Tag: Lloyd Austin

US and India Sign Space Situational Awareness Arrangement

The United States and India on Monday signed a bilateral space situational awareness arrangement, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced. The two countries signed the agreement during a U.S.–India 2+2 ministerial that was held by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Austin on Monday with their Indian counterparts, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and…


Rep. Gaetz Accuses US Military Leadership of Pandering to ‘Wokeism’ in Heated Exchange With Defense Secretary

A hearing on the Biden administration’s proposed defense budget turned rancorous on April 5, with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin verbally sparring over the state of America’s hypersonic weapons capabilities. Gaetz said that the hypersonic capabilities of the U.S. military had fallen behind those of the Chinese military, and cited…


No Such Thing as ‘No-Fly Zone Lite’: DOD Rejects Zelensky’s Request

The U.S. Department of Defense said Thursday that a NATO-enforced no-fly zone would do little to prevent some of Russia’s strikes inside Ukraine, coming after some members of Congress suggested the measure. “The systems that are being used by the Russians to engage Ukrainian forces currently–they’re using a lot of rockets and missiles and artillery,”…


Defense Secretary Austin to Head to Europe to Discuss Russian Troop Buildup

The Pentagon announced on Monday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is travelling to visit eastern NATO allies in Europe this week amid uncertainty over whether Russia will decide to invade Ukraine. Austin is set to leave on Feb. 15 and will visit Belgium, Poland, and Lithuania to meet with government and military leaders, according to a…


Judge Blocks Military From Punishing Two Troops Seeking Religious Exemptions to Vaccine Mandate

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and all other military officials are barred from taking punitive action against two service members seeking religious exemptions to the military’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, a federal judge ruled Feb. 2. The Marine Corps. lieutenant colonel and Navy Command officer appear to have been “wrongfully denied a religious exemption from COVID-19…


Judge Blocks Military From Punishing 2 Troops Seeking Religious Exemptions to Vaccine Mandate

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and all other military officials are barred from taking punitive action against two service members seeking religious exemptions to the military’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, a federal judge ruled on Feb. 2. The Marine Corps. lieutenant colonel and Navy Command officer appear to have been “wrongfully denied a religious exemption from…


Live Q&A: Trucker Convoy Could Tear Down Virus Mandates; Biden Sending Troops to Eastern Europe

American truckers are joining with the tens of thousands of Canadian truckers to protest vaccine mandates, and public support is growing for them in both countries. Brian Von D, the administrator at “Convoy to DC 2022,” announced in a live video on Facebook that truckers from both countries are joining forces—and will drive from California…


Russia-Ukraine War ‘Not Inevitable’ but If It Happens, Death Toll Would Be High: US Military Officials

A Russian invasion of Ukraine is not inevitable but if it does take place, it would lead to a significant number of deaths, top U.S. military officials said Friday. “Conflict is not inevitable,” U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters at the Pentagon in Washington. “There is still time and place for diplomacy.” Russia has…


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,…


US Defense Secretary Tests Negative a Week After Contracting COVID-19

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin tested negative on Sunday for COVID-19 a week after contracting the illness and plans to return to the Pentagon for work on Monday, the Pentagon said. “Secretary Austin is grateful for (the) efficacy of the vaccines he was administered. He knows that they rendered much less severe the effects of…