© Tevita Motulalo
THE Commander of Tonga Defence Services, Brigadier-General Tau’aika ‘Uta’atu says Tonga-US Defence relations are hardly affected given the US State Department’s proposed cuts to security aid to Tonga.
The US State Dept has proposed a budget that is actually increased by 1%, but involves a lot of reshuffling to priority areas.
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| Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, U.S. Navy, greets Tongan Honor Guard soldiers during a visit to the kingdom on Nov. 9, 2010. |
Part of the reforms in that budget is scrapping direct military assistance to Tonga and 4 other small countries.
“Its a concern, even though I do think there must be good reasons,” said the Brigadier in an interview with Tonga Chronicle.
“What is important to note is, although it has been suggested by the State Department, it is still a budget proposal and has yet to reach Congress. It still has a long way to go,” stressed Brig-Gen. ‘Uta‘atu.
“The cuts really does not affect Tonga-US relations and common commitments,” he said.
Assistance programs directly affected by the proposed cut-backs include a “general bilateral assistance”, and a “Foreign Military Financing” program.
Assistance programs directly affected by the proposed cut-backs include a “general bilateral assistance”, and a “Foreign Military Financing” program.
The FMF grants are concessions for Tonga to request logistical or equipment support, through the US’ Defence Advisor stationed in Fiji.
But for the last three years, Tonga has made requests through FMF yet nothing has come through- “amounting to more than a million dollars (US),” the Brigadier said.
He says Tonga Defence has submitted a complete list of requests, and between Fiji and America “we are still waiting,” he said.
It includes a ‘search and rescue’ vessel and hydro-graphic equipment for Tonga Navy VOEA vessels, among others things.
He says the dialogue is on-going between Tonga-US Defences, through the US Defence Advisor in Fiji.
But other than the two affected programs above, he says a lot of assistance filter through in other areas.
About 8 other active programs exist with the US, where Tonga military can draw on for assistance.
One such program is the IMET (International Military Education and Training) program, which has taken scores of Tongan personnel on further educational training in the US and abroad.
“There is still a lot of US assistance that is active,” he says.
– By Tevita Motulalo
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