asian allies are increasingly anxious, fearing that regional defense capabilities may be weakened as a result.

According to a report by Bloomberg on the 13th, when the U.S. moved its only aircraft carrier stationed in the Asia-Pacific to the Middle East in 2010 to deal with the situation in Afghanistan, Asian allies did not worry much. Now the situation is very different.

Current and former Asian defense officials are increasingly concerned that if the U.S.-Iran war continues, the U.S. will gradually transfer more firepower. They warned that even if the fighting ends quickly, the depleted ammunition stocks may take years to replenish, which could put other regions at risk.

The report pointed out that South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol confirmed during a cabinet meeting this week that the U.S. might need to move air defense assets to the Middle East. Subsequently, reports emerged that several THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) launch units were found to have been transported from a base in southern South Korea. Yoon emphasized that Seoul's military forces are "undoubtedly overwhelming," and he opposed the decision of the Trump administration, but he could not "impose our position" on the U.S.

The U.S. has deployed about one-third of its naval surface fleet to the Middle East, and important military logistics chains such as aerial refueling tankers and supply ships are also highly concentrated near Iran. A Pentagon official, when asked about the issue, stated that the Department of Defense would not discuss specific weapon movements or deployments. However, the Pentagon is fulfilling its global responsibilities, ensuring that the U.S. military is always capable of deterring any aggression in the Asia-Pacific region.

For example, former Japanese defense official Kogami Hiroto believes that the more urgent issue is the depletion of Patriot missiles. Manufacturing these missiles takes a long time, meaning it could take years to fully replenish the stockpiles. "This could have a significant impact on the readiness of the Asia-Pacific region."

Another analysis indicates that as the U.S.-Iran war expands, America's adversaries are deepening their cooperation.

In recent years, military cooperation between Russia and Iran has become increasingly close. Western intelligence sources revealed that Russia is providing various military intelligence to Iran, including satellite images and drone targeting strategies, helping Iran retaliate against the U.S. and Israel.

Philippines is not too worried

John R. Kirby, the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, stated last week during a Senate hearing that senior U.S. officials are committed to maintaining "very close ties" with "allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific." He pointed out that after the U.S. attacked Iran, they first called the Philippine Defense Minister, saying, "We are focusing all our attention on the First Island Chain."

An anonymous Philippine officer said that the Philippines is not worried about its alliance relationship with the U.S. due to the U.S.-Iran war and still plans to conduct annual exercises with U.S. forces.

Moreover, the U.S. moving weapons and military equipment around the world is not uncommon. Before the joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran's nuclear facilities last year, the U.S. had already moved the Patriot air defense system from South Korea to Qatar, and then sent it back to its original location a few months later. In previous Middle Eastern conflicts, U.S. forces have deployed a series of military forces from East Asia, including deploying the aircraft carrier USS George Washington from Japan during the Afghanistan War for several months.

Source: rfi

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1859663897716736/

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