U.S. and Philippines Boost Military Ties To Counter China Threats

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on May 30 to discuss joint efforts to counter China's growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
The high-level talks underscore America's deepening military cooperation with Manila as tensions escalate in contested South China Sea waters.
The meeting built upon prior discussions held in Manila on March 28, when Hegseth reaffirmed America's commitment to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty — the cornerstone of what officials describe as the 'ironclad' U.S.-Philippines alliance.
Hegseth praised the Philippines for standing firm against China's aggressive tactics targeting lawful Philippine maritime activities. The Defense Department noted that the two leaders celebrated the recent conclusion of Exercise BALIKATAN.
This year's iteration marked the largest and most complex joint training exercise in the alliance's history. The massive war games showcased America's deployment of increasingly sophisticated military hardware to the region.
Advanced systems included the Typhon missile system and the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System. The exercises also featured highly capable unmanned surface vessels, signaling a new era of autonomous warfare.
Both secretaries emphasized how such joint training enhances deterrence against potential Chinese aggression and committed to continued progress in strengthening defense cooperation between their nations.
The leaders stressed the importance of partnership and transparency in their approach to deterring China. Their discussions focused on practical steps to further enhance alliance readiness across the Pacific theater.

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USA Today

39 minutes ago

• USA Today

Trump was right to bomb Iran. Even Democrats will be safer because of it.

The fact that progressives can't give President Trump this win − a win that will give us a safer world − is yet another indicator of why the Democratic Party continues to devolve into irrelevance. While the Middle East slept early on June 22, the Islamic Republic of Iran discovered that the Trump administration's diplomatic efforts have an end date. With a planned and precise show of controlled force, the U.S. military "obliterated" three of Iran's major nuclear sites. In a June 22 news conference, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, dispelled any notion that the strike on Iran was ad hoc or done to goad Iran into a full-blown war with the United States. "The order we received from our commander in chief was focused, it was powerful and it was clear," Hegseth said. "We devastated the Iranian nuclear program." That is good news for the United States and its allies. The fact that progressives can't give President Donald Trump this win − a win that will give us a safer, more stable world − is yet another indicator of why the Democratic Party continues to devolve into irrelevance. With 'Operation Midnight Hammer,' Trump sent Iran a message Trump is already receiving extraordinary criticism for this attack on Iran. Democrats like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York have called for his impeachment because Trump, like other presidents before him, launched the attack without congressional approval. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said Trump's decision displayed "horrible judgment." Yet, there is ample precedent of presidents, including Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, ordering targeted military strikes without prior congressional approval under the War Powers Act. Did Congress approve Iran bombing? AOC howls about impeaching Trump. But president had the authority to bomb Iran. | Opinion Reactionary and partisan criticism from the left detracts from the success of this mission, which anyone, regardless of party affiliation, should appreciate. It appears that Operation Midnight Hammer was an incredible show of the U.S. military's strength and precision. "The scope and scale of what occurred last night would take the breath away of almost any American if you had an opportunity to watch it in real time," Hegseth said June 22 at the Pentagon. He noted that America's B-2 Spirit stealth bombers "went in and out ... without the world knowing at all. In that way it was historic." Iran's nuclear capabilities were a threat Concerns about retaliation from Iran are serious, of course, and U.S. forces are braced for it. But the threat of Iran, a country that has long bankrolled terrorism in the Middle East and around the world, building nuclear weapons shouldn't be minimized. That fact has nothing do with political ideology or partisan politics. Hegseth reminded reporters the morning after the attack that Trump was "fully committed to the peace process" and gave Iran "plenty of time to continue to come to the table and give up enrichment" of nuclear materials. Iran has a long history of attacking Americans, including holding more than 50 U.S. Embassy workers hostage in 1979 for more than a year. It's accused of bankrolling the 1983 bombing of the Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, that killed 241 American service members. Now, the Iranian regime has orchestrated attacks against American interests and allies through its terrorist proxies. Opinion: Trump must back Israel against Iran. 'Kooky' Carlson is wrong about nuclear threat. Despite these facts, it seems that liberals hate Trump so much that they are loathe to acknowledge that this president has now done what other presidents have done − act boldly to protect our nation and its citizens. Trump is a different president in many ways than any who have come before him. But like other presidents, he has shown he will do what is needed to protect America and our allies and to secure long-term peace. For that, all Americans should be thankful. Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids. Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track, and get it delivered to your inbox.

