All articles tagged with #military and defense
The United States will not participate in large-scale amphibious exercises with South Korea next month due to demands in the Middle East and Iran-related resource strains, raising questions about the sustainability of U.S. military commitments in Asia; South Korea confirms the U.S. won’t take part in the Ssangyong drills this year.
The U.S. military conducted a lethal strike on a low-profile vessel suspected of drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific, killing two people. SOUTHCOM said the operation was part of Operation Southern Spear, marking the first known strike in over two months.
The Pentagon fired Stars and Stripes publisher Max Lederer, editor in chief Erik Slavin, and a reporter after the paper criticized DOD interference and participated in a CBS News interview the Pentagon deemed insubordination, signaling a blow to the military newspaper’s editorial independence.
Pentagon casualty data show the Iran war has left 774 U.S. service members either wounded or killed (18 dead, 756 wounded), with numbers rising as the conflict nears six months and despite a ceasefire; some increases may reflect delays in documentation.
Taiwan's cabinet approved a record NT$1.12 trillion ($35.1 billion) defense budget for 2027, totaling about 3.01% of GDP and funded from central and special budgets; the plan, which includes NT$10,000 cash handouts to residents, reflects Lai Ching-te's push to boost military spending toward a 3% GDP target, though it still requires passage by a legislature amid ongoing elections.
The Ulchi Freedom Shield drill, a major annual U.S.–South Korea exercise simulating responses to North Korean aggression, was wrapped up six days early, with analysts warning that downsizing could undermine joint readiness and posture against potential North Korean threats.
The aircraft carrier USS George Washington arrived in the Arabian Sea to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed in the Middle East for months as part of a broader deterrence effort against Iran. Lincoln’s crew has faced long deployments with reports of shortages of fresh food and plumbing issues, though Pentagon officials downplayed the problems. Adm. Brad Cooper visited the Lincoln and praised the sailors for delivering a “performance for the ages,” with the George Washington taking over duties as the armada continues operations in the region.
A U.S. aircraft carrier has arrived in the Middle East to relieve the long-deployed USS Lincoln, ensuring continued U.S. naval presence in the region.
Russians are withdrawing billions from banks at a record pace amid fears the Kremlin could seize deposits to finance its war in Ukraine, creating liquidity problems for lenders already strained by bad debts from military lending; bond issuance is slowing and capital is moving abroad, signaling mounting economic stress.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Iowa in his “personal capacity” using a U.S.-funded military aircraft, fueling continued speculation about a possible presidential bid after his time in the Trump administration; Pentagon officials stressed the trip was not an official event, while observers say it fits a pattern of campaign-style travel tied to 2028 politics.
President Donald Trump directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his very good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the drills’ cost, while also criticizing Seoul for not helping with Iran.
A court orders officials to stop work on the White House East Wing ballroom by Aug. 21 unless Congress approves funding, while Trump promotes the project as vital to national security, even describing it as part of a 'desperately needed' military complex.
The United States’ top Middle East commander visited a deployed aircraft carrier, signaling ongoing U.S. military focus in a region marked by tensions and evolving security developments; AP’s coverage also highlights other Middle East updates, including Gaza, Israeli politics, and Iran-related developments, underscoring broad regional security concerns and the U.S. posture there.
The Washington Post reports that attacks on Ecuadorian fishing boats near the Galápagos were carried out under a covert CIA program, with a surveillance plane traced to El Salvador and drone strikes, amid limited publicly acknowledged details and officials denying knowledge of involvement; survivors describe drone assaults and captives, and eight fishermen are missing or presumed dead.
A Pentagon review of U.S. strikes in Yemen last year found 153 civilians killed and nearly 250 wounded, after attacking at least 1,000 targets; the Defense Department publicly acknowledged civilian harm for the first time and said three incidents were more likely than not to have harmed noncombatants.