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CNN —A US Marine rapid response force is headed to the waters off the coast of Israel and the Pentagon is preparing American troops for a potential deployment to the country, escalating the US’ show of force in the region as it works to prevent the conflict between Israel and Hamas from widening any further. A defense official familiar with the planning said the rapid response force, consisting of 2,000 Marines and sailors, is being sent. That could be particularly valuable if Israel launches a ground invasion of Gaza, which could be complicated and bloody, experts have warned. Officials would not specify where exactly the Marine unit will now go, other than to say it is headed toward Israel. The Wall Street Journal was first to report about the potential deployment of troops to Israel.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Biden, Capt, Angelica White, Sabrina Singh, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, Hezbollah, Defense, Israel, USS Ford, Air Force, Troops, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marine Corps Locations: Israel, Iran, Lebanese, Gaza, Middle East, Kuwait, “, Red, Bataan, Gulf of Oman, of Oman, Hormuz

One update from September 28 warned, based on multiple streams of intelligence, that the terror group Hamas was poised to escalate rocket-attacks across the border. An October 5 wire from the CIA warned generally of the increasing possibility of violence by Hamas. Intelligence assessments are written by the intelligence community to inform policy makers and enable them to make decisions. For example, Israeli officials failed to recognize routine Hamas training exercises as a sign that the group was preparing an imminent attack. It’s also possible that the Hamas operation was more successful than the group anticipated, one former intelligence official and another source familiar with current intelligence said.

Persons: Biden, ”, Mostafa Alkharouf, Bill Burns, William Burns, Amanda Andrade, Rhoades, —, Defense Lloyd Austin, Valentin, Eli, Ghnassia, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, “ Israel, Joe Biden, Israel, Jake Sullivan, Susan Walsh, ” Sullivan, ” Tzachi, It’s, “ Organizations: Washington CNN, Palestinian, Hamas, CIA, CNN, West Bank, Getty, White House, Georgetown School of Foreign Service, Intelligence, intel, Defense, Biden, Kibbutz, Shin, New York Times, National Intelligence, White, The, Festival Locations: Israel, CNN Israel, Gaza, Anadolu, Eastern, Washington ,, Kibbutz Be'eeri, Jerusalem, Shin Bet, Israel’s, Washington, Israeli

This is a critical moment for Ukraine, especially as international fatigue starts to set in and the world’s attention shifts to the Middle East. “These days, our attention is focused on the Middle East,” Zelensky told the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in a video address on Monday. Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty ImagesZelensky delivered a similar message to the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, led by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, on Wednesday. The Ukrainian president acknowledged Russia was putting up some stiff resistance to Kyiv’s counteroffensive but said his country remained on the offensive. Despite Austin’s vow of support for Ukraine, the new package was one of the smallest provided by the United States.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Jens Stoltenberg, “, ” Zelensky, Zelensky, ”, Ali Jadallah, shockwaves, Anna Voitenko, Joe Biden, Biden, Ronaldo Schemidt, Defense Lloyd Austin, Putin, ” Austin, Austin’s Organizations: CNN, NATO, Ukraine Defense Contact, Getty, Israel Saturday, Ukraine’s General Staff, NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Reuters, US, Defense, Terrorists, Hamas Locations: Brussels, Belgian, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Israel, Russia, Kyiv, It’s, Gaza City, Gaza, Anadolu, Hroza, “, Moscow, Europe, Washington —, United States, Donetsk region, Bucha, AFP, Washington

Washington CNN —The US and its allies are warning the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah against escalating the conflict in Israel as the US prepositions military assets to deter a potential widening of the war, multiple US officials and people briefed on the discussions tell CNN. The US won’t officially engage with what has been designated a terrorist group, so Berri is one natural conduit. But current and former senior officials don’t believe Hezbollah is eager to join the war, largely because the risks for the group would outweigh any potential rewards. Analysts say Hezbollah support for Hamas has been symbolic so farHezbollah has congratulated Hamas on Saturday’s massive attack. “There’s this possibility that if Israel gets stuck in Gaza … then, at that point, we could see Lebanese Hezbollah get tempted,” said Knights.

