United States / US
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Global Commons
Japan adding drone aircraft to boost maritime ISR
FORUM Staff Japan’s Defense Ministry will enhance its maritime situational awareness with new uncrewed surveillance aircraft deployed over waters surrounding the nation. The move comes as the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) increases its presence in the vast region, including near the uninhabited Senkaku Islands, a rocky outcropping in the East China Sea administered by Japan but claimed by…
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Conflicts - Tensions
Taiwan president strengthens diplomatic support among Blue Pacific nations
FORUM Staff Taiwan President Lai Ching-te sought to bolster support for the island and its democratic government on a tour of Blue Pacific nations. Lai visited the Marshall Islands, Palau and Tuvalu and also made stops in Hawaii and Guam, a United States territory, on the weeklong trip that began November 30, 2024. A dozen nations, including the Marshall Islands,…
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Global Commons
Philippine-U.S. cooperation supports humanitarian relief amid destructive typhoon season
FORUM Staff The Philippines-United States Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which enables the countries to train together, respond to humanitarian crises and achieve modernization goals, helped Manila prepare for and respond to a series of typhoons in late 2024. As U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced an additional $1 million in relief aid for the Philippines in November, Philippine President…
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Conflicts - Tensions
EU foreign policy chief says Europe must respond to threats from PRC, Russia, North Korea
Voice of America The European Union’s new foreign policy chief signaled she will take a tough stance on the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Russia, while advocating for a strong alliance between Europe and the United States. Kaja Kallas addressed the European Parliament for the first time in her new role in mid-November 2024, stressing the EU will be…
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Northeast Asia
South Korea-U.S. alliance expands to address cyber, space threats
Felix Kim In a significant advance for the South Korea-United States alliance, cyber and space threats have been formally recognized as potential triggers under the nations’ 1953 Mutual Defense Treaty, expanding the scope of cooperation beyond traditional military domains. The evolution, announced following the recent bilateral ministerial meeting in Washington, D.C., reflects growing concerns over intensified North Korea-Russia security collaboration,…
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Global Commons
ROK, U.S. troops review technology that detects, analyzes electronic intrusions
U.S. Forces Korea Combined Republic of Korea (ROK) and United States forces recently got firsthand looks at a PR-200 spectrum analyzer designed to detect electromagnetic intrusions, signals of interest and jamming within a contested area. U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Elliot Rappoport demonstrated the device during a team-building session at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, in mid-October 2024. Practical exercises showed…
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Global Commons
U.S. national security memo reflects international effort to manage AI
FORUM Staff The United States has unveiled measures to harness rapidly developing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in meeting national security objectives, including implementing safety and dependability standards. The National Security Memorandum (NSM) on Artificial Intelligence, released in October 2024, establishes parameters for acceptable AI use. President Joe Biden requested the document in an executive order to ensure the U.S. “leads…
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Conflicts - Tensions
North Korea-Russia military ties require coordinated response to maintain Indo-Pacific stability
U.S. Army 8th Theater Sustainment Command, National Security Law Team North Korea’s increasing military support for Russia, including arms shipments and deployment of 10,000 troops for Moscow’s illegal war against Ukraine, raises significant strategic and legal concerns for the Indo-Pacific. It signals a deepening alliance between two authoritarian regimes seeking to counter the influence of the United States and its…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Australia, Japan, U.S. to hold trilateral military training
The Associated Press Japan will deploy troops for joint training with Australian and United States forces in northern Australia, the countries’ defense ministers said as they expressed concern about a spate of confrontations with the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) increasingly assertive military. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles hosted Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin…
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Partnerships
Philippines, U.S. to share military intelligence to boost interoperability in Indo-Pacific
Reuters The Philippines and the United States signed a military intelligence-sharing agreement in a further deepening of defense ties between allies facing common security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. Philippine National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin signed the agreement in mid-November 2024 at Manila’s military headquarters, where they also broke ground on a combined coordination center…
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