The Department of Defense’s Global Posture Review calls for the U.S. to strengthen cooperation with allies and partners to pursue initiatives in the Indo-Pacific to help advance regional stability and deter potential military aggression from China and threats from North Korea.

The initiatives cited in the review include improvement of infrastructure in Australia and the Pacific Islands, rotational aircraft deployments in Australia and regional access for military partnership activities, DOD said Monday.

A senior DOD official said the guidance’s impact will be evident through routine posture-related decisions in the next two to three years, Defense One reported.

“Direction from the GPR will strengthen the department’s focus on China by reducing posture requirements in other theaters to enable improved warfighting readiness and increase activities in the Indo Pacific,” the official said. 

The review also assessed the Pentagon’s posture in other regions, including Europe, Africa, Central and South America, the Caribbean and the Middle East. In Europe, the GPR further builds up U.S. deterrence against Russian aggression and strengthens NATO forces.

DOD noted that it expects the GPR to inform the forthcoming National Defense Strategy and help enhance the department’s response capability and posture decision-making processes.