Persons: Nabih Berri . Berri, Berri, “, ”, don’t, Defense Lloyd Austin, Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden, Jonathan Conricus, Mike Knights, Norm Roule, Frank McKenzie, ” McKenzie, Hassan, Nasrallah, They’re, Roule, –, McKenzie, Israel, Gaza …, Knights, ‘ we’re, ’ Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, US, Defense, White, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, Washington Institute, CIA, Knights, ” Knights Locations: Israel, Lebanese, Nabih Berri ., France, Western, Gaza, Don’t, Lebanon, Iran

President Joe Biden reaffirmed his “unshakeable” commitment to defending Israel on Wednesday as concerns mount over the potential for nearby countries and militant groups to take advantage of the chaotic situation and broaden the conflict. And the horrors of Hamas’ Saturday attack continue to unfold, with reports of children found butchered in a kibbutz. As it stands, at least 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, including at least 22 Americans. He said that the U.S. is well equipped to support Israel while also continuing to aid Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia. “We will stand firmly with Israel as we continue to support Ukraine.”

Persons: Joe Biden, ” Biden, ”, “, It’s, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Kevin McCarthy, Steve Scalise, he’ll, Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin, Jake Sullivan, “ We’ve, they’ve, Sullivan, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, ” Austin Organizations: Israel, Israeli, House Foreign Affairs, Iran, Republicans, Defense, Department of Defense, American, intel, Hamas, State Department, Hezbollah, White, National, Ukraine Defense Contact, Ukraine Locations: United States, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Iran, Louisiana, Lebanon, Lebanese, The U.S, Brussels, Ukraine, Russia

☆ Ukraine receives $1.15 bln grant from US under World Bank program
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Olivier Matthys/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Ukraine received a $1.15 billion grant from the United States on Wednesday as part of the PEACE in Ukraine program, the Ukrainian finance ministry said. The PEACE (Public Expenditures for Administrative Capacity Endurance) in Ukraine project has been the World Bank's flagship financing instrument for Kyiv during Russia's war on Ukraine. "In 2023, Ukraine has already received $10.9 billion in direct budget support from the United States in the form of grants," the finance ministry said. The project aims to compensate state budget expenditures in the social and humanitarian spheres, and is not intended for security or defence, the ministry said. The U.S. government has this year allocated $10.9 billion to finance Ukraine's state budget, it said.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin III, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Olivier Matthys, Serhiy Marchenko, Yuliia Dysa, Timothy Organizations: Defense, Ukraine Defense Contact, NATO Defense, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Brussels, Belgium, United States, Ukrainian, U.S

☆ Biden set to deliver remarks on Hamas attack in Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Amanda Macias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on Afghanistan during a speech in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, August 31, 2021. WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will address the unprecedented terror attacks carried out by Hamas in Israel as violence in the region soars. ET from the White House, come on the heels of what the Pentagon has dubbed "ISIS-level savagery" in Israel. In a statement Monday evening, Biden confirmed the deaths of at least 11 Americans in Israel and acknowledged that some U.S. citizens could have been kidnapped by Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Hamas' attack on Israel "a terrible mistake," warning that the retaliatory strikes on Hamas were "just the beginning."

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Israel, John Kirby, Kirby, Hamas What's, Defense Lloyd Austin, Gerald Ford, Austin Organizations: White, WASHINGTON, Pentagon, European Union, United, Defense, National Security, Israel, Hamas, Gerald Ford Carrier Strike Group, Air Force Locations: Afghanistan, Washington, Israel, Gaza, U.S, United States

☆ Pentagon pushing U.S. defense industry to bolster Israel in fight against Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Amanda Macias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"I am not going to get into specifics on this call, but the bottom line is we are working as fast as possible to provide critically needed munitions of various types and other equipment," a senior Defense official said. The Pentagon declined to share specific details of the types of security assistance the U.S. was providing to Israel. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Sunday ordered the movement of U.S. firepower closer to the region in order to project force and bolster Israeli security assistance. Saturday's unprecedented land, air and sea attack on Israel has since triggered a fury of Israeli retaliatory airstrikes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Hamas' attack on Israel "a terrible mistake" and in a televised speech warned the retaliatory strikes were "just the beginning."

