U.S. NAVY -- In coordination with the government of Japan, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) will return to U.S. 7th Fleet, replacing USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) as the forward-deployed Naval Forces-Japan (FDNF-J) aircraft carrier, forward-deployed to Fleet Activities...

U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Thailand -- Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT), Admiral Samuel Paparo will visit Thailand May 1-2 to meet with senior leaders and counterparts in the Royal Thai Navy. This will be Admiral Paparo’s second visit to the Kingdom of Thailand since assuming command of...

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE -- The United States stands with The Philippines in the face of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Coast Guard’s continued infringement upon freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. Imagery and video recently published in the media is a stark reminder of PRC...

MANILA, Philippines -- Adm. John C. Aquilino, Commander U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, conducted bilateral meetings April 29 to discuss multiple initiatives pertaining to the U.S.-Philippines Alliance.Adm. Aquilino met with Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Senior Undersecretary and...

PHILIPPINES -- The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with the embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) completed Exercise Balikatan 2023 (BK23), April 28 with a closing ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Philippines.U.S. and Philippine...

WASHINGTON -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III today in the Pentagon to discuss the U.S.-Republic of Korea alliance and to discuss ways to make that alliance even closer.The president is in Washington as part of his state visit. President Joe...

SAN ANTONIO, ZAMBALES PROVINCE, Philippines -- Naval Education Training Doctrine Command, San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines, April 25, 2023— A combined force of U.S. and Philippine servicemembers participated in a combined joint littoral live-fire exercise today, the culminating field...

TAIWAN STRAIT -- A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace on April 28, 2023 (local time). By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations. The aircraft’s...

WASHINGTON -- President Joe Biden and South Korean Yoon Suk Yeol outlined new steps aimed at bolstering the longstanding U.S.-South Korean defense alliance in the face of growing nuclear threats posed by North Korea.Under the newly unveiled "Washington Declaration," the two countries have committed...

CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii – Adm. John C. Aquilino, Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, hosted a virtual meeting April 25 with the Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense to discuss their security priorities for 2023.The virtual meeting brought together senior military leaders from 24 countries, and focused...