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The US military will become "leaner" while maintaining superiority as it switches focus to the Asia-Pacific, US President Barack Obama has announced.

In a rare appearance at the Pentagon, he unveiled a far-reaching defence review under which thousands of troops are expected to be axed.

The tide of war was receding and the US must renew its economic power, he said.

The strategy is designed to accommodate at least $450bn (£290bn) in Pentagon cuts over the next decade.

The defence budget could also lose another $500bn at the end of this year after Congress failed to agree on deficit reduction following a debt-ceiling deal in August.

"So yes, our military will be leaner," Mr Obama told reporters, "but the world must know the United States is going to maintain our military superiority with armed forces that are agile, flexible and ready for the full range of contingencies and threats."