Persons: WASHINGTON, Israel, Defense Lloyd Austin, Gerald Ford, Arleigh Burke, Thomas Hudner, Ramage, USS Carney, Roosevelt, Austin, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Biden Organizations: Pentagon, U.S, Defense, U.S . Aerospace & Defense, Northrop Grumman, Sunday, Gerald Ford Carrier Strike, Ticonderoga, Air Force, United, Dow Jones, Energy, Exxon Mobil, Occidental Petroleum Locations: U.S, Israel, Normandy, Gaza, United States

☆ Israel and Palestinian war: What you need to know right now
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

*Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that the Israeli campaign in Gaza would "change reality for generations." *The Palestinian Foreign Ministry denounced Israel's attacks on Gaza as a "barbarous campaign of death and destruction." HAMAS PLANNING*Hamas carried out a careful campaign of deception to pull of its stunning attack, accounts from Hamas and Israeli sources show. UNITED STATES AID*President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday that the U.S. was sending additional assistance for Israel's military. *U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that the U.S. will send multiple military ships and aircraft closer to Israel.

Persons: Yoav Gallant, Israel's, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Lloyd Austin, Brad Brooks, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Hamas, Israel's, Palestinian Foreign Ministry, UNITED STATES, Israeli, Sunday, Defense, Thomson Locations: Gaza, ISRAEL, GAZA, U.S, Israel

☆ Israel and Palestinian War: What You Need to Know Right Now
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

Persons: Yoav Gallant, Israel's, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Lloyd Austin, Brad Brooks, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Reuters, Hamas, Israel's, Palestinian Foreign Ministry, UNITED STATES, Israeli, Sunday, Defense Locations: Gaza, ISRAEL, GAZA, U.S, Israel

☆ US preparing to officially designate military takeover in Niger as a coup d'etat after months of delay, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Natasha Bertrand Oren Liebermann Alex Marquardt | Natasha Bertrand | Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The US embassy can continue to operate and the US military will be able to legally keep forces in Niger if a coup designation is made, US officials said. But the Pentagon is still assessing how the change will impact the approximately 1,000 US forces stationed in the country, officials said. The administration could continue with life-saving and other kinds of assistance that are important for US security interests while simultaneously suspending other assistance to the government, including economic and security assistance. Nigerien military leaders overthrew the democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, in July. Senior Pentagon officials believe that keeping a presence in Niger is vital to efforts to tackle terrorism in the region and believe that it’s feasible even amid the domestic political turmoil there.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, ”, Defense Lloyd Austin, haven’t, “, Sabrina Singh Organizations: CNN, US State Department, Pentagon, State Department, Nigerien, France, Congress, Defense, DOD, Congressional Research Service, Senior Pentagon Locations: Niger, ”, Africa’s Sahel, Niamey, Saharan Africa, Djibouti, United States

☆ Putin Meets With New Wagner Boss Andrei Troshev
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Charles R. Davis | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Friday with the new commander of Wagner, Andrei Troshev. At the meeting, Putin referred to Troshev leading "various combat missions," including in Ukraine. Troshev was the second in command of Wagner before the death of former boss Yevgeny Prigozhin. Andre Troshev, a former colonel in the Russian military, took over as head of the Wagner paramilitary organization following the death of previous boss Yevgeny Prigozhin in August. He had been the group's second in command but did not appear to back Prigozhin's short-lived mutiny against Russian military leadership two months earlier.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Wagner, Andrei Troshev, Putin, Troshev, Yevgeny Prigozhin, —, Syria —, Andre Troshev, Yunus, Bek, Dmitry Peskov, Bashar al, Assad, Defense Lloyd Austin Organizations: Service, Russian, Kremlin, Financial Times, Moscow Times, Islamic, Wagner Group, Central African, Defense Locations: Ukraine, Syria, Troshev, St . Petersburg, Islamic State, Russia, Moscow, Washington, Bakhmut, Belarus, Ukrainian, Russian, Africa, Mali, Central African Republic

US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shake hands during an expanded bilateral meeting in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on September 21, 2023. The U.S. will provide Ukraine with an additional $325 million in military aid, President Joe Biden announced Thursday during a White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Before the meeting began in the Oval Office, Biden and Zelenskyy gave brief remarks to the press. In Washington, Zelenskyy met for a little more than an hour with senators on Capitol Hill. Zelenskyy visited Washington in December and delivered an address to a joint meeting of Congress.

