Washington, May 1 (IANS) China’s growing military assertiveness and its alignment with Russia, Iran and North Korea emerged as a central theme during a high-stakes US Senate hearing on defence spending, with potential implications for India’s strategic calculus.Senate Armed Services Committee, Chairman Roger Wicker warned that the United States is in “the most dangerous security environment since World War II,” pointing to intensifying competition with Beijing.“We’re locked in a comp…
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Washington, May 1 (IANS) US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth mounted a forceful defence of President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion military budget, arguing it reflects “the urgency of the moment” and is essential to counter a rapidly deteriorating global security environment.Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Hegseth said the record request would “position our forces for the current and future fights” while reversing years of “underinvestment and mismanageme…
Washington, May 1 (IANS) A heated Senate hearing saw sharp clashes between US SEcretary of War Pete Hegseth and lawmakers, as divisions deepened over the Iran war, rising costs and a proposed $1.5 trillion defence budget.At the Senate Armed Services Committee, Democratic and some independent senators challenged the administration’s claims of success in Iran and questioned the scale of military spending.Ranking Member Jack Reed led the criticism, accusing the administration of entering an “un…
Washington, April 30 (IANS) A Pentagon official on Thursday declined to comment on a potential U.S. force posture change in South Korea, but highlighted the United States’ “unwavering” defence commitment to the Asian ally, amid reemerging concerns over the possibility of a troop drawdown in Korea.The official’s remarks came as questions resurfaced over whether the U.S. might consider reducing its 28,500-strong United States Forces Korea (USFK) after US President Donald Trump said Wednesday the U…
Washington, April 30 (IANS) A senior Pentagon official has said that the cost of the ongoing US war against Iran is estimated to be 25 billion US dollars so far, as the conflict has dragged on for two months. “Approximately, on this day, we’re spending about 25 billion dollars on Operation Epic Fury,” acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules Hurst III told the House Armed Services Committee, as he testified alongside Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine.Hur…
Washington, April 30 (IANS) Disruptions from the US war with Iran are pushing up fuel prices and straining global energy supplies, lawmakers warned, citing mounting pressure on economies worldwide.At a congressional hearing on Wednesday (local time), lawmakers pointed to instability around the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for global oil flows, as a major source of concern.Ranking member Adam Smith said the economic fallout is already visible. “The impact on the economy certainly here…
Washington, April 30 (IANS) The US war with Iran is prompting concerns in Congress that Washington’s military focus may be shifting away from countering China, as lawmakers warn of growing strain on resources and deployments. At a hearing on the Pentagon’s budget, members pointed to the concentration of US forces in the Middle East, including carrier strike groups, at a time when China is expanding its military reach.Committee chairman Mike D. Rogers said the United States faces “an unprec…
Washington, April 29 (IANS) The United States’ cyber and special operations forces are now at the core of modern warfare, lawmakers and military leaders said, warning that threats are “immediate, persistent” and escalating as Washington remains engaged in a widening conflict with Iran.Opening a Senate hearing on the posture of US Special Operations Command and Cyber Command, Senator Roger Wicker said recent missions had marked “a watershed moment for American military power,” noting th…
Washington, April 29 (IANS) The United States is sharpening its military focus on China as its primary long-term strategic challenge, with senior commanders warning that cyber capabilities and special operations forces will be critical in maintaining an edge in an increasingly contested global environment.At a Senate hearing on the posture of US Special Operations Command and Cyber Command, Admiral Frank Bradley said American forces must simultaneously address multiple threats but remain oriente…
Washington, April 28 (IANS) China’s expanding missile arsenal and evolving military capabilities are reshaping US defence planning, with senior Pentagon officials telling lawmakers that Beijing remains the central strategic challenge driving a new generation of homeland missile defence.Testifying before a Senate panel, Assistant Secretary Marc Berkowitz said bluntly: “China is our pacing competitor we will deter China from a position of strength.”He said Beijing’s growing capabilities ar…