Pentagon Chief Stresses Stronger Alliances to Counter China, Russia
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper revealed a new initiative to strengthen and expand US alliances with "like-minded democracies" to counter Russia and China.
Defense Secretary Talks Latest Technologies to Give US Troops the Edge
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper outlined America's modernization priorities in the face of Russian and Chinese efforts to undermine US military and technological advantages.
Pentagon Vows to Help Israel Keep Military Superiority in the Middle East
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper pledged to help maintain Israel's military superiority in the Middle East, amid its concerns over a possible US sale of F-35 fighters to the United Arab Emirates.
Eyeing China, Pentagon Plans Larger, ‘More Lethal’ Navy
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper announced an ambitious plan to expand the US Navy with unmanned and autonomous ships, submarines, and aircraft to confront the growing maritime challenge from China.
AI Can Change Nearly Every Aspect of the Battlefield, Esper Says
US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper reiterated the importance of ethical principles for the American military as it seeks to become a dominant player in the field of artificial intelligence.
Pentagon Aims for Fewer Than 5,000 US Troops in Afghanistan by November
The United States is counting on further military withdrawal from Afghanistan to potentially fewer than 5,000 troops as inter-Afghan peace talks progress.
US to Move 11,900 Troops Out of Germany: Pentagon
The United States will slash its military presence in Germany by 11,900 troops, relocating some to Italy and Belgium in a major shift of Washington's NATO assets, Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced Wednesday.
US Navy readies hospital ships ahead of Coronavirus wave
The US Navy is preparing to deploy its two hospital ships – USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort – to relieve pressure on hospitals caused by COVID-19
US to begin Afghanistan drawdown as Kabul, Taliban deadlock ahead of peace talks
Afghanistan's government and the Taliban are deadlocked on a prisoner swap ahead of peace talks, but the US will start pulling out troops anyway
US to deploy specialized military advisors to Africa amid strategic review
The US Army is sending the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade to train local security forces in Africa, relieving 101st Airborne elements
Africa offers US a ‘competitive edge’ over Russia and China, Townsend says
US AFRICOM commander Stephen Townsend said the US military presence in Africa should remain as part of the strategy to counter Russia and China
Esper: Europe should ‘offset’ changes in US support for France’s West Africa mission
US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Europe could 'offset any changes' in future support for France's counter-terror mission in Africa's Sahel region
France to conduct joint space exercises with US, Parly says
The US and France will conduct joint exercises in preparation for the militarization of space, France's Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said
US Air Force E-11A aircraft crashes in Ghazni province, Afghanistan
A E-11A aircraft bearing US Air Force markings crashed in a Taliban-held area of Ghazni province in Afghanistan
Counter-ISIS Coalition countries temporarily withdrawing personnel from Iraq
Members of the US-led Coalition against ISIS are pulling troops from Iraq as training of both the Iraqi Security Forces and Kurdistan Region's Peshmerga are paused
‘Draft’ letter saying US forces to leave Iraq was sent by ‘mistake,’ Milley says
Troops from US-led Coalition against ISIS are preparing to leave Iraq in the wake of an airstrike that killed an Iranian general and Iraqi militia commander
US sending additional forces to protect embassy personnel in Iraq
The US is sending additional military personnel to support staff at the American embassy in Iraq, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said
Esper wants to cut US troop numbers in Afghanistan to focus on China
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he wants to reduce the number of US troops in Afghanistan to give higher priority to competition with China
Esper says US pullback from parts of northeast Syria complete
The US has completed a pullback of forces from contested areas of northeast Syria, Defense Secretary Esper told Reuters on Wednesday
Esper says $10bn Pentagon JEDI contract awarded fairly after Amazon claims ‘bias’
The U.S. Defense Secretary said a $10 billion cloud computing contract was awarded to Microsoft fairly after Amazon alleged "bias" in the process
US to keep Deir Ezzor oilfields out of Syrian government hands, Esper says
US deployment to Syria's oilfields is aimed in part at denying them to Russia and the Syrian government, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said
NATO defense ministers criticize Turkey’s northern Syria incursion
NATO defense ministers slammed Turkey's military operation in Syria but recognized they have few options to sanction the strategic ally
US may leave troops to protect eastern Syria oil fields, Esper says
Some US forces could remain in eastern Syria to secure oil fields controlled by the SDF, U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said
US to withdraw 1,000 troops from northern Syria, Esper says
The US will pull back another 1,000 troops from northeast Syria as the risk of confrontation with Turkey-backed fighters increases, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said