Persons: Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Abrams, Biden, Amanda Sloat, Andrea Mitchell, Sloat, Zelenskyy, Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, Kamala Harris, Defense Lloyd Austin, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Zelensky, Sen, Mike Rounds, Zelenskyy's, Cynthia Lummis, Rounds Organizations: White, Washington , D.C, National Security Council, Office, Russia, Pentagon, Defense, United Nations General Assembly, Punchbowl News, NBC, Republicans, Management, Shalanda Young, Wall Street, Capitol, General Assembly, NATO, Department of Defense Locations: Washington ,, U.S, Ukraine, Europe, Ukrainian, Washington, Russia, New York City, Zelenskyy, Ukrainians, Vilnius, Lithuania

☆ Blinken highlights the human toll of Ukraine war as Biden admin seeks to maintain support for Kyiv in Washington
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“Children, parents, husbands, and wives were forced to spend hours next to the corpses of their loved ones,” he continued. Last month, the Biden administration asked Congress to approve an additional $24 billion in emergency spending for Ukraine and other international needs. Zelensky, in his remarks, criticized the UN body – in which Russia has veto power – for failing to do enough to stop the war. “Ukrainian soldiers now are doing at the expense of their blood what the UN Security Council should do by its voting. They’re stopping aggression and upholding the principles of the UN Charter,” he said.

Persons: Antony Blinken, “, ” Blinken, Sergei Lavrov, …, Blinken, ”, Biden, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Bill Burns, Joint Chiefs Mark Milley, Defense Lloyd Austin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Kevin McCarthy, Zelenskyy Organizations: New, New York CNN, United Nations Security, Russian, National Intelligence, CIA, Joint Chiefs, Defense, UN, CNN, Republican, ABC News, UN Security Council, United Nations Locations: New York, Kyiv, ”, “, Ukraine, Washington, Russia, Moscow, Iran, North Korea

CNN —US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kyiv Wednesday on what is his third trip to the Ukrainian capital since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Blinken’s first stop on Wednesday was at a military cemetery, where he laid a wreath in honor of Ukraine’s fallen soldiers. Blinken said he was again “struck by the extraordinary bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian forces, Ukraine’s leadership.”“We’ve seen good progress in the counteroffensive, which is very heartening. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba (left) greets US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (right) in Kyiv on Wednesday. His second trip was in September last year as Ukraine’s first big counteroffensive was underway in the Kharkiv region.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken’s, Ukraine’s, Volodymyr Zelensky, Dmytro Kuleba, Blinken, “, ” “ We’ve, ” Blinken, Brendan Smialowski, Joe Biden, Biden, Defense Lloyd Austin, Kuleba Organizations: CNN, US, Ukrainian Foreign, Ukrainian, Getty, United Nations General Assembly, Ukraine, Kyiv Wednesday, Defense, State Department Locations: Kyiv, Bakhmut, Ukrainian, Ukraine, United States, New York, Russia, Poland, Kharkiv

☆ Biden says he's 'forever grateful' to forces in Afghanistan on two-year anniversary of exit
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Amanda Macias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"We also remember the hundreds of service members from allied and partner countries who lost their lives during this 20-year war. The conflict, which spanned over four administrations, claimed the lives of nearly 2,500 U.S. service members and more than 100,000 Afghan troops, police personnel and civilians. In April 2021, Biden ordered the full withdrawal of approximately 3,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11 of that year. Taliban forces stand guard in front of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, September 2, 2021. Evacuees crowd the interior of a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft, carrying some 640 Afghans to Qatar from Kabul, Afghanistan August 15, 2021.

Persons: WASHINGTON —, Biden, Defense Lloyd Austin, servicemembers, Austin, George W, Bush, Hamid Karzai, Stringer, Ashraf Ghani, Antony Blinken Organizations: Forward Operating Base, Department of Defense, WASHINGTON, Taliban, NATO, Defense, World Trade, Pentagon, Bagram Air Base, U.S, Afghan National Security and Defense Force, Reuters, Western, U.S . Air Force, Handout Locations: Forward Operating Base Salerno, Khost province, Afghanistan, U.S, Kabul's, New York City, Bagram, Kabul, Doha, Qatar, United States

