Dzirhan Mahadzir

About Dzirhan Mahadzir

Dzirhan Mahadzir is a freelance defense journalist and analyst based in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. Among the publications he has written for and currently writes for since 1998 includes Defence Review Asia, Jane’s Defence Weekly, Navy International, International Defence Review, Asian Defence Journal, Defence Helicopter, Asian Military Review and the Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter.

Recent Posts By the Author


U.S. Warns China Will Gain Edge if the Philippines Ends Visiting Forces Agreement

U.S. Warns China Will Gain Edge if the Philippines Ends Visiting Forces Agreement

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U.S. Army 1st Lt. Alex Donahue discusses the importance of proper knots and rigging with Philippine soldiers during a subject matter expert exchange in support of Balikitan 2017 at Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Philippines on May 4, 2017. US Army Photo

KUALA LUMPUR — The Philippines government has now formally begun the process of terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States, Philippines Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin confirmed on Twitter: the U.S. Embassy in Manila has received notice, and the termination will take effect 180 days later. Read More →

Air Force Keeping Up Presence Operations Over South China Sea

Air Force Keeping Up Presence Operations Over South China Sea

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Two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers assigned to the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, fly a 10-hour mission from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, through the South China Sea, operating with the U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG-104) on June 8, 2017. US Air Force Photo

KUALA LUMPUR — Though they don’t get as much attention as the Navy’s, U.S. Air Force has been conducting its own regular freedom of navigation flight operations in the South China Sea, Commander of Pacific Air Forces Gen. Charles Q. Brown told reporters on Friday. Read More →

U.S. Coast Guard Mulling More Operations in Oceania

U.S. Coast Guard Mulling More Operations in Oceania

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USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752), left, and the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG-85) maneuver into formation during Talisman Sabre 2019 on July 11, 2019. US Navy Photo

KUALA LUMPUR — The U.S. Coast Guard is looking at longer deployments to the Western Pacific region following the successful execution of the Operation Aiga deployment to Samoa and American Samoa, commandant Adm. Karl Schultz told reporters on Monday. Read More →

Inaugural AUMX Exercise Seeks to Deepen U.S.-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation

Inaugural AUMX Exercise Seeks to Deepen U.S.-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation

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Sailors and maritime forces of ASEAN member states salute while standing in formation together during the opening ceremony for the ASEAN-U.S. Maritime Exercise (AUMX) at Sattahip Naval Base, Thailand. US Navy Photo

KUALA LUMPUR — The U.S. has kicked off a new exercise in the Western Pacific with participation of the maritime assets of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The ASEAN Maritime Exercise (AUMX) began on Sunday at the Sattahip Naval Base, Thailand. Read More →

U.S. Coast Guard Eyes Expanded Operations in Western Pacific

U.S. Coast Guard Eyes Expanded Operations in Western Pacific

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Coast Guard Cutter Stratton (WMSL-752) pulls into Lumut Naval Base for a scheduled port visit as part of Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Malaysia 2019. US Navy Photo

KULA LUMPUR – U.S Coast Guard is mulling its future in the Asia-Pacific region once the National Security Cutter USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752) completes its current deployment in end November, region commander Vice Adm. Linda Fagan told reporters on Friday. Read More →

Schultz: Coast Guard Expanding Western Pacific Operations

Schultz: Coast Guard Expanding Western Pacific Operations

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Crew members from USCGC Munro (WMSL-755) conduct law enforcement from the cutter’s 35-foot Cutter Boat in the Central Pacific, Dec. 2, 2018. US Coast Guard Photo

KUALA LUMPUR – The U.S. Coast Guard will increase its presence and deployments to Asia – particularly around Oceania and U.S. Pacific territories – and test out a new operational deployment concept in the region, service head Adm. Karl Schultz told reporters on Thursday. Read More →

U.S. Will Unveil New Indo-Pacific Strategy Next Month

U.S. Will Unveil New Indo-Pacific Strategy Next Month

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USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), left, and the Japanese helicopter destroyer JS Hyuga (DDH 181), right, sail in formation with 16 other ships from the U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) during Keen Sword 19 on Nov. 08, 2018. US Navy Photo

KUALA LUMPUR — The Pentagon will unveil a new Indo-Pacific strategy at the Shangri-La Dialogue this May, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Randall Schriver told a media roundtable in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last week. Read More →

CNO: U.S. Still Committed to Littoral Combat Ship Deployments in Southeast Asia

CNO: U.S. Still Committed to Littoral Combat Ship Deployments in Southeast Asia

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Manchester (LCS-14) rests in the Port of Los Angeles during during a scheduled visit for LA Fleet Week on Aug. 31, 2018. US Navy Photo

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – The Navy is still committed to resuming rotational deployments of the Littoral Combat Ship to Southeast Asia, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson said, though he declined to specify when the deployments would resume. Read More →