The U.S. maintains military capabilities in the Western Pacific to support U.S. and regional security, economic, and political interests; and to fulfill treaty and alliance agreements. Forces must be positioned to defend the homeland and U.S. Pacific territories, preserve regional stability, maintain flexibility to respond to regional threats, project power throughout the region, defend Japan and other allies (by treaty agreements), and provide capabilities that enhances global mobility to meet contingencies around the world.
Guam is a key piece of the strategic alignment in the Pacific and is ideally situated to support stability in the region and defend other U.S. territories, the homeland, and economic and political interests in the Pacific region. Realignment within the Pacific to include Guam would meet international agreement and treaty requirements and fulfill U.S. national security policy requirements to provide mutual defense, deter aggression, and dissuade coercion in the Western Pacific Region. It is near enough to potential areas of conflict that its location allows quick response times with the most freedom of action (use of base without restrictions).