Jun 03 Defense Secretary Austin says U.S. won’t stand for ‘coercion and bullying’ from China By David Rising, Associated Press Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin vowed Saturday that Washington would not stand for any “coercion and bullying” of its allies and partners by China. Continue reading
May 25 WATCH: Pentagon officials say allies will train Ukrainians on F-16s, but warns jets aren’t ‘magic weapons’ By Lolita Baldor, Tara Copp, Associated Press “There are no magic weapons,” said Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who spoke alongside Austin at a Pentagon press conference. He said providing 10 F-16s could cost $2 billion, including maintenance. Continue reading
Apr 27 WATCH: Austin, Milley meet with South Korean President Yoon after nuclear sub deal By Aamer Madhani, Colleen Long, Zeke Miller, Associated Press President Joe Biden and South Korea's Yoon unveiled a new plan Wednesday to counter North Korea’s nuclear threat, with the U.S. leader issuing a blunt warning that such an attack would “result in the end of whatever regime” took such… Continue reading
Apr 21 WATCH: Austin, Gen. Milley hold news briefing on support for Ukraine By Lolita Baldor, Associated Press The United States will begin training Ukrainian forces on how to use and maintain Abrams tanks in the coming weeks, as it continues to speed up its effort to get them onto the battlefield as quickly as possible, U.S. Defense… Continue reading
Apr 11 WATCH: Blinken and Austin hold briefing after meeting with Filipino counterparts By Jim Gomez, Associated Press Secretary of State Blinken and Defense Secretary Austin held a news briefing as American and Filipino forces on Tuesday launched their largest combat exercises in decades in the Philippines and its waters across the disputed South China Sea. Continue reading
Mar 28 WATCH: Austin and Milley testify on Defense budget in Senate hearing By Lolita Baldor, Tara Copp, Associated Press "This is a strategy-driven budget — and one driven by the seriousness of our strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China," Austin said in testimony before the House Appropriations subcommittee on defense on March 23. Continue reading
Mar 24 U.S. launches airstrikes in Syria after suspected Iranian-made drone kills U.S. contractor By Lou Kesten, Bassem Mroue, Jon Gambrell, Associated Press The Pentagon says a strike Thursday by a suspected Iranian-made drone killed a U.S. contractor and wounded five American troops and another contractor in northeast Syria. Continue reading
Mar 23 WATCH: Austin, Gen. Milley testify on U.S. military budget before House committee By Lolita C. Baldor, Tara Copp, Associated Press The U.S. military must be ready for possible confrontation with China, the Pentagon's leaders said Thursday, pushing Congress to approve the Defense Department's proposed $842 billion budget, which would modernize the force in Asia and around the world. Continue reading
Mar 15 WATCH: Defense Secretary Austin, Gen. Milley say U.S. has resumed contact with Russia to discuss drone By Lolita C. Baldor, Tara Copp, Associated Press Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he spoke to his Russian counterpart about the destruction of a U.S. drone over the Black Sea, which had brought the two countries closest to direct conflict since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine a year ago. Continue reading
Feb 17 N. Korea threatens ‘unprecedentedly’ strong response to S. Korea and U.S. military drills By Hyung-Jin Kim, Associated Press North Korea has threatened to take "unprecedently" strong action against its rivals over a series of military drills planned between South Korea and the United States. Continue reading