Tag Archives: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin

Philippine Congress Set to Approve Expanded U.S. Base Deal as China Expands Claims, Ambassador Says

Philippine Congress Set to Approve Expanded U.S. Base Deal as China Expands Claims, Ambassador Says

Philippine Sailors assigned to Naval Special Operations Units and U.S. Naval Special Warfare operators perform a bilateral over the beach training exercise in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines during Balikatan 23, April 26, 2023. US Navy Photo

China’s persistent expansion into the South China Sea is the most concerning security concern for the Philippines as its congress is set to approve an expanded basing deal with the U.S., Manila’s ambassador to Washington said on Thursday.
Read More

SECDEF Austin: ‘Unfortunate’ that Chinese Defense Minister Won’t Meet

SECDEF Austin: ‘Unfortunate’ that Chinese Defense Minister Won’t Meet

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is welcomed to the Japanses Ministry of Defense by Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada Tokyo, Japan, June 1, 2023. DoD Photo

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Thursday said he welcomes any opportunity for engagement with China’s military leadership in the future, despite Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu declining to meet with him during the upcoming IISS Shangri-La Dialogue.
Read More

Philippines Announce 4 New Locations to Host U.S. Troops

Philippines Announce 4 New Locations to Host U.S. Troops

Philippine Marines embark a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey during KAMANDAG 6 at Naval Base Camilo Osias, Philippines, Oct. 2, 2022. US Marine Corps Photo

MANILA — The Philippines announced Monday four additional locations that will host visiting American troops under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), sites that the country said will boost its disaster response as they would also be used for humanitarian and relief operations during emergencies and natural disasters. Read More

U.S. Begins Air Base Rehab in Philippines as Part of Basing Agreement

U.S. Begins Air Base Rehab in Philippines as Part of Basing Agreement

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 3rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare an F-22A Raptor assigned to the 525th Fighter Squadron for departure from Clark Air Base, Philippines, March 14, 2023. US Air Force Photo

MANILA – The United States and the Philippines started rehabilitating the runway of the Basa Air Base in Pampanga on the island of Luzon, one of the five original Philippine military sites identified to host rotating American troops and their equipment under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). Read More

Pentagon: Red Hill Defueling on Track, Joint Task Force Starting Environmental Assessment

Pentagon: Red Hill Defueling on Track, Joint Task Force Starting Environmental Assessment

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Pearl Harbor employees uses tools to relocate contaminated soil onto a wheelbarrow as part of NAVFAC Public Works Department and Joint Task Force-Red Hill’s (JTF-RH) hazard material spill recovery operation at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) in Halawa, Hawaii, Dec. 1, 2022. US Army Photo

This story has been updated to clarify that the Joint Task Force is responsible for defueling the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. 

The Joint Task Force – Red Hill is on target to meet the July 2024 deadline to defuel the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Hawaii, the Department of Defense said Thursday. Read More

INDOPACOM: China Has Not Responded to U.S. Attempts to Establish Communication

INDOPACOM: China Has Not Responded to U.S. Attempts to Establish Communication

Adm. John C. Aquilino, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, listens to a brief during the USINDOPACOM Commander’s Summit in Hawaii on Dec. 13, 2022. U.S. Navy Photo

China has not responded to any of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s requests to establish direct communication channels between its commander and the commanders of China’s main military commands, Adm. John Aquilino said Thursday. Read More

U.S., Philippines Add Four More Sites to EDCA Military Basing Agreement  

U.S., Philippines Add Four More Sites to EDCA Military Basing Agreement  

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is welcomed to the Philippine Department of National Defense in Manila, Feb. 2, 2023. DoD Photo

MANILA – The United States and the Philippines have designated four additional bases for U.S. troops to operate from as both countries agreed to accelerate the full implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) that will house American troops and their equipment in Philippine military camps located in strategic areas of the country. Read More