This nation will intensify its examination of opportunities for these 

 programs. 



American Commercial Interests Abroad 



American firms continue to develop interests in offshore areas of 

 foreign countries. Oil and gas exploration activities in the North Sea, 

 off the African coasts, and in the Persian Gulf, involve American 

 companies operating under arrangements worked out with the riparian 

 governments. An example of a U.S. drilling rig operating in the 

 North Sea is shown in Figure 4. Similarly, American firms are inter- 

 ested in solid-mineral deposits under foreign waters, including min- 

 eral deposits near Australia and tin deposits in Southeast Asia. 

 American firms are also heavily mvolved in fisheries ventures through- 

 out the world, often supporting the development of new local indus- 

 tries. These commercial arrangements represent international 

 cooperation at still another level with benefits accruing to both the 

 American firms and the host countries. 



Protecting Order in the World Community 



Lasting peace is our goal and international cooperation and economic 

 development should bring us closer to that goal. Meanwhile, a sea- 

 based force remains a major factor in reducing the danger of armed 

 conflict — linking us with our allies, deterring potential adversaries, 

 and insuring our capability to contain and conclude limited conflicts. 



As we strive to promote the orderly evolution of a society of nations 

 linked by peaceful aspirations, we continue to rely on the seas for de- 

 ploying and supporting our land forces and for insuring the invul- 

 nerability of our strategic deterrent. The protection of sea lifelines 

 throughout the world enables maritime activities to thrive in peace- 

 time, and assured lifelines are essential components of our military 

 strategy which provide us with options to meet contingencies at an 

 appropriate level of response. The successful development of a 

 nuclear submarine force equipped with Polaris missiles, and the cur- 

 rent development of the Poseidon missile, vividly demonstrate the 

 importance of marine science and technology to our defense. 



We have no monopoly, however, on sea-based systems nor on naval 

 technology. The advent of the nuclear-powered submarine and deep- 

 diving capabilities add new elements of sophistication to offensive 

 and defensive concepts, and the technology of undersea warfare has 

 not stabilized. We continue to press the frontiers of technology to 

 refine existing systems and remain in the forefront in developing new 

 concepts. 



In refining our tactical capabilities on the oceans, we seek to use 

 the advantages the oceans offer to a sea-based force — flexibility and 

 mobility in deployment and freedom to disperse and concentrate 



43 



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