Category: Pentagon

China’s ‘Tacit Support’ for Russia in Ukraine Crisis ‘Deeply Alarming’: Pentagon

Beijing gave Moscow “tacit support” in the Ukraine standoff, the Pentagon said on Feb. 14, calling the Chinese action “deeply alarming.” Pentagon press secretary John Kirby sounded the alarm during a press briefing on Monday, as Russia has positioned about 130,000 troops, as well as tanks and artillery, near Ukraine’s border. “Their tacit support, if…


Pentagon Says Extreme Consolidation in Arms Industry Threatens National Security

The Pentagon has released a report saying that extreme levels of mergers and consolidation among defense contractors have reduced competition and elevated risks to U.S. national security, while recommending a series of actions to spur increased competition in America’s Defense Industrial Base (DIB). The State of Competition in the Defense Industrial Base report (pdf), released…


Some US Troops Departing Ukraine Amid Escalating Tension with Russia, Pentagon Confirms

The Department of Defense confirmed Saturday that some U.S. troops are leaving Ukraine. “Secretary of Defense has ordered the temporary repositioning of Florida National Guard troops out of Ukraine,” Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby wrote in a Twitter post. The move was ordered to protect the safety and security of U.S. personnel, but the United…


3 Military Industrial Execs Indicted for Illegal Campaign Contributions to Sen. Susan Collins

Three military-industrial executives with Department of Defense contracts have been indicted for allegedly making illegal contributions to Sen. Susan Collins’ (R-Maine) reelection bid. According to a statement by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the three executives under investigation are Martin Kao, former chief executive of the firm Martin Defense Group, Clifford Chen, its chief financial officer, and Lawrence…


Pentagon Sending 3,000 Troops to Eastern Europe Amid Russia Tensions

The United States is deploying about 3,000 troops to Eastern European ally countries, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday. This decision comes amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The deployment includes about 2,000 troops going to Germany and Poland and a 1,000 troop mounted cavalry unit moving from Germany to Romania, Pentagon press secretary John…


Alaska Joins Texas Suit Over National Guard Vaccine Mandate

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has joined Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in a lawsuit in federal court against President Joe Biden and top Pentagon officials to stop a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for National Guard members. The lawsuit is an amended version of the suit Texas filed at the start of January over the Pentagon’s COVID-19 vaccine…


Pentagon Takes Steps to Limit Civilian Casualties After Botched Airstrike in Kabul

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the Department of Defense to develop an action plan to improve how it can prevent, mitigate, and respond to civilian casualties caused by U.S. airstrikes. In a two-page directive (pdf), Austin asked top civilian and military officials to provide him within 90 days a “Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action…


Pentagon: More US Troop Deployments Possible

The Pentagon says it continues to consult with NATO allies about their “military needs and desires,” and it’s not ruling out additional U.S. troop overseas deployments in response to heightened tensions over Russia’s military presence on the Ukrainian border. “The other thing I’d say is I’m not going to rule out the possibility that there…


DoD Announces 8,500 Troops at ‘Heightened Readiness to Deploy’ in Support of Eastern NATO Countries

The Pentagon announced Monday that at the direction of President Joe Biden it’s placing 8,500 American troops at a “heightened readiness to deploy” in support of Eastern NATO allies should the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine warrant. Department of Defense (DoD) press secretary John Kirby stressed to reporters at a Jan. 24 briefing that “no…


Taiwan Responds as China Sends 39 Military Aircraft Into Its Air Defense ID Zone

TAIPEI, Taiwan—China is showing no sign of easing its aggression against Taiwan in 2022, after the Chinese military sent 39 military aircraft into the island’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Jan. 23, a record high in a single day this year. The latest incursion involved 34 J-16 and J-10 fighter jets, one H-6 bomber,…