USA Today

40 minutes ago

• USA Today

US on 'high alert' for Iran retaliation, says nuke program 'obliterated': Live updates

The U.S. is on "high alert" for any retaliation from Tehran after the nation bombed three Iran nuclear sites, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said Sunday. "Our forces remain on high alert and are fully postured to respond to any Iranian retaliation or proxy attacks, which would be an incredibly poor choice. We will defend ourselves. The safety of our service members and civilians remains our highest priority," Caine said at a Pentagon briefing. Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, the commander of U.S. Central Command, has elevated force protection measures in the region, Caine said, 'especially in Iraq, Syria and the Gulf.' There are about 40,000 U.S. troops in the region. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran's nuclear ambitions "have been obliterated" in the Saturday night strike. "The order we received from our commander in chief was focused, it was powerful, and it was clear. We devastated the Iranian nuclear program," Hegseth said. Hegseth said the USA's B-2 stealth bombers, in a mission called Operation Midnight Hammer, "went in and out ... without the world knowing at all. In that way it was historic." President Donald Trump, in a live address at the White House on Saturday, said more strikes could come. 'Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace,' he said. 'If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier.' The U.N. Security Council was also set to meet later Sunday over the bombings, officials said. Midnight Hammer operation uses 'bunker busters,' a first in US history The U.S. used more than a dozen multi-million-dollar, 30,000-pound "bunker busters" to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities in the strike, marking the weapon's first operational use, according to the Pentagon. U.S. bomber planes dropped 14 of the massive bombs on three of Iran's nuclear facilities, Caine told reporters. The bombs used in the strikes, called Massive Ordnance Penetrators, or MOPs, weigh 30,000 pounds each and cost millions to produce. MOPs, also known as the Guided Bomb Unit, or GBU-57, are GPS-guided weapons designed to burrow deep into underground targets, like fortified tunnels or bunkers. The bombs are about 20 feet long and span 6 feet at their widest point. While Israel has bunker-busters a fraction of its weight, only the MOP has the capability to destroy or severely damage Iran's nuclear facilities, experts previously told USA TODAY. Read more: How much did the 30,000-pound bunker-busters cost? Iran government might close Strait of Hormuz, a major oil route The Iranian parliament backed a measure to close the Strait of Hormuz following the U.S. strikes on the country, but the final decision will rest with Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Iran's Press TV reported Sunday. About 20% of global oil and gas flow through the strait, which lies between Oman and Iran, and its closure could mean rising fuel prices for American consumers. The strait is 21 miles at its narrowest point, and the shipping lane is 2 miles wide in either direction. Asked whether Tehran would close Hormuz, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi didn't give a straight answer, saying: "A variety of options are available to Iran." Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized any decision to block the narrow channel between Iran and Oman. 'That would be a suicidal move on their part, because I think the whole world would come against them if they did that,' Rubio said in an interview with CBS. − Savannah Kuchar and Reuters Lawmakers push back on Trump's strikes under War Powers Act Trump's ordered airstrikes have attracted criticism from both sides of the political aisle, and some lawmakers are charging that the president did not have the authority to call for the attack. 'Our framers did not believe in the old way that a king could order a nation to war,' Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, said in an interview on Fox News Sunday. 'Instead, the framers gave the power to Congress so we would have a debate in front of all the American public whose sons' and daughters' lives could potentially be at risk.' The Constitution puts the power to declare war in Congress' hands, and the War Powers Resolution of 1973 mandates that the president notifies Congress within 48 hours of military action. The law also limits the deployment of armed forces beyond 90 days, in the absence of a formal declaration of war. Kaine has introduced a resolution in the Senate seeking to block Trump's actions in Iran. In the House, Reps. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, and Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, have filed a similar measure based on the War Powers Act. − Savannah Kuchar 'We're not at war' with Iran, Vance insists Vice President JD Vance argued in interviews Sunday that the U.S. is not entering an open-ended conflict in the Middle East. 'We're not at war with Iran. We're at war with Iran's nuclear program.' Vance told NBC's Kristen Welker. 'We do not want war with Iran,' Vance added while on Meet The Press. 