Latest news with #SeanParnell
Japan Times
11 hours ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Pentagon says Japan must meet ‘global standard' and spend 5% of GDP on defense
The Pentagon has set a 'global standard' for Japan and other U.S. allies to spend 5% of gross domestic product on defense, in the first official confirmation that Washington is asking Tokyo to pump up its defense budget even further. In a statement given to The Japan Times on Friday, Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell pointed to a majority of NATO nations that have signed on to U.S. requests to boost defense spending to the 5% level, saying that 'European allies are now setting the global standard for our alliances, especially in Asia, which is 5% of GDP spending on defense.' Asked whether Parnell's remarks apply specifically to Japan, a U.S. defense official said it 'is inclusive for all of our allies across the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan.' Both allies had been mum on whether the U.S. would press Japan specifically to hit the 5% target, though Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Senate panel Wednesday that there is now a "new standard for allied defense spending that all of our allies around the world, including in Asia, should move to." Ostensibly pacifist Japan has in recent years undertaken a dramatic transformation of its security policy, including a five-year plan to ramp up defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2027. Pouring even more cash into defense coffers would come with significant political costs as the government focuses on domestic economic priorities and amid growing uncertainty over how to secure funds. Japan is currently getting far less bang for its buck as inflation and the yen's diminishing value erode its plans for the country's largest military buildup in postwar history. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said in April that defense spending was within striking distance of the 2% target, at 1.8% of GDP. A Defense Ministry panel of experts is reportedly set to recommend that the government consider hiking defense spending beyond 2%, and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has said that future budgets "may top 2%, if needed,' depending on the security environment. However, Ishiba and senior Japanese officials have said that what is most important is the substance of strengthened defense capabilities — not arbitrary figures. The issue will be at the top of the agenda at next week's NATO leaders' summit at The Hague, which Ishiba is also set to attend. While most NATO members are on track to back U.S. President Donald Trump's demand that they invest 5% of GDP in defense, Spain on Thursday rejected the proposal, with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez calling it 'unreasonable.' The disagreement could weaken the Trump administration's argument to Asian partners that European allies are falling in line with its demand, as any agreement to adopt a new spending guideline must be made with the consensus of all 32 NATO member states. Hegseth hinted at the U.S. push for allies to spend more during the Shangri-La Dialogue regional security conference in Singapore late last month, citing what he called an imminent and 'real' threat posed by China to democratic Taiwan — something Parnell also pointed to in his statement. 'Given the enormous military buildup of China as well as North Korea's ongoing nuclear and missile developments, it is only common sense for Asia-Pacific allies to move rapidly to step up to match Europe's pace and level of defense spending,' Parnell said. 'It is common sense because it is in our Asia-Pacific allies' own security interests, and in that of the American people's to have more balanced and fairer alliance burden-sharing with our Asian allies,' he added. Trump has railed against his country's alliance with Japan, calling the partnership — which turns 65 this year — unfair and 'one-sided,' while threatening Tokyo and other allies and partners with onerous tariffs on key sectors such as automobiles and steel.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
700 troops have been mobilized to help ICE in raids in Florida, Louisiana and Texas
The Defense Department has mobilized 700 troops to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Florida, Louisiana and Texas. These troops will 'not participate in law enforcement activities' but will 'provide logistical support, and conduct administrative and clerical functions,' according to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell. The troops were deployed last week, Parnell said. The three states have seen several large-scale ICE raids since Trump took office in January and implemented his hardline anti-immigration agenda, promising to carry out the 'largest deportation operation in American history.' There are several ICE detention centers in Louisiana and Texas, and local police officers have already started assisting ICE efforts in Florida, the agency announced in April. Reports emerged Tuesday of raids in southwest Louisiana. Federal and local agents raided the Delta Downs Racetrack, Casino and Hotel near Vinton, Louisiana, about two hours west of Baton Rouge, according to the Louisiana Illuminator. It's unclear how many people were detained. There have also been several recent raids in Texas, with ICE agents detaining at least a dozen people in the Rio Grande Valley last week. ICE agents also made 422 arrests and 528 deportations following a week-long raid in the Houston area last month. ICE also said its agents completed the 'largest joint immigration operation' ever in Florida, arresting more than 1,100 people in late April. The agency also made 100 arrests at the end of May in Tallahassee. The Pentagon's announcement comes more than a week after President Donald Trump's administration deployed 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 US Marines to Los Angeles in response to the anti-ICE demonstrations in the city. California officials then sued the Trump administration, arguing the decision has 'caused real and irreparable damage' to the city and the state's sovereignty. Meanwhile, Trump's so-called 'Big, Beautiful Bill' spending and tax bill would direct $168 billion towards immigration and border enforcement. But that increased spending and other immigration-related costs could cost the U.S. an estimated $1.4 trillion over the next decade. Even without the bill, immigration spending is on the rise. ICE is reportedly $1bn over budget for this fiscal year, and the agency could run out of money as soon as next month. While the bill passed the House of Representatives last month, not all Republicans are on board. Elon Musk, Trump's once-close ally, publicly sparred with the president over the spending bill last month. But the two could be set to reconcile, after Trump said he'd be open to forgiving the billionaire. Musk also said he 'regret[s]' the comments he made about Trump, which included accusing him of appearing in the Epstein files.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
700 troops have been mobilized to help ICE in raids in Florida, Louisiana and Texas
