Presence of US marines in Darwin poses question on US foreign policy in the region.
In an interview with The Australian, Edgard Kagan, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Department reiterated that the thought of shift in the US foreign policy has emerged due to over reaction to the presence of US marines in Darwin. The US State Department’s top diplomat answerable for routine Australia policy states the offsetting of US foreign policy and existence of US marines in Darwin does not epitomize a major strategic or premeditated change for US policy in the region.
He works for US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
He said both US and Australian government are aware that this exercise has nothing to do with the considerable shift in canons of foreign policy in the area. In no cast it will change the US policy strategically there.
He clarified that US spin in relation to Asia was the need-based development.
US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Julia Gillard met in November 2011 and declared a permanent deployment of 2500 US marines in Darwin by the year 2016 on rotation basis.
It was not a big deal but a small step in developing relationships and demonstrating power in the region.
As expected, few countries made a big issue out of it without knowing the facts. He refuted the argument that it was done to check mounting Chinese expansionism. He laid stress on the strong bonds between Australia and US.
He said that not many countries across the globe are evasive allies of US on various issues. But US is always ready to seek the help and opinions of countries like Australia.
Mr Kagan criticized Australian Ambassador to US, Kim Bealzey for his remarks. He said Kim Bealzey was not able to appreciate the investment relations between the two countries. He was referring to the remarks made by Kim Bealzey in an interview with the Australian in the last week.
He affirmed the fact that the US is the biggest foreign investor in Australia and in turn Australia is one of the large investors in the US despite the size of its economy.