'We actually want peace. But we want peace in the context of them not having a nuclear weapons program.' Separately, on ABC, Vance described the strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran as 'targeted.' The Pentagon's attack on Iran's nuclear facility employed its most powerful bunker-buster bomb as well as Tomahawk cruise missiles fired from submarines, according to Pentagon officials. Pentagon planners coordinated the attack with Israel to enter Iran's airspace, said the official who had been briefed on the mission but was not authorized to speak publicly. B-2 bombers dropped GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs, the first time they have been used in combat. − Savannah Kuchar and Francesca Chambers Operation Midnight Hammer took weeks to plan, involved 125 warplanes The U.S. attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, called Operation Midnight Hammer, differs in character, scope and destructive power from those that Trump ordered in his first administration. Those missions included a missile attack in Syria to punish Bashar al-Assad for using chemical weapons, the raid to kill ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and the drone that killed Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian who led its Quds force. The Iranian attacks on Saturday involved some of the most sophisticated weapons in the Pentagon's arsenal and tapped into its commands overseeing operations from the Middle East to outer space, Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Sunday. It took weeks to plan the Saturday attack, which involved 125 warplanes − including nearly one-third of its most sophisticated stealth bomber fleet – and submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles. Strikes weren't aimed at Iran regime change, US officials say The goal of the U.S. strikes on Iran was not to prompt a regime change, Hegseth said during the news briefing Sunday morning. "This mission was not, has not been about regime change," Hegseth said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hasn't denied that an Iran regime change is part of Israel's military objectives, however. "It could certainly be the result because the Iran regime is very weak," Netanyahu said in an interview on Fox News' "Special Report With Bret Baier" a week ago. "I think it's basically left with two things. Its plans to have atomic bombs and ballistic missiles. That's basically what Iran has. They certainly don't have the people. Eighty percent of the people would throw these theological thugs out." Nuclear energy head fears Mideast dynamic has changed The head of an international agency that encourages the peaceful use of nuclear technology said Sunday that the U.S. decision to bomb Iran has completely reset what was once slowly simmering tensions between Iran and Israel. 'This changes the whole dynamic,' Rafel Mariano Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in an interview on CNN. Grossi said Iran's current governmental regime, which has been in place since 1979, has been one of the few stabilizing forces in an otherwise 'very very unstable' international scene.' 'I think the unraveling of the nonproliferation regime would be a tremendously serious consequence,' he said. 'I think that now we need to try to go back to the negotiating table as soon as possible.' − Erin Mansfield Israeli president says US involvement in Iran is Trump's decision The president of Israel said Sunday morning that the United States is acting in its own interests and declined to say whether Israel would need additional resources. 'We are not dragging America into a war, and we are leaving aid to the decision of the president of the United States and to the team,' Isaac Herzog said in an interview on CNN. Herzog said the U.S. decision to bomb Iran was made 'because the Iranian nuclear program was (a) clear and present danger to the security interests of the free world, and the United States is the leader of the free world.' − Erin Mansfield Was Iran's nuclear material really 'obliterated'? Trump and his top defense official, Hegseth, say U.S. bombers completely "obliterated" Iran's three major nuclear complexes at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. That may turn out to be the case, though there has so far been no independent assessment of that assertion from nuclear watchdogs, international officials or others with direct information of the situation on the ground. The International Atomic Energy Agency, which is the main window for how the world assesses the scale and evolution of Iran's nuclear program, has not commented. All wars are information wars, as well as ones fought with conventional weapons. One example: Iran's IRIB state broadcaster claimed that its stockpiles of enriched uranium were "evacuated" from all threes sites prior to the U.S. strikes, another assertion that has not been independently verified. Hegseth: Trump seeks peace, urges Iran to do the same Hegseth lauded the U.S. strikes on Iran as an "incredible and overwhelming success." The strikes did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people, Hegseth said. Trump "seeks peace, and Iran should take that path," Hegseth said. He noted that fighter pilots and sailors aboard ships and submarines joined the attack. All 3 nuke sites sustained 'severe damage,' US says Caine said the U.S. was "currently unaware of any shots fired at the U.S. strike package on the way in." The three nuclear targets were struck from 6:40 p.m. to 7:10 p.m. ET, Caine said. He said the U.S. was also unaware of any shots fired on the way out of Iran. All three nuclear sites "sustained extremely severe damage and destruction," initial assessments indicate, Caine said. Pope Leo urges peace, international diplomacy In a weekly prayer on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV, the Catholic Church's first pope from the United States, called for diplomacy and peace efforts, not "violence and bloody conflicts," shortly after the U.S.' military action against Iran. "Every member of the international community has a moral responsibility: to stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable abyss," Leo said. "In this dramatic scenario, which includes Israel and