The maritime environment also permits freedom of action unfettered by international boundaries and agreements.
However, the stacked Iranian threats in our AOR of ballistic missiles, long range rockets, mines, small boats, cruise missiles and submarines demand stronger naval presence and capability to protect vital sea lines of communication.
I view with concern efforts to decrease our naval presence and capability when our volatile AOR and the threats of the future are increasingly maritime.
Demands on our naval forces will only grow in the future; I anticipate that we will need more maritime missile defense, anti-fast attack craft capabilities, amphibious ships and mine-countermeasure capability, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets.
Maintaining a credible naval force covered by sufficient aviation combat power is essential for demonstrating our enduring commitment to regional partners, building trust and relationships and rapid projection of power in a crisis.
We are working to address our near-term capabilities and I am grateful for the Committee’s strong support.
http://www.centcom.mil/en/about-centcom/posture-statement/