President Barack Obama announced on Thursday that the U.S. military would expand its role in the Asia-Pacific, despite budget cuts, declaring America was "here to stay" as a Pacific power which would help shape the region's future.
White House aide Ben Rhodes said the United States was sending a signal "that we're going to continue to play the role of underpinning security in this part of the region."
Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Wednesday announced plans to have 2,500 U.S. Marines operate out of a de facto base in the northern port of Darwin by 2016.
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