Guam officials: DoD confirms buildup reduction - Military News | News From Afghanistan, Iraq And Around The World - Military Times

Guam officials: DoD confirms buildup reduction

HAGATNA, Guam — Guam’s delegate to Congress and a highly placed official at the governor’s office both said Thursday that the military buildup will shrink to 4,700 Marines.

Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo released a response to diplomatic discussions that are reshaping the Guam buildup. Later on Thursday, Arthur Clark, the governor’s director of policy, said he was given the 4,700 number during a conference call Wednesday with Navy Undersecretary Robert Work.

Clark said he expected that figure to be released in a joint statement that was issued Wednesday night by America and Japanese diplomats, but was surprised that it was not included. Regardless, Clark said the Navy gave the figure to his office yesterday.

“This actually has the potential to accelerate the plans to move forward with the development,” Clark said. “It will be on a smaller scale, but it will start the process. It will allow the process to move forward.”

Bordallo said she also spoke with Work and assistant Navy Secretary Jackalyne Pfannenstiel about the ongoing talks between the Obama administration and the Japanese government.

“Although some details have yet to be worked out, the discussions between the Obama administration and the government of Japan will lead to several modifications to the Roadmap for Realignment that was agreed to in 2006,” Bordallo said. “The Department of Defense has agreed that the number of Marines that will be relocated to Guam from Okinawa will be reduced and that the remaining service members will be distributed at other locations in the Asia-Pacific region. Further, the de-linking of progress on the construction of a Futenma Replacement Facility will be helpful to get many backlogged military construction projects underway.

“We expect that Guam will receive 4,700 Marines, but the exact laydown and mixture of those forces has yet to be formalized. I believe that a permanent Marine presence on Guam is in the best interest of our national security and Guam’s civilian community, and I strongly disagree with those who suggest a rotational presence is a viable option.”

The State Department issued a formal statement on the renegotiations Wednesday night. The statement said the Guam buildup will be de-linked from the controversial plan to relocate the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma elsewhere on Okinawa island, but did not say how many Marines are now expected to move to Guam.

Several international news services have reported the number will shrink to about 4,500 to 4,700, but the military has not confirmed this reduction.