Palestine, the daily suffering of the population, especially in Gaza and other territories, risks being forgotten, where the need for adequate humanitarian support is becoming increasingly urgent," he said. Iranians disconnected from world Iranians have been intermittently cut off from the world since the start of Israel's air war on its military and nuclear sites more than a week ago, now joined by the United States. Iran's government has imposed a near countrywide internet blackout in recent days, saying it was necessary to prevent Israeli cyberattacks and for unspecified security reasons, though some residents have reported the shutdown's efficacy has varied and sometimes they were able to get online. There have also been reported disruptions to cellphone text messages in Iran. On Sunday, NetBlocks, an organization that monitors global Internet access, reported that connectivity in Iran "again collapsed" in the hours before the U.S. strikes. NetBlocks also reported that Trump's Truth Social platform was "experiencing international outages for many users," a scenario it said was not related to "country-level Internet disruptions or filtering." UN watchdog to hold emergency meeting The United Nations' nuclear watchdog will hold an emergency meeting in Vienna on Monday following the U.S. attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities. The International Atomic Energy Agency, created in 1957 amid growing concern over nuclear weapons, called for an end to "hostilities" so that it can continue inspections in Iran. "In view of the increasingly serious situation in terms of nuclear safety and security, the Board of Governors will meet in an extraordinary session tomorrow, which I will address,' Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said. The sites targeted by the U.S. strikes contained nuclear material in the form of uranium enriched to different levels, the IAEA said, according to its most recent information before Israel's strikes on Iran on June 13. The material "may cause radioactive and chemical contamination within the facilities that were hit," the IAEA said. Grossi said no health impacts outside the targeted sites are expected after the U.S. strikes. 'I have repeatedly stated that nuclear facilities should never be attacked,' Grossi said. World reacts to US bombing of Iran Israel hailed the United States' decision to bomb three Iranian nuclear sites as an action that would "deny the world's most dangerous regime the world's most dangerous weapons." Elsewhere around the world the reaction was far more constrained. The United Nations and some leaders from Britain to Mexico called for swift de-escalation while other longtime U.S. adversaries such as Cuba and Venezuela were deeply critical of the attacks. "There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control − with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region and the world," U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a statement. Guterres said he was "gravely alarmed" by the use of U.S. force on Iran. 'Perilous hour': World reacts after US bombs Iranian nuclear sites Russia, China condemn US attacks on Iran Russia and China on Sunday condemned the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, the countries' foreign ministries said. "The irresponsible decision to subject the territory of a sovereign state to missile and bomb attacks, whatever the arguments it may be presented with, flagrantly violates international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council," the Russian foreign ministry said in its statement. "We call for an end to aggression and for increased efforts to create conditions for returning the situation to a political and diplomatic track." Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, launching a drawn-out conflict that is ongoing over three years later. Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, recently suggested that the "whole of Ukraine" belongs to his country, even though Russia only controls about a fifth of Ukrainian territory. China's foreign ministry said the move violates the United Nations Charter and would worsen tensions in the Middle East. The ministry urged an end to attacks for all parties to the conflict, particularly Israel. What we know about the US strikes on Iran Trump ordered the strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, effectively joining a war that Israel started on June 13 when it started bombing Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure. One of the U.S. targets was Fordow, a uranium enrichment facility hidden deep inside a remote mountain in the desert. Nuclear sites at Natanz and Isfahan were also struck. Israel said it helped the U.S. coordinate and plan the strikes. Trump said all three sites were "totally obliterated" but an independent assessment has not yet been carried out. The International Atomic Energy Agency − the United Nation's nuclear watchdog − released a statement saying that so far it had not detected an increase in "off-site radiation levels," one of the feared consequences of the strikes. What will Iran do now? Iran's next move is being closely watched. The country has already ramped up its rhetoric. "Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. Ahead of the U.S. strikes, Tehran signaled that if the Pentagon were to join Israel's war U.S. military bases and Navy ships in the region could be attacked. Iran has a large arsenal of drones and ballistic missiles. It has been using these on Israel for days. It launched a fresh wave of missiles toward Israel hours after the U.S. bombing started. Iran might even opt for a diplomatic route, which Trump was encouraging prior to authorizing the U.S. attack. Contributing: Reuters

