(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) WASHINGTON, July 27 (KUNA) -- US military officials on Wednesday reiterated the importance of lasting relationships with nations in the region, including Kuwait, in deterrence measures against hostile threats.
These measures include "efforts to formalize basing with countries like Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, and a continued focus on agreements in place for access, bases and oversight with countries in the region," an official said at a Pentagon panel discussion.
Commander of US Central Command Army Gen. Joseph L. Votel also pointed out "posture and presence, including long-term military relationships with countries like Egypt," read a Defense Department statement.
Other ways, Votel suggested, are "building partner capacity and capability." Meanwhile, Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Brian McKeon noted to what he called "gray zone confrontations," which he explained, "occur just below the level of armed conflict but involve military-backed coercion." Groups in the gray zone can use individually-small steps in aggression, he said, whereby "taking no action will yield an unacceptable outcome". (end) sd.ma