U.S. increases presence in the region as soldiers head to Palau for exercise

Koror, Palau- To increase the United States Army footprints in the Pacific, about 200 soldiers will be in Palau next week as part of Pacific Pathways, according to an article by Star and Stripes yesterday.

The infantry company and a battalion tactical advanced command post from I Corps will conduct a security demonstration and small arms qualifications from April 14-19.

The article said the current Pacific Pathways 19-1 consists of five exercises: Hanuman Guardian and Cobra Gold in Thailand, Salaknib and Balikatan in the Philippines and the upcoming one in Palau.

Humanitarian outreach will also be conducted by members from the 18th Medical Command will conduct humanitarian outreach on the Palau islands of Peleliu and Anguar, the Army said.

“The focus of these events is to increase U.S. Army presence, gain positional advantage and reassure U.S. security commitments while increasing the USARPAC presence in the region,” the Army said in a statement.

The Pacific has been a major region where China and the United States are flexing for influence.

Palau is one of the countries, which have a Compact of Free Association agreement with the US.

Under the agreement the U.S. provide economic assistance and defense of Palau.

The site for the military exercise will be Ngeremlengui State.

Photo caption: Indiana Army National Guardsmen from the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team stand in formation with their Indonesian army counterparts during the opening ceremony for Exercise Garuda Shield 18 in Puslatpur, Indonesia, July 29, 2018. Garuda Shield 18 is the third exercise in U.S. Army Pacific’s second iteration of Pacific Pathways, a series of multinational engagements with ally and partner militaries in the Indo-Pacific region. Army photo by Spc. Joshua Syberg/Department of Defense.