CNN —President Joe Biden has decided that the headquarters of US Space Command will remain in Colorado and not move to Alabama, two US officials told CNN on Monday, reversing a decision by then-President Donald Trump. US Space Command, which is a joint command and separate from the US Space Force military branch, is currently housed in Colorado Springs, but the Air Force recommended near the end of Trump’s presidency that the command be moved to Huntsville, Alabama. Former Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett also chose Huntsville as the preferred location for SPACECOM headquarters in 2021. Colorado Springs is home to Peterson Space Force Base, previously known as Peterson Air Force Base. Rep. Doug Lamborn, a Republican from Colorado and chair of the House Armed Services subcommittee on strategic forces, hailed Biden’s decision to keep Space Command headquarters at Peterson Space Force Base, calling it “the most viable option” and the “best permanent home” for the military’s newest combatant command.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump ., Frank Kendall, Biden, Barbara Barrett, James Dickinson, Defense Lloyd Austin, Kendall, ”, Republican Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Tuberville, SPACECOM, Tuberville’s, ” Tuberville, “, Katie Britt, Biden “ irresponsibly, yank, Robert Aderholt, Doug Lamborn Organizations: CNN, US Space Command, Donald Trump . US Space Command, US Space Force, Air Force, Huntsville , Alabama . Air Force, Force, Former Air Force, Huntsville, Space Command, Defense, of, Republican, The Department of Defense, Alabama, Department of Defense’s, ” Republican, Arsenal, Missile Defense Command, Colorado Springs, Peterson Space Force Base, Peterson Air Force Base, House Armed, “, Associated Press, SPACECOM Locations: Colorado, Alabama, Colorado Springs, Huntsville , Alabama, SPACECOM, Huntsville

☆ U.S. to help Australia develop guided missiles by 2025
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"We are pursuing several mutually beneficial initiatives with Australia's defence industry, and these include a commitment to help Australia produce guided multiple launch rocket systems... by 2025," Austin told a press conference. Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are in Queensland state for the annual Australia-U.S. The U.S. will help Australia produce guided multiple-launch rocket systems by 2025, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Saturday, after the two nations' top officials pledged to engage with China but also oppose it if needed. U.S Secretary of State Blinken said "chief" among Saturday's high-profile talks with Australia was a shared commitment to a free and secure Indo-Pacific region. The games, however, were put on hold after an Australian military helicopter participating in the exercises crashed into the ocean, with at least four people onboard feared dead.

Persons: Richard Marles, Penny Wong, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin, Lloyd Austin, Marles, Blinken Organizations: Australian, Defense, Conference, Queensland Government House, Austin, . Ministerial, Labor, U.S, Australia, Talisman Sabre Locations: Brisbane, U.S, Australia, Queensland, China, Taiwan, Australian, Ukraine, Russia, Beijing

Sydney CNN —Four Australian defense personnel are missing in the water off the east coast of Australia after they were forced to ditch their Taipan helicopter in the sea during joint wargame drills with the United States late Friday. Speaking at a press conference in Brisbane on Saturday, Defense Minister Richard Marles said the search was ongoing for the four crew of the Australian Army helicopter. Last night, just after 10.30, an Australian Army helicopter, an MRH-90, ditched in waters close to Hamilton Island. Because there was another helicopter present, a search and rescue was able to commence immediately. A search operation involving both search and rescue aircraft and sea vessels is under way, according to the Australian Defense Ministry.

Persons: Richard Marles, ” Marles, Anthony Albanese, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, ” Blinken, they’ve, ”, Austin, it’s “, Damien Hill, Marles Organizations: Sydney CNN —, Australian Army, Australian Defense Ministry, Defense, Brisbane, Airbus Locations: Australia, United States, Brisbane, Hamilton, Queensland

WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) - The United States unveiled a Taiwan weapons aid package worth up to $345 million on Friday, a move likely to anger China even as the Biden administration declined to publicly provide details on the arms in the package. Congress authorized up to $1 billion worth of Presidential Drawdown Authority weapons aid for Taiwan, which strongly rejects Chinese sovereignty claims, in the 2023 budget. Beijing has repeatedly demanded the United States, Taiwan's most important arms supplier, halt the sale of weapons to the island. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its territory and has increased military pressure on the island over the past three years. Earlier this month, the top U.S. general said the United States and its allies need to speed up the delivery of weapons to Taiwan in the coming years to help the island defend itself.

Persons: Biden, General Atomics, Defense Lloyd Austin, Mike Stone, Idrees Ali, Jasper Ward, Dan Whitcomb, Yimou Lee, Richard Chang, Muralikumar Organizations: United, Reuters, U.S . Air Force, Defense, Presidential, Authority, Thomson Locations: United States, Taiwan, China, Beijing, Ukraine

Congress authorized up to $1 billion worth of Presidential Drawdown Authority weapons aid for Taiwan in the 2023 budget. One official, speaking on the condition anonymity, said the package is expected to be worth around $330 million. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Beijing has repeatedly demanded the United States, Taiwan's most important arms supplier, halt the sale of weapons to the island. Taiwan has said its defense spending this year will focus on preparing weapons and equipment for a "total blockade" by China, including parts for F-16 fighters and replenishing weapons.