The Defense Department has mobilized 700 troops to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Florida, Louisiana and Texas. These troops will 'not participate in law enforcement activities' but will 'provide logistical support, and conduct administrative and clerical functions,' according to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell. The troops were deployed last week, Parnell said. The three states have seen several large-scale ICE raids since Trump took office in January and implemented his hardline anti-immigration agenda, promising to carry out the ' largest deportation operation in American history. ' There are several ICE detention centers in Louisiana and Texas, and local police officers have already started assisting ICE efforts in Florida, the agency announced in April. Reports emerged Tuesday of raids in southwest Louisiana. Federal and local agents raided the Delta Downs Racetrack, Casino and Hotel near Vinton, Louisiana, about two hours west of Baton Rouge, according to the Louisiana Illuminator. It's unclear how many people were detained. There have also been several recent raids in Texas, with ICE agents detaining at least a dozen people in the Rio Grande Valley last week. ICE agents also made 422 arrests and 528 deportations following a week-long raid in the Houston area last month. ICE also said its agents completed the ' largest joint immigration operation ' ever in Florida, arresting more than 1,100 people in late April. The agency also made 100 arrests at the end of May in Tallahassee. The Pentagon's announcement comes more than a week after President Donald Trump's administration deployed 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 US Marines to Los Angeles in response to the anti-ICE demonstrations in the city. California officials then sued the Trump administration, arguing the decision has 'caused real and irreparable damage' to the city and the state's sovereignty. Meanwhile, Trump's so-called 'Big, Beautiful Bill' spending and tax bill would direct $168 billion towards immigration and border enforcement. But that increased spending and other immigration-related costs could cost the U.S. an estimated $1.4 trillion over the next decade. Even without the bill, immigration spending is on the rise. ICE is reportedly $1bn over budget for this fiscal year, and the agency could run out of money as soon as next month. While the bill passed the House of Representatives last month, not all Republicans are on board. Elon Musk, Trump's once-close ally, publicly sparred with the president over the spending bill last month. But the two could be set to reconcile, after Trump said he'd be open to forgiving the billionaire. Musk also said he 'regret[s]' the comments he made about Trump, which included accusing him of appearing in the Epstein files.
Axios
3 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
Military aiding immigration enforcement in Florida, Louisiana and Texas
Another 700 military personnel have been sent to aid immigration enforcement in Florida, Louisiana and Texas after nearly 5,000 National Guard members and Marineswere sent to Los Angeles, the Pentagon said Tuesday. Why it matters: President Trump ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement to target undocumented immigrants in Democratically-run cities, but the latest deployment offers additional resources to red states likely to cooperate. The military generally cannot perform law enforcement functions on American soil, but the service members will help process undocumented immigrants at detention centers, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement. What they're saying: "This support provides critical resources to support ICE's mission, freeing up law enforcement personnel to focus on law enforcement tasks and missions," Parnell said. "The Department remains committed to securing 100% operational control of the border." Zoom in: The military personnel will come from all components and operate in a Title 10 duty status, meaning their duty is federally controlled and federally funded. Their mobilization was authorized last week.
The Independent
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Fort Bragg soldiers behind Trump during speech were screened for loyalty and appearance, report says: ‘No fat soldiers'
Soldiers appearing near President Donald Trump at a Tuesday speech at Fort Bragg were reportedly screened for their partisan politics and physical appearance. Ahead of Trump's visit to the North Carolina base, service members were asked to alert superiors if they had political differences with Trump so they could be removed, reports, citing internal 82nd Airborne Division communications. "If soldiers have political views that are in opposition to the current administration and they don't want to be in the audience then they need to speak with their leadership and get swapped out," one note to troops obtained by the outlet said. Another allegedly focused on the troops' physical appearance, bluntly commanding, 'No fat soldiers.' "This has been a bad week for the Army for anyone who cares about us being a neutral institution," a commander at Fort Bragg told the outlet. "This was shameful. I don't expect anything to come out of it, but I hope maybe we can learn from it long term." The Independent has contacted the 82nd Airborne Division for comment. During Trump's visit, a vendor was also reportedly allowed to sell campaign-style Make America Great Again merchandise to troops, and the crowd of soldiers booed and cheered at Trump's partisan speech, all of which broke with the military's tradition and regulations around remaining non-political. "Believe me, no one needs to be encouraged to boo the media," Sean Parnell, a top Pentagon spokesperson, said in response to the reporting. "Look no further than this query, which is nothing more than a disgraceful attempt to ruin the lives of young soldiers." The Tuesday speech in question saw Trump lash out at Democratic opponents like California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, baselessly accusing them of paying L.A. protesters and backing 'troublemakers, agitators and insurrectionists.' The president also defended his decision to send federalized California National Guard troops into the Los Angeles crisis over the objections of state and local leaders. 'Generations of Army heroes did not shed their blood on distant shores only to watch our country be destroyed by invasion and third-world lawlessness here at home, like is happening in California,' Trump said. 'As Commander in Chief, I will not let that happen. It's never going to happen.' Some criticized the event, arguing Trump was breaking longstanding political norms around respecting the military's independence. 'No president in modern history has done more to put the military in the middle of political and cultural crossfire than Donald Trump,' one columnist wrote in The New York Times. The criticisms come as Trump has pushed the boundaries of military norms in response to the Los Angeles protests by federalizing state National Guard troops and sending Marines to join in with the local police response to the civil unrest, coming perilously close to using the military for domestic law enforcement. The president has also vowed to use force on those who protest a Saturday parade in Washington for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army's founding that coincides with Trump's birthday. Other presidents have been accused of using appearances alongside the military for political points, including Joe Biden, who was criticized for a 2022 anti-Trump speech at Independence Hall in Philadelphia that featured Marines in dress uniforms in the background.
