The United States and Russia were on a collision course over the alleged Syrian chemical attack on Wednesday as Washington’s top diplomat prepared for talks in Moscow. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is scheduled for a day of talks with his opposite number Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that will now be dominated by the war … Read more
The United States has “no doubt” that the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was responsible for last week’s chemical attack on a rebel-held town that left dozens dead, Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said Tuesday. Mattis told reporters that Washington’s military strategy in Syria had not changed even after its retaliatory missile strikes on a … Read more
The G7 group of nations has failed to reach agreement over threatening new sanctions against Russia and Syria. Foreign ministers were seeking a common position on the Syrian conflict, before the US secretary of state flies to Russia to try to persuade it to abandon its Syrian ally. The nations agreed there was no solution … Read more
G7 foreign ministers will attempt to agree a common position on the Syrian conflict, before the US secretary of state flies to Russia to try to persuade it to abandon its Syrian ally. Rex Tillerson will also meet officials from allied Middle Eastern countries before heading to Moscow. The UK has suggested threatening tightly focused … Read more
Syria is set to dominate Tuesday’s meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Italy, with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson under the spotlight before he heads to Moscow, the key ally of President Bashar al-Assad. Washington has warned Damascus that further use of chemical weapons could bring fresh US military retaliation, following missile strikes against … Read more
Last week’s US strike on a Syrian air base destroyed a fifth of President Bashar al-Assad’s working warplanes, Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said Monday. “The assessment of the Department of Defense is that the strike resulted in the damage or destruction of fuel and ammunition sites, air defense capabilities, and 20 percent of Syria’s operational … Read more
President Donald Trump on Friday announced his pick for the next secretary of the US Army, a state senator from Tennessee. In a statement, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis praised the nomination of Mark Green for the top civilian job in the Army. “Mark will provide strong civilian leadership, improve military readiness and support our service … Read more
Brexit will see the departure of the EU’s largest military force, leaving France as the bloc’s main military power. And as the US pressures Europe to take more responsibility for its own defense, much of that burden will likely fall on Paris. Speaking at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers on Friday, US Secretary of … Read more
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson pressed NATO allies Friday to ramp up military spending and denounced Russia’s ‘aggression’ in Ukraine, toughening the Trump administration’s tone toward Moscow. Tillerson delivered the message as he met fellow NATO foreign ministers for the first time ahead of a May 25 summit to be attended by leaders including … Read more
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson headed to Brussels on Friday to push President Donald Trump’s demand for NATO allies to boost defence spending. Tillerson is meeting fellow NATO foreign ministers for the first time, ahead of a May 25 leaders summit with Trump in Brussels. Seeking to draw a line under the funding row, … Read more
The Pentagon under President Donald Trump is experiencing greater freedom to run wars without seeking White House approval. Many in the military appreciate this increased autonomy, but critics charge it could raise civilian death rates, puts the lives of US troops at greater risk and leads to a lack of oversight of America’s conflicts. Nowhere … Read more
The Pentagon under President Donald Trump is enjoying greater freedom to run its wars the way it wants — and not constantly seek White House approval on important decisions. Many in the military appreciate this increased autonomy, but critics charge it is raising civilian death rates, puts the lives of US troops at greater risk … Read more
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will meet with NATO members next week in Brussels, officials said Friday, as alliance diplomats struggled to reschedule a key meeting. The transatlantic alliance’s leading partner threw planning for an April 5 summit of NATO foreign ministers into chaos on Tuesday, when Tillerson revealed he would not be attending. … Read more
President Donald Trump’s proposed gutting of the State Department budget and other “soft power” agencies could hamper long-term security goals and make the military’s job tougher, US generals are warning. Trump wants to slash federal spending across an array of agencies and foreign aid programs, and eliminate other organizations to pay for a boost in … Read more
The transatlantic bond is “getting stronger,” Pentagon chief Jim Mattis told NATO’s Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday, the same day the US secretary of state said he will skip a key alliance meeting. “We have a very strong transatlantic bond,” Mattis told NATO’s secretary general. “It’s getting stronger, relationships don’t stay the same, they are always … Read more
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg headed for Washington on Monday for the first time since US President Donald Trump was elected, holding talks with senior officials about defeating the Islamic State group, his office said. Stoltenberg will meet US Defence Secretary James Mattis on Tuesday, then meet foreign ministers from the US-led coalition working to defeat … Read more
Russian and Russia-linked entities paid President Donald Trump’s former national security advisor Mike Flynn $55,500 for work that included attending a gala with President Vladimir Putin, according to documents released Thursday. The retired general, who once headed the US Defense Intelligence Agency, earned $33,000 just to go to the December 2015 party held by RT, … Read more
Up to 1,000 additional US troops could deploy to northern Syria under provisional plans drawn up by the Pentagon, a US defense official told AFP on Wednesday. The plans, which still need to be approved by President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, would mark a significant uptick in US boots on the ground … Read more
Over 130 US foreign policy experts have denounced President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban, saying it undermines America’s national security and interests as much as the original order barring travelers from some Muslim-majority countries and refugees. “To Muslims — including those victimized by or fighting against ISIS (Islamic State) — it will send a message … Read more
The Pentagon faced a burgeoning scandal Friday as more pictures of naked female service members apparently shared without their consent by male colleagues have turned up on secret social media sites. General Robert Neller, the commandant of the Marine Corps, appeared embarrassed and uncertain how to deal with the problem, which first surfaced among members … Read more