Defense forces vital for Asia-Pacific stability: US Army chief

A top-ranking US army general on Monday told a meeting of military leaders from 29 countries that the Asia-Pacific region has become a key driver of global politics.

Radio New Zealand reported that US Army Chief of Staff General Raymond Odierno said the importance of the Asia-Pacific region would keep growing and defense forces would play a vital role in securing the region's stability.

Odierno said international security had become very uncertain and recent experiences had shown that multinational operations were the way forward.

Odierno was speaking at the three-day Pacific Armies Chiefs' Conference (PACC), which runs concurrently with the five-day Pacific Armies' Management Seminar (PAMS), in Auckland from Sept. 9 to 13.

The focus of the conference is how the United Nations and Pacific forces can improve cooperation on peacekeeping missions.

UN Under-Secretary for Field Support Ameerah Haq told the PACC that the UN peacekeeping missions and staff were increasingly reliant on troops, especially air support, to protect them, Radio New Zealand reported.

New Zealand Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman said the event, which brings together military leaders from across the Asia- Pacific region to promote stability through mutual understanding and stronger ties, was the first to be hosted by the New Zealand Army in more than 20 years.

"The New Zealand Army has a good working relationship with the US Army, and it is great that New Zealand was asked to co-host this event with the US," Coleman said in a statement Monday.

"Following a decade of operations in Afghanistan, Timor-Leste and Solomon Islands, the government is reviewing how New Zealand should contribute to UN peacekeeping operations in the future. It is timely that these issues are being discussed at this week's conference," said Coleman.

More than 230 personnel are attending the biennial event.