Question:

Pacific Command has stationed forces like attack submarines and heavy bombers in Guam during the last two years. What is the Pentagon's plan for the future U.S. force structure on Guam? What is the military rationale for building up U.S. forces on Guam?

Answer:

Guam will continue to play a critical role in U.S. regional and global defense planning. Guam's central location as a jumping-off point for operations in Northeast or Southeast Asia, its existing military infrastructure, and its political stability make it an ideal hub for projecting U.S. military power across Asia. For example, stationing submarines and heavy bombers on Guam, along with intelligence, mobility, and information assets, dramatically improves response times in minimum-warning scenarios.