Soviet naval forces are available for employment in the Pacific. The continued improvement of Soviet forces, the basing of missiles in the Far East Military District and persistent Soviet efforts to secure naval access to the Pacific Ocean increase the threat to Japan and other Northeast Asian nations. The continuing development of the first true Soviet naval and air base outside the Warsaw Pact at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, has improved the Soviet ability to reconnoiter and interdict Pacific and Indian Ocean SLOCS and respond to regional crises in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific. The North Korean Armed Forces continue to prepare for a military reunification of the Korean peninsula should circumstances prove favorable. North Korea, supported by the Soviets,

FIGURE III-10

continues to modernize its armed forces. Acquisition of FLOGGER aircraft and SA-3 missiles will improve North Korean air defense capabilities. In Southeast Asia, Vietnam's armed forces, with over one million men under arms, are larger than the total armed forces of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) states and remain the region's primary destabilizing influence. Soviet economic and military support has allowed Vietnam to improve its military capabilities. Nearly 150,000 Vietnamese troops currently occupy Cambodia, threatening the security of Thailand's border areas.

A common interest among the United States and its Asian-Pacific allies and friends is to promote

peace and stability in the region. The growing threat requires close defense cooperation and collective security arrangements with our allies, and it requires the full utilization of our own in-place reserve forces. The United States has bilateral security agreements with Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Thailand, and the Philippines and continues bilateral defense cooperation with Australia.

The Australia, New Zealand, and the United States (ANZUS) Organization, continues to provide a framework for United States and Australian defense cooperation in the Western and Southern Pacific. Although the ANZUS Treaty remains an important part of the interlocking system of Western alliances, current differences with the New Zealand Government have resulted in the US suspending its security obligations to New Zealand.

The well-trained ROK forces are becoming increasingly self-sufficient in their capability to de

FIGURE IIi-11

fend against aggression from the north, but South Korea is still dependent upon US support, both operationally and through pre-positioned war reserve material, to deter or counter an attack. The United States continues to deploy a ground division and combat air forces within the country, and US naval units in the Western Pacific can respond quickly if needed. Figure III-13 compares the major forces on the Korean peninsula. The ROK provides extensive support to forward-based US units, and the forces of the two countries are integrated into a single command structure, the Combined Forces Command. Combined US-ROK military training is conducted through day-to-day activities and annual exercises. Major exercises, such as TEAM SPIRIT, demonstrate allied cooperation and US reinforcement potential.

Japan remains key to regional stability by virtue of its strategic location, economic strength, and selfdefense capability. The Japanese Self-Defense Forces are increasingly well-equipped and well-trained. Al

demanding political and economic challenges, along with a persistent and uncompromising threat from local insurgents. US economic and military assistance to the Government of the Philippines should be directed toward fostering the political, military, and economic reforms necessary to ensure a stable, Western-oriented Philippines.

Latin America

Latin America, particularly the Caribbean Basin and Panama Canal, is a vital US security concern. Over 50 percent of US trade and many strategic materials transit Caribbean waters. Substantial NATO reinforcements and material would use these SLOCS in the event of a conflict in Europe. US access to oil in the region is important in peacetime and would be vital in wartime. US and allied interests continue to be threatened by insurgencies in the region and by Soviet, Cuban, and Nicaraguan efforts to exploit instability. The impact of illicit narcotics presents a significant threat to the United States and Latin American countries. In some instances, dollar

proceeds from the sale of illegal drugs have been used to purchase weapons for insurgencies supported by Cuba and Nicaragua.

The Soviet Union is attempting to foment as much unrest as possible. Working through Cuba and Nicaragua, the Soviet Union hopes to force the United States to divert attention to an area that, in the past, has not been a serious security challenge. The Soviet Union provides Cuba extensive financial support and has a combat brigade, an intelligence collection facility, advisors, and technicians there. The Soviets also provide military aid to selected countries in the region, either directly or using client-states such as Cuba, East European nations, or North Korea as conduits.

Cuba continues to have the largest army in the region, and is growing steadily in air and naval strength. Bolstered by Soviet aid, Cuba supports a number of insurgent movements by providing training, advisors, technicians, and substantial amounts of military equipment. Cuba's military strength and

hostile posture would provide a direct threat to US SLOCS in a global conflict as shown in Figure III-14.

Although Cuba is an important base for Soviet involvement in the Western Hemisphere, Nicaragua provides unique opportunities to establish a mainland. center of Soviet influence in Central and South America that can threaten recent democratic trends, erode US influence in the region, and divert US resources from areas of greater strategic value to the Soviets. Nicaragua, following the pattern set 25 years ago in Cuba, is a regional sanctuary and prime source for spreading insurgency throughout Central and South America. With Soviet and Cuban assistance, the Nicaraguan armed forces have expanded over eightfold in the last 5 years, making them the largest, most powerful armed forces in the history of Central America. This inordinate growth in conventional capability has upset the balance of power, decreased regional stability, and provides a secure mainland base for the support of subversive activities throughout the region (Figure III-15). The further consolidation of Sandinista power supports an

The United States and a vast majority of its Latin American allies have a common interest in promoting regional peace and stability. The success of this interest is dependent on an ability to consistently apply sufficient forces and resources, prevail in an environment of low-intensity conflict, and present a clearly understood perception that the US and its allies are capable and willing to respond in a manner appropriate to the intensity of the problem. To improve regional stability, the US must help with the development of responsive pluralistic societies that are not vulnerable to insurgencies. The US also must encourage and assist Latin American military institutions in adopting professional, apolitical roles that support democratic development and a respect for human rights while protecting their national sovereignty. Military-to-military relations must be promoted through a system of interactions with Latin American militaries to improve coordination, the exchange of views, understanding and cooper

ation. The sharing of intelligence and training in areas such as civil defense, civic action, internal security, psychological operations, and military engineering and medicine are counters to lowintensity threats. Military assistance is helping countries such as El Salvador and Haiti cope with externally supported insurgencies and internal security problems respectively.

In addition, exercises are conducted with friendly armed forces of the region to improve combined capabilities for defense and host-country self-sufficiency. Exercises improve host-country defensive capabilities, reassure democratic governments of US support, contribute directly to enhanced US military readiness, and increase allied confidence by support of defensive interests in Latin America. The forward deployment of US forces in Panama and other periodic force deployments emphasize the US commitment to the region.

The United States is strongly committed in support of democracy in Latin America. A comprehensive security assistance program is required to counter Soviet adventurism and expansionism, and the projected levels are clearly inadequate. The US commitment is to promote democracy, development, defense, and national and regional dialogue in an effort to enhance peace, prosperity, and stability.

Africa

US security interests in Africa stem from the strategic location of many African countries along important air and sea lines of communication, excellent port and air facilities, and strategic resources. The Soviets and their surrogates view Africa as an area where their own influence can be increased and the West's decreased. Libya's Qadhafi also desires to spread revolution to neighboring African states. The factors for instability in Africa make the continent particularly vulnerable to interference from foreign revolutionaries to foment unrest and gain influence.

Around the Horn of Africa, the presence of Cuban forces and Soviet advisors in Ethiopia aggravates tensions (Figure III-16). Internal power struggles in Sudan and civil unrest in South Africa pose additional stability challenges in the region. Elsewhere, the presence of Cuban forces (35,000 personnel) and approximately 1,000 Soviet advisors in a divided Angola continues to be an obstacle to efforts to improve stability in southern Africa. US interests require support of former colonial powers in providing