US president-elect Donald Trump’s surprise pick of Pete Hegseth, a television host and army veteran, to be his Pentagon chief is expected to inject more unpredictability into the already fragile US-China military relationship, according to analysts. Hegseth, 44, is a Fox News political commentator and a military veteran who served tours of duty in Iraq … Read more
Australia’s ties with the United States was expected to stay solid following the presidential election, regardless of whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris would win, though experts were assessing how the result may influence the broader political, economic, and security landscape in the Asia-Pacific region. While the alliance between the two countries was expected to … Read more
A report prepared for the United States Congress stated that Australia might reconsider its AU$368 billion AUKUS submarine project, while proposing alternatives like using U.S. submarines instead, in addition to raising concerns about cost overruns and the adequacy of the original cost-benefit analysis. The observation was made in the updated report published by the Congressional … Read more
Australia’s AUKUS partnership has reached a new milestone, as the USS Hawaii, a Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarine, docked at HMAS Stirling in Perth to undergo maintenance. The docking of the atomic-powered vessel marks the first such visit by the American nuclear sub. The maintenance was conducted by Australian personnel with guidance from the USS Emory S … Read more
Defense Minister Richard Marles AFP Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom’s decision to remove the strict curbs governing exports from Sept. 1 will enable sharing of technology and a license-free trade of defense weapons worth billions of dollars between the AUKUS partners. Under the new permits, Australia can export 900 products to the … Read more
Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the United States Navy’s highest-ranking officer, has assured the country’s steadfast committed to the AUKUS alliance and its values, irrespective of who comes to power in the U.S. Franchetti’s assurance came Tuesday during her visit to HMAS Stirling naval base. Franchetti, who was accompanied to the base by Australian Vice Admiral Mark … Read more
In a move to fill the personnel shortage in the defense forces, Australia will begin recruiting foreign nationals from a handful of countries. Foreign nationals from the U.S., U.K., Canada and New Zealand, who have been permanent residents of Australia for more than a year and have not served in a foreign army in the … Read more
‘Global posture review,’ planning document by Pentagon, in 2021 emphasized building defenses in the Indo-Pacific region against potential threats from China. US military commander Lt Gen Stephen Sklenka said Australia would not be drawn into any major conflict in the Indo-Pacific region with China, adding that the decision has to be made at the national … Read more
The major topics of the visit, however, remain unknown. “The Australian government has consistently advocated – including during the recent visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi – for the full and timely removal of all trade impediments, including those affecting exports of live rock lobster to China. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry … Read more
Prime Minister Modi gesturing to the crowd during a public meeting at Nandanam in Chennai on March 4. | Photo Credit: S.R. Raghunathan Central government employees protest delays in promotion, threaten non-cooperation if demands not met Central government employees have threatened a “non-cooperation movement” if an expedited decision is not taken regarding their promotions and … Read more
