Australian US Army general reflects Washington pivot

The appointment of an Australian to a senior position in the command of the US Army's 79,000-strong contingent in Asia-Pacific reflects Washington's strategic pivot to the region, officials said Monday.

Two-star Australian Army general Richard Burr was appointed to the senior ranks of the US Army Pacific contingent in January, where he has been deputy commander for operations, commanding general Francis Wiercinski said.

"Burr's presence in our headquarters symbolizes our rebalance and our longstanding alliance and celebrated relationship with Australia," Wiercinski said.

A former Australian special forces soldier, Burr "holds the same authority ... same duties," as a US officer, a spokesman for the US Army Pacific, Jim Guzior, told AFP.

The US Army Pacific is headquartered in Hawaii, and is responsible for all forces deployed in a region which stretches from California and Alaska to the Maldives and South Korea.

President Barack Obama announced a strategic pivot towards Asia in January 2012, a move designed to tilt US interests from Europe and the Middle East towards east Asia.