Yahoo

an hour ago

• Yahoo

US signals a willingness to renew talks with Iran and avoid a prolonged war

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Sunday signaled a willingness to renew talks with Iran and avoid a prolonged war in the aftermath of a surprise attack on three of the country's nuclear sites as U.S. officials assessed Tehran's nuclear ambitions and the threat of retaliation against American interests. President Donald Trump, who had addressed the nation from the White House on Saturday night, allowed his national security team to speak for him the next morning, staying quiet on social media and scheduling no public appearances. The coordinated messaging by his vice president, Pentagon chief, top military adviser and secretary of state suggested a confidence that any fallout from the attack would be manageable and that Iran's lack of military capabilities would ultimately force it back to the bargaining table. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at a news conference that America 'does not seek war' with Iran while Vice President JD Vance said the strikes have given Tehran the possibility of returning to negotiate with Washington. 'Operation Midnight Hammer, involved decoys and deception, and met with no Iranian resistance, according to Hegseth and Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 'This mission was not and has not been about regime change,' Hegseth added. Caine said the goal of the operation — destroying nuclear sites in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan — had been achieved. 'Final battle damage will take some time, but initial battle damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction,' Caine said. Vance said in a television interview that while he would not discuss 'sensitive intelligence about what we've seen on the ground,' he felt 'very confident that we've substantially delayed their development of a nuclear weapon.' Pressed further, he told NBC's 'Meet the Press' that 'I think that we have really pushed their program back by a very long time. I think that it's going to be many many years before the Iranians are able to develop a nuclear weapon.' The vice president said the U.S. had 'negotiated aggressively' with Iran to try to find a peaceful settlement and that Trump made his decision after assessing the Iranians were not acting 'in good faith.' "I actually think it provides an opportunity to reset this relationship, reset these negotiations and get us in a place where Iran can decide not to be a threat to its neighbors, not to a threat to the United States and if they're willing to do that, the United States is all ears,' Vance said. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on CBS's 'Face the Nation' that "there are no planned military operations right now against Iran, unless, unless they mess around and they attack" U.S. interests. Trump has previously threatened other countries, but often backed down or failed to follow through, given his promises to his coalition of voters not to entangle the United States in an extended war. It was not immediately clear whether Iran saw the avoidance of a wider conflict as in its best interests. Much of the world is absorbing the consequences of the strikes and the risk that they could lead to more fighting across the Middle East after the U.S. inserted itself into the war between Israel and Iran. Airstrikes starting on June 12 by Israel that targeted Iran's nuclear facilities and generals prompted retaliation from Iran, creating a series of events that contributed to the U.S. attack. While U.S. officials urged for caution and stressed that only nuclear sites were targeted by Washington, Iran criticized the actions as a violation of its sovereignty and international law. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Washington was 'fully responsible' for whatever actions Tehran may take in response. 'They crossed a very big red line by attacking nuclear facilities," he said at a news conference in Turkey. 'I don't know how much room is left for diplomacy.' China and Russia, where Araghchi was heading for talks with President Vladimir Putin, condemned the U.S. military action. The attacks were 'a gross violation of international law,' said Russia's Foreign Ministry, which also advocated 'returning the situation to a political and diplomatic course.' A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement warned about the risk of the conflict spreading to 'a global level.' British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom was moving military equipment into the area to protect its interests, people and allies, but that he was focused on finding a solution. The leaders of Italy, Canada, Germany and France agreed on the need 'a rapid resumption of negotiations.' France's Emmanuel Macron held talks with the Saudi crown prince and sultan of Oman. Iran could try to stop oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, which could create the same kind of inflationary shocks that the world felt after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Oil prices have increased in the financial markets as the war between Israel and Iran had intensified, climbing by 21% over the past month. The Pentagon briefing did not provide any new details about Iran's nuclear capabilities. Hegseth said the timeline for the strikes was the result of a schedule set by Trump for talks with Iran about its nuclear ambitions. 'Iran found out" that when Trump "says 60 days that he seeks peace and negotiation, he means 60 days of peace and negotiation," Hegseth said. "Otherwise, that nuclear program, that new nuclear capability will not exist. He meant it.' That statement was complicated as the White House had suggested last Thursday that Trump could take as much as two weeks to determine whether to strike Iran or continue to pursue negotiations. But the U.S. benefited from Iran's weakened air defenses as it was able to conduct the attacks without resistance from Iran. 'Iran's fighters did not fly, and it appears that Iran's surface to air missile systems did not see us throughout the mission," Caine said. Hegseth said that a choice to move a number of B-2 bombers from their base in Missouri earlier Saturday was meant to be a decoy to throw off Iranians. He added that the U.S. used other methods of deception as well, deploying fighters to protect the B-2 bombers that dropped 14 bunker-buster bombs on Iran's site at Fordo. The strikes occurred Saturday between 6:40 pm and 7:05 pm in Washington, or roughly 2:10 am on Sunday in Iran. __ Associated Press writers Brian Melley and Elise Morton in London, Samuel Petrequin in Paris and Giada Zimpano in Rome contributed to this report. Mike Pesoli And Josh Boak, The Associated Press