The Persian Gulf has been a vital crossroads for trade between Europe and
Asia at many key moments in history. It has become essential in recent
years for its supply of oil to the United States, our allies, and our
friends. We have taken effective measures to control our own consumption of
imported fuel, working in cooperation with the other key industrial /
nations of the world. However, there is little doubt that the healthy
growth of our American and world economies will depend for many years on
continued safe access to the Persian Gulf's oil production. The denial of
these oil supplies would threaten not only our own but world security.
The potent new threat from an advancing Soviet Union, against the
background of regional instability of which it can take advantage, requires
that we reinforce our ability to defend our regional friends and to protect
the flow of oil. We are continuing to build on the strong political,
economic, social and humanitarian ties which bind this government and the
American people to friendly governments and peoples of the Persian Gulf.
We have also embarked on a course to reinforce the trust and confidence our
regional friends have in our ability to come to their assistance rapidly
with American military force if needed. We have increased our naval
presence in the Indian Ocean. We have created a Rapid Deployment Force
which can move quickly to the Gulf--or indeed any other area of the world
where outside aggression threatens. We have concluded several agreements
with countries which are prepared to let us use their airports and naval
facilities in an emergency. We have met requests for reasonable amounts of
American weaponry from regional countries which are anxious to defend
themselves. And we are discussing with a number of our area friends further
ways we can help to improve their security and ours, both for the short and
the longer term.