All articles tagged with #defense and national security
The US Navy's largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, has arrived in Latin America amid rising tensions with Venezuela, bolstering US military presence in the region to counter drug trafficking and regional instability.
Senate Democrats blocked the $852 billion Defense appropriations bill, despite bipartisan support, as part of broader negotiations and disagreements over government funding, risking delays in military pay and national security funding amid ongoing government shutdown tensions.
A U.S. appeals court temporarily lifted a judge's order blocking President Trump from federalizing Oregon National Guard troops, but deployment remains on hold as legal proceedings continue, with the court preserving the status quo of federalization without deployment.
The US is deploying additional military assets, including the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and refueling aircraft, to the Middle East amid escalating Israel-Iran hostilities, which have entered their fourth day with significant casualties and increased regional tensions.
The Biden administration is ramping up military aid to Ukraine, including the provision of non-persistent anti-personnel land mines, to bolster its defense against Russian advances, particularly in the eastern regions. This move reverses a previous policy banning such mines, amid concerns over their long-term risks to civilians. The aid surge comes as President-elect Trump prepares to take office, raising concerns about potential shifts in U.S. policy towards the conflict.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has announced plans to initiate dialogue with the U.S. regarding the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, following a U.S. airstrike that killed an Iraqi militia leader in Baghdad. The strike, which targeted an Iranian-backed militia group, was deemed a violation of Iraq's sovereignty by al-Sudani. The Pentagon maintains that the U.S. forces are in Iraq to combat ISIS and will protect themselves as necessary, emphasizing the importance of the partnership with Iraq.
The Senate is seeking a way to end the months-long hold on hundreds of Pentagon nominees by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), who is blocking 448 nominations in protest of a Defense Department policy on abortion. Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) has offered a resolution to change Senate procedure and allow the nominees to move as a bloc, but it is viewed as an emergency option. Republicans are growing increasingly disillusioned with the holds, which are impacting military readiness, and are exploring ways to end them.
Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russia has gained momentum as its armored vehicles, including American-made Strykers, breached Russia's main defensive line known as the "Surovikin line" in the southeast. Ukrainian infantry had already passed the main layer of defenses weeks ago, but now the armored vehicles have advanced past anti-tank obstacles and are nearing the town of Verbove. If Ukraine can secure its advance in the area, it can then move towards the key waypoint of Tokmak and ultimately aim to take the city of Melitopol. The arrival of the first U.S. Abrams tanks in Ukraine further strengthens their military capabilities.
The US military will open four new naval bases in the Philippines, with three in the northeastern part of the island to counter Chinese aggression in the region. The move comes amid high tensions between the US and China over fears that Beijing will seek to take control of Taiwan in the coming years and aggressive efforts to assert control over the South China Sea. The expansion in the Philippines will provide a major boost to the US presence in the region, as part of efforts to neutralize China’s influence.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley pushed back against defense budget cuts, warning that it would have a serious impact on the U.S. military's warfighting capability, readiness, and training. Austin also raised concerns about cybersecurity and civilian personnel in the Pentagon. Meanwhile, Austin told Congress that the recent meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping "sends a very troubling message" to the world, and that if China decides to provide lethal support to Russia's war in Ukraine, it "would prolong the conflict" and "broaden the conflict potentially - not only in the region, but globally."
The Senate has voted 68-27 to advance a bill that would repeal the 2002 Iraq war authorization and the 1991 Gulf War authorization. The legislation was sponsored by Sens. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who argue formally ending the two Authorizations for the Use of Military Force (AUMFs) would send a message of support to Iraq, now a strategic partner in the Middle East. If the Senate bill passes, the House will have to take it up. Similar bipartisan legislation was introduced in the lower chamber earlier this year.