U.S. Army's Role in the Asia-Pacific: Rebalancing Across the Pacific Rim
Abstract
This paper examines the mission of the Eighth U.S. Army (EUSA) forces stationed in the Republic of Korea (ROK), and presents a new framework for modernizing EUSA's role to reflect the contemporary environment that prompted the Obama Administration's rebalance to the Asia-Pacific. The framework requires an understanding of the historical basis for the US-ROK mutual defense treaty, and an analysis of changes in the security environment that have transpired since the end of the Cold War. New notions of cooperative and asymmetric security in the region can then be introduced as a means of transforming EUSA from a ROK internally-oriented deterrent force to an externally-oriented asset for building partner capacity in the entire Asia-Pacific region. Due to the current obstacles with leveraging EUSA's capabilities as a Landpower, the strategic leadership of the United States Forces Korea (USFK) Commanding General (CG) will be essential in enabling EUSA to transform. The end result will be a more efficient utilization of the army in the Asia Pacific towards maintaining the United States global leadership for the long-term.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA589331
Entities
People
- Yi S. Gwon
Organizations
- United States Army War College