Persons: General Atomics, Defense Lloyd Austin, Mark Milley, Mike Stone, Idrees Ali, Chris Sanders, Deepa Babington, Lincoln Organizations: Reuters, Congress, U.S . Air Force, Cultural, Defense, Presidential, Authority, U.S . Army, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Thomson Locations: United States, Taiwan, China, Taipei, Beijing, U.S, Ukraine

☆ US not seeking permanent base in Papua New Guinea, defense secretary says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 27 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Thursday during a visit to Papua New Guinea that Washington was not seeking a permanent base in the Pacific Islands nation under a new defence agreement. Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the United States signed a defence cooperation agreement in May that sets a framework for the U.S. to refurbish PNG ports and airports for military and civilian use. read moreAustin met with PNG's Prime Minister James Marape on a visit to discuss the deepening defence ties. "I just want to be clear, we are not seeking a permanent base in PNG," Austin told a news conference in the Papua New Guinea capital Port Moresby. He said the two nations were deepening an existing defence relationship, and would modernise PNG's defence force and boost interoperability.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin, James Marape, Marape, Kirsty Needham, Alasdair Pal, Tom Hogue, Michael Perry Organizations: Defense, United, PNG's, Beijing, Solomon Islands, China, Thomson Locations: Papua New Guinea, Washington, United States, U.S, Australia, Port Moresby, PNG's, Pacific, China, Taiwan, Solomon, Marape, Philippines, Korea, Sydney

Congress authorized up to $1 billion worth of Presidential Drawdown Authority weapons aid for Taiwan in the 2023 budget. One official, speaking on the condition anonymity, said the package is expected to be worth around $330 million. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Beijing has repeatedly demanded the United States, Taiwan's most important arms supplier, halt the sale of weapons to the island. Taiwan has complained of delays to U.S. weapon deliveries, such as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, as shipments from U.S. stockpiles moved to Ukraine.

CNN —President Joe Biden has decided to allow the US to cooperate with the International Criminal Court’s investigation of Russian war crimes in Ukraine, two US officials and a source familiar with the matter told CNN. The decision comes after months of internal debate and marks a historic shift, as it would be the first time the US has agreed to share evidence with the court as part of a criminal probe into a country that is not a member of the ICC. “It could be deeply consequential,” one of the sources said, adding that the US government now has “a clear green light” to share information and evidence with the ICC. Over the course of the war, Biden administration officials have obtained evidence of alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine, through intelligence gathering mechanisms among other channels, officials told CNN. The Pentagon was the most concerned about cooperating with the court, officials said, and worried that doing so might set a precedent for the ICC to investigate alleged war crimes carried out by Americans in Iraq.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden “, ”, Biden, Defense Lloyd Austin, CNN’s Wolf Organizations: CNN, ICC, National Security, Joint, Eurojust, United Nations Human Rights, Criminal Court, The New York Times, Pentagon, Defense, Defense Department, Ukraine’s, Department of Justice Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, United States, Iraq

The threat is unprecedented in its scope, experts say, and the military has pleaded with reservists to remain in their posts. Members of Israeli security forces guard the al-Aqsa Mosque compound following clashes that erupted during Islam's holy fasting month of Ramadan in Jerusalem on April 5. Nearly 10,000 military reservists said before the passage of the controversial “reasonableness” bill on Monday that they would refuse to volunteer for duty if it was passed. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke by phone with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant and reiterated the US’ commitment to Israel’s security. “He (Netanyahu) is willing to pay any price to move forward with this.”Golov sees reservists threatening not to serve as a sign of something much bigger.

Persons: Daniel Hagari, ”, Ahmad Gharabli, General Staff Herzi Halevi, Defense Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Chuck Freilich, Freilich, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yiftach, ” Golov, Golov, Israel, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Mahmoud Illean, Netanyahu, ” Freilich, Nasrallah, “ Organizations: CNN, IDF, Israel Defense Forces, Getty, General Staff, Defense, The Institute for National Security Studies, Brothers, Israeli Air Force, West Bank, Palestinian, ” Reuters, Arms Locations: Israel, Jerusalem, AFP, Tel Aviv, Lebanon, Syria, East Jerusalem, Gaza, “, Iran

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