BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) -- President Barack Obama says his military spending is "driven by strategy" not by politics.

The president is rejecting criticism from Republican Mitt Romney, who says Obama wants to cut the military by $1 trillion. Obama disputed that figure, but said spending needs to be based on the capabilities required by the military, not just budgets.

Obama accused Romney of calling for increases in military spending that the Pentagon doesn't want.

Romney says he would boost the number of naval ships because the U.S. fleet is the smallest since 1917. The president shot back, saying that was because technology has changed the nature of the military.

Romney said he would pay for increases in military spending by getting rid of Obama's health care overhaul and other programs he deems unnecessary.