Foreign policy plays key role in rebalance for 7th Fleet

YOKOSUKA, JAPAN

05.13.2014

Courtesy Story

Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet   

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Toni Burton

YOKOSUKA, Japan – The U.S. rebalance to Asia encompasses the full spectrum of engagement, from diplomatic and political to economic and military. In the U.S 7th Fleet, foreign policy adviser Debbie Kingsland ensures that the diplomatic and military aspects of the rebalanced are aligned and coordinated to ensure optimal support to our allies and partners.

As commander of U.S. Pacific Command, Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III said, “The rebalance is not just about the military, it’s about national policy, it’s about diplomacy, it’s about trade as well as our security.”

Kingsland serves as a key liaison between the Department of Defense and Department of the State, advising the fleet commander on the current state of political and diplomatic affairs in the 36 maritime nations that make up the 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

“By understanding what someone is doing and their reason and motivation for doing what they’re doing, you’re more likely to predict accurately what they’re going to do in the future,” said Kingsland. “That’s really what I bring to the game.”

In 7th Fleet, the foreign policy adviser (formerly “political adviser” or POLAD) is a special assistant to the commander with expertise in diplomacy and international policy. Military leaders usually think in terms of warfighting, operations and readiness; however a savvy foreign policy adviser considers the diplomatic, economic and political states of regional allies and partners. This expertise contributes to the long-term effort of the rebalance based on building relationships, in addition to existing military aspects of readiness and presence.

“We all have the same goal – security and stability in the entire region for all our friends, partners and allies. Security is the driving force behind economic prosperity and an increasing peace in the region,” said Kingsland.

Kingsland uses her extensive diplomatic and political familiarity with many of the countries in the region to assist the commander and his staff to understand the factors that are going to influence political and military decisions.

“A lot of it is economic, social and in some cases religious. All of that is part of the bigger picture in making decisions,” Kingsland added. “Seventh Fleet has a huge area of responsibility so when trying to shape the environment, you really need to have a good grasp on everything that is going on in that area.”

As a civilian, Kingsland holds a seat at a small table of direct advisory for Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Vice Adm. Robert L. Thomas, much like the president of the United States has his cabinet. All play an important role in managing a fleet that measures 124 million square km between Hawaii and India and holds half of the world’s population as well as the world’s five largest foreign armed forces - People’s Republic of China, Russia, India, North Korea and Republic of Korea.

To stay informed and to provide her professional outlook, Kingsland attends daily meetings with the Theater Security Cooperation directorate and provides political-military background information to officers who are assigned with knowing as much as they can about a country or countries in the region and how they interact with each other as well as the U.S.

“As warfighters, we tend to think of the kinetic effects of shooting guns, launching missiles, dropping bombs, etc... and we are less attuned to our how our actions are perceived, especially in peacetime. Kingsland helps provide that insight on how we are viewed by allies, partners, and friends in the region,” said Capt. Anthony Cowden, 7th Fleet TSC officer.

Kingsland’s goal is to help military leaders better understand how things work in the region. A majority of militaries don’t have a diplomatic political view on how things work; she helps to broaden thinking to improve military-to-military cooperation and helps set policies to ensure the plan is inline with realistic expectations of partner nations.

Kingsland has spent most of her career in East Asia, including assignments in China (Guangzhou and Beijing), Burma, the Federated States of Micronesia, Cambodia and Taiwan. She speaks Pashto, Chinese, Japanese and Burmese and has a B.A. in international relations from Stanford University, where she graduated with distinction, and has a juris doctorate from Columbia University.

“There is such a variety of countries and situations that you are exposed to on a day-to-day basis,” said Kingsland. “I view it from a different angle so I can add another perspective to support the rebalance.”

• Date Taken: 05.13.2014
• Date Posted: 05.13.2014 06:25
• Story ID: 129599
• Location: YOKOSUKA, JP