US defense secretary says war with China neither imminent nor unavoidable, stressing need for talks
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told a gathering of top security officials he didnโt see war with China as imminent, nor unavoidable, despite rapidly escalating tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, stressing the importance of renewed dialogue between him and his Chinese counterpart in avoiding โmiscalculations and misunderstandings.โ.
Pentagon chief extends deployment of aircraft carrier, ships in the Red Sea as Houthi attacks go on
U.S. officials say the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike group that for months has launched crucial strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen to protect military and commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden will remain in the region for at least another month.
The US defense secretary will visit Cambodia, one of China's closest allies, after regional talks
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is scheduled to make an official visit to Cambodia, one of Chinaโs closest allies in Southeast Asia, after holding talks with his Chinese counterpart at an annual security conference in Singapore.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to undergo procedure at Walter Reed, will transfer power to deputy
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will undergo a medical procedure Friday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and will transfer power temporarily as he continues to deal with bladder issues that arose in December following his treatment for prostate cancer.
Sexual assaults are down in the US military. Here's what to know about the numbers
Pentagon officials are cautiously optimistic that an overall decline in reported sexual assaults among active-duty service members and the military academies suggests that leaders are finally getting a handle on what has been a persistent problem.
Why the US paused the delivery of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel ahead of a possible Rafah attack
The U.S. has paused a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel over concerns that the country has not adequately taken civilian safety into account in its upcoming military operation in Rafah, and that the massive weapon would inflict additional civilian casualties.
Biden says US won't supply weapons for Israel to attack Rafah, in warning to ally
President Joe Biden says he won't supply offensive weapons Israel can use to launch an all-out assault on Rafah โ the last major Hamas stronghold in Gaza โ over concern for the well-being of the more than 1 million civilians sheltering there.
Blinken will be the latest top US official to visit China in a bid to keep ties on an even keel
Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to China this coming week as Washington and Beijing try to keep ties on an even keel despite major differences on a range of issue, from the Middle East to opioids.
US Pentagon chief speaks with Chinese counterpart for first time since November 2022
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has spoken with Chinaโs national defense minister in the latest in a series of U.S. steps to improve communications with the Chinese military and reduce unsafe and aggressive incidents in the Indo-Pacific.
US and Philippines step up strategic partnership as China threats loom in South China Sea
The Biden administration is again reassuring the Philippines the U.S. commitment to the islandsโ defense is steadfast amid increasing concerns about provocative Chinese actions in disputed areas of the South China Sea.
Austin tells Congress Israel is taking steps to boost aid to Gaza as lawmakers question US support
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is telling senators that pressure on Israel to improve humanitarian aid to Gaza appears to be working, but more must be done, and it remains to be seen if that improvement will continue.
US defense official had 'Havana syndrome' symptoms during a 2023 NATO summit, the Pentagon confirms
The Pentagon confirms that a senior Defense Department official who attended last year's NATO summit in Lithuania had symptoms similar to those reported by U_S_ officials who have experienced โHavana syndrome."
Controversial military reproductive health care travel policy was used just 12 times in 7 months
The Pentagon says a controversial policy that allows service members to be reimbursed for travel if they or a family member have to go out of state for reproductive health care โ including abortions โ was only used 12 times from June to December of last year.
Pentagon urges Israel to protect civilians in Gaza as military chiefs meet at time of high tensions
A senior Pentagon official says U.S. and Israeli defense leaders met for about 90 minutes and discussed the need to have a well-planned military operation to defeat Hamas in Gazaโs southern city of Rafah that would unfold in phases to protect civilians and the ongoing delivery of aid.
Lawmakers fault Defense Secretary Austin for a failure of leadership over his secret hospital stay
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin faced pointed bipartisan criticism at a congressional hearing for his failure to promptly notify President Joe Biden and other U.S. leaders about his hospital stay last month.
