All articles tagged with #pacific
France’s navy seized 4.24 tons of cocaine from a ship in the south Pacific and intercepted a separate boat carrying 678 kilograms of cocaine in the Caribbean, handing the latter to Barbadian authorities; the Pacific cargo was destroyed at sea and the crew released under international law, as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt global trafficking networks.
The US military conducted three strikes on alleged drug boats in the Eastern Pacific, resulting in eight deaths, as part of ongoing efforts against narco-trafficking routes, with a total of 95 people killed in 25 strikes under the Trump administration.
The US military conducted a strike on a suspected drug-trafficking boat off the coast of Colombia in the Pacific, marking a new scope in its campaign against drug cartels, which has faced criticism and legal questions regarding its justification and transparency.
Since August, the US Coast Guard has seized over 50 tons of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific as part of Operation Pacific Viper, arresting 86 suspects across 34 interdictions, aiming to disrupt drug trafficking and narco-terrorism.
The article discusses how Moscow's centralized power influences Vladivostok, Russia's key Pacific port, highlighting the city's unique local culture while emphasizing its deep political ties to the Kremlin, which impact Russia's broader ambitions in the region.
Russia and China conducted their first-ever joint submarine patrol in the Pacific, signaling increased strategic trust and military cooperation, with patrols aimed at enhancing maritime security and stability in the region.
Australia has announced a $6.5 billion deal to purchase advanced Mogami-class frigates from Japan, enhancing its naval capabilities amid regional tensions with China. The stealthy, state-of-the-art ships are comparable or superior to regional rivals and could boost Japan's defense exports, marking a significant shift in the Pacific military landscape. The deal also highlights the US allies' focus on modernizing their navies and strengthening strategic partnerships.
A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific, leading to evacuations in Japan, Hawaii, the US West Coast, and other countries, with waves reaching up to 4 meters in some areas. The event is among the strongest recorded since 2011, prompting widespread safety measures and international alerts.
The Pacific and Atlantic Oceans meet off South America and do mix, despite appearances of a visible line due to differences in temperature, salinity, and sediment. Factors like climate change and pollution influence the rate of mixing, and misleading photos have circulated online, but the waters eventually blend together.
The U.S. Army is testing new logistics capabilities in Australia during the Talisman Sabre exercise, including establishing Joint Theater Sustainment Distribution Centers in Australia and the Philippines to preposition equipment and supplies for potential operations in the Pacific theater, enhancing contested logistics and strategic mobility.
A new tropical storm is likely to form in the Pacific, potentially becoming Tropical Storm Flossie, while two systems near Mexico, Invest 91L and Invest 95E, are being monitored for development, with the latter possibly bringing moisture to the Southwestern US before July 4th.
Chinese fighter jets flew dangerously close to Japanese patrol planes over the Pacific, with incidents involving J-15 jets and Japanese P-3C aircraft, amid China's deployment of two aircraft carriers in the region. Japan and the US expressed concern over China's assertive military activities, which Beijing claims are routine and lawful, heightening tensions in East Asia.
China has deployed two aircraft carriers into the Pacific for joint military exercises east of Iwo Jima, marking a significant step in its naval expansion and strategic ambitions beyond the First Island Chain, with implications for regional and US-China military dynamics.
The first hurricane of 2025, Storm Barbara, has formed in the Pacific, threatening Mexico with heavy rain, flooding, and dangerous surf, while the Atlantic remains quiet due to Saharan dust; NOAA predicts an above-average hurricane season with up to 19 storms.
President Joe Biden claimed that his uncle's remains were never found during WWII due to cannibals in the southwestern Pacific, contradicting the official report that stated three men were lost in the crash and one crew member survived. Historical evidence supports the presence of cannibalism by Japanese troops in the region during that time. The military was unable to recover the remains of Biden's uncle, who is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.