Pacific Perspective:Marines Update Their Pacific Deployments

The US Marine Corps is developing a new approach to its Pacific deployments called the Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR).It has already founded the first MLR in Hawaii.Next,the concept will be realised on the Japanese island of Okinawa.The Corps will transform its Okinawa presence without increasing its numbers there.MLRs contain about 2,000 Marines and US Navy Sailors,including a Combat Team.It is a self-deployable,multi-domain force that persistently operates across the competitive continuum in support of the Joint Force,assuring Allies and Partners;deterring adversaries;conducting and enabling Joint Force contact,blunt and surge activities.The MLR is a naval formation with capabilities to manoeuvre and operate in the maritme domain.It is mobile,low-signature and persistent in the contact to blunt layers and relatively easy to maintain and sustain as part of a naval expeditionary force.* The MLR leverages the full capabiltity of amphibious platforms,connectors and boats.Together,the Navy and Marine Corps will field a Light Amphibious Warship to enhance its mobility and sustainment.The MLR contains a Littoral Combat Team;Littoral Anti-Air Battalion;and Combat Logistics Battalion.So the MLR contains an infantry battalion and an anti-ship missile battery.It facilitates the deployment of multiple platoon-reinforced size expeditionary advanced base sites for long-range anti-ship fires;forward arming and refueling of aircraft;Intelligence,Surveillance and Reconnaissance of key maritime terrain;plus air defence and early warning.After Okinawa,a third MLR is being contemplated for the US militarised coral reef of Guam.An MLR is commanded by a colonel.* The new concept was agreed with Japan at the recent Security Consultative Talks (SCT) in Washington on 12 January 2023.The talks,hosted by the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken for Japan's Foreign Minister,Hagashi Yosimasu,and Defence Minister,Hamada Yasukazu.The SCT deepened an already close relationship in the context of a more assertive China;Russia's second invasion of Ukraine;and North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and delivery systems.Said SecDef Austin: It is a shared committment to uphold the rules-based international order and to strengthen resilient partnerships around the globe.* Thus the US will forward-station the more versatile,mobile and resilient MLR.It bolsters deterrence and allows us to defend Japan and its people more effectively,according to Austin.The Marine 12th Artillery Regiment will remain in Japan and be re-organised into the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment by 2025.The transformed Regiment will be relevant to both current and future threat environments.At the same time,Japan has committed to acquire a counter-strike capability.* Furthermore,the SCT agreed that an attack to,from or within outer space would enable the invocation of Article V of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty.Article V states: Each Party recognizes an armed attack against either Party in the territories under the administration of Japan would be dangerous to its own security and declares that it would act to meet the common danger in accordance with its constitutional procedures and processes.* The SCT agreed Japan will establish a permanent joint headquarters and will work with the U.S. on command-and-control arrangements with an emphasis on interoperability with U.S. Forces.Joint/shared use of facilities in Japan will be initiated,as will increased exercises,including exercises in Japan's Southwest Islands.Activities with regional Allies and Partners such as Australia,South Korea and India are to be strengthened,while also welcoming greater International Partner engagement by Euro-Atlantic Partners.*