Services prepare to brief Secretary Austin on a plan to get Ospreys flying again
The military services will take a key step toward getting the V-22 Osprey fleet back in the air as they lay out their plans Friday to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin regarding safety concerns stemming from a fatal crash in Japan.
Who was to blame for secrecy surrounding Austin's hospitalization? A Pentagon report says no one
An internal review about Defense Secretary Lloyd Austinโs hospitalization for complictions from prostate cancer surgery blames privacy restrictions and staff hesitancy for the Pentagonโs failure last month to quickly notify the president and other senior leaders.
A day after his latest hospital release, Austin presses for urgent military aid for Ukraine
A day after his latest hospital stay, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has hosted a virtual meeting on Ukraine to help replenish urgently needed ammunition and artillery for Kyiv, as its ammunition stocks run low in its fight against Russia.
Pentagon finishes review of Austin's failure to tell Biden and other leaders about his cancer
The Pentagon has completed its review of Defense Secretaryโs Lloyd Austinโs failure last month to quickly notify the president and other senior leaders about his hospitalization for complications from prostate cancer surgery and how the notification process can be improved.
Hand over heart, Biden joins grieving families of US troops killed in Jordan as remains arrive home
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden joined grieving families at Dover Air Force Base for the dignified transfer of the three American service members killed in a drone attack in Jordan last weekend.
Austin says he never told anyone on his staff to keep White House in the dark on hospitalization
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says he never directed anyone on his staff not to tell the White House heโd been hospitalized and he takes full responsibility for keeping President Joe Biden in the dark for weeks that he had prostate cancer.
Biden says he's decided on response to killing of 3 US troops, plans to attend dignified transfer
President Joe Biden says he has decided how to respond to the killing of three American service members in Jordan, noting that he does not want to expand war in the Middle East but demurring on the specifics of how the U.S. will proceed.
Pentagon chief Austin's cancer prognosis is 'excellent,' no further treatments needed, doctors say
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's cancer doctors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center say his prostate cancer prognosis is good and no further treatments will be needed after seeing him for a follow-up appointment Friday.
US hits Iraq militia sites and anti-ship missiles in Yemen as fight with Iranian proxies intensifies
The U.S. military has hit three facilities in Iraq and two anti-ship missiles in Yemen within hours of each other in its continued effort to keep violence from the Israel-Hamas war from spilling over into a wider conflict.
Austin is released from hospital after complications from prostate cancer surgery he kept secret
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says he's eager to return to the Pentagon after being released from a hospital where he was treated for complications from surgery for prostate cancer he kept secret from President Joe Biden.
Pentagon watchdog will review Defense Secretary Austin's failure to disclose his hospitalization
The Pentagonโs internal watchdog says he will review the secrecy surrounding Defense Secretary Lloyd Austinโs hospitalization and why the Defense Department waited days to inform the White House that he had transferred authority to his deputy.
A timeline of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had prostate cancer surgery and was later hospitalized in intensive care due to complications from that operation without President Joe Biden, Cabinet members or even his deputy knowing.
Pentagon announces new international mission to counter attacks on commercial vessels in Red Sea
The U.S. and a host of other nations are creating a new force to protect ships transiting the Red Sea that have come under attack by drones and ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
US military leaders press Israel to shift from major combat as Iranian-backed ship attacks escalate
The top two U.S. military leaders are traveling to Tel Aviv to advise the Israeli government on how to transition from major combat operations against Hamas in Gaza to a more limited and precise campaign.
NATO member-to-be Sweden and the US sign defense deal, saying it strengthens regional security
On the brink of joining NATO, Sweden has signed a defense cooperation agreement with Washington that will allow the United States access to all of the military bases across the Scandinavian country, saying the deal would bolster regional security.
US conducts airstrikes against Iran-backed groups in Syria, retaliating for attacks on US troops
The Pentagon and U.S. officials say U.S. fighter aircraft have conducted airstrikes on locations in eastern Syria involving Iranian-backed groups, likely causing casualties and destroying weapons stored at the two targets struck โ a training location and a safe house.