Category: Asia

MIL-OSI New Zealand: ‘A peaceful, prosperous, democratic Pacific’

Source: New Zealand Government

Good Evening

Let us begin by acknowledging Professor David Capie and the PIPSA team for convening this important conference over the next few days. Whenever the Pacific Islands region comes together, we have a precious opportunity to share perspectives and learn from each other. That is especially true in our region, where distances between us are large.

We acknowledge, too, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Parliamentary colleagues, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

New Zealand’s place in the world
New Zealand, as a country, has a myriad of influences. We have enduringly strong connections – for reasons of history, migration and foreign policy alignment – to our traditional partners of Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

First and foremost, among these is Australia, New Zealand’s one formal ally, and our closest and most likeminded partner. We cooperate extremely closely with Australia, in the Pacific and around the world.

We are increasingly integrated socially, economically and strategically into Asia, with large and increasing Asian communities here in New Zealand and ever closer diplomatic relationships in South, South East, and North East Asia.

At the same time, the starting point for understanding how New Zealand views the Pacific is the following, very simple statement: New Zealand is a Pacific Island country, linked by geography, history, culture, politics, demography and indeed DNA.

Fully 1.3 million New Zealanders, or about one-in-four of us are in full or part Polynesian, Melanesian or Micronesian, with either Māori heritage or relatives or ancestors from other Pacific islands.

Auckland is home to more Polynesians than any other city. Around the same number of Samoans and Tongans live in New Zealand as do in Samoa and Tonga. Vastly more Cook Islanders, Niueans and Tokelauans live in New Zealand than back in their homelands.

The original discovery and settlement of the Pacific Islands, including New Zealand, is one of the most remarkable stories of exploration in human history. The late New Zealand historian Michael King compared it to space exploration as both were voyages into the unknown.

But Pacific navigation is arguably even more remarkable because the canoes that set out from the Asian landmass knew not where they would land, nor when, nor indeed if they would find any new territory.

But find land they did, as they forged new identities and societies on atolls and islands that today stand as a testament to their imagination, endurance and the resilience to overcome formidable challenges of distance, geography, demography, and resource scarcity.

Last year, we had the enormous privilege of visiting almost all of those island nations spread across our vast Blue Continent. So, this evening we’d like to share some reflections about the Pacific, within the context of New Zealand’s Foreign Policy Reset.

We note, too, your conference theme, which raises the question of whether the Pacific Islands are a zone of peace or ocean of discontent. In 1520, the great Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan named this massive body of water the Pacific, due to its calmness – Pacific meaning peaceful. Ironically, it didn’t end that way for him, or some of his crew, so your conference theme holds both historical justification and appeal.

An active, engaged Pacific policy
When we again took on the role of New Zealand Foreign Minister in November 2023, we were determined to put the Pacific at the forefront of an energetic, engaged and active New Zealand foreign policy once more. This lay behind our decision to undertake the most ambitious, intensive year of Pacific diplomacy in New Zealand history.

Never before has a New Zealand political leader tried to spend time in all 18 member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum in a single year. But try we did: meeting the many diverse peoples scattered across this vast, beautiful blue continent.

As often as we were able, we took Parliamentary colleagues from across the spectrum of New Zealand’s political parties to reinforce that our friendship is bipartisan, enduring and long-term.

The purpose of all these discussions was to take the pulse of the region. As a democratic country operating in a democratic region, New Zealand is driven in our Pacific policy by three foundational questions focused on our region’s people:

Is what New Zealand is doing in the region reflective of what the people of the Pacific Islands want and need?
Are we effectively supporting the prosperity and security of Pacific Island peoples?; and
Are we undertaking and explaining this work in a way which maintains New Zealanders’ support for our objectives in the region?

When describing our observations of last year’s travel, an obvious starting point is the unimaginable vastness of our region. It is a massive ocean, covering over 30 percent of the Earth’s surface.

While in the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau, we learned of the logistical difficulties they faced in getting to last year’s Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga. We decided on the spot to offer the use of one of our 757 aircraft to take Micronesian leaders to and from Nuku’alofa. We have also announced, over the past year, significant investment in digital connectivity in the Pacific, alongside such partners as the Australia, Taiwan, United States and Japan.

Connecting all members of the Pacific family is vital given the huge, isolating physical distances between us. But because we believe that all Pacific voices are important and that talanoa – coming together for dialogue – must be regular and meaningful, we were happy to facilitate their coming together in Nuku’alofa.

Why? Because Pacific regionalism sits at the core of our Pacific approach, with the Pacific Islands Forum at its centre. We are a region with challenging issues that can polarise us, such as deep seabed mining and how best to manage strategic competition. The Forum plays a critical role in helping us to form a cohesive approach, resolve differences, bolster regional development and security, and use our collective voice to hold bigger countries to account.

The Blue Continent’s challenges
We have also reflected on how the Blue Pacific Continent and its peoples face a multitude of challenges. Our region is faced with the sharpest strategic competition it has confronted since World War 2 ended almost eighty years ago. As we face external pushes into our region to coerce, cajole and constrain, we must stand together as a region – always remembering that we are strongest when we act collectively to confront security and strategic challenges.

Climate change is a great threat facing the Pacific and we are at the global forefront of disaster risk exposure. Our ambition is that all Pacific peoples remain resilient to the impacts of climate change and other disasters and that New Zealand can support building resilience in practical ways.

Fisheries are vital to the economies, livelihoods, food security, and social and cultural wellbeing of many Pacific Island countries and is a crucial source of government revenue. But they face several complex interrelated and transboundary issues, such as illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and the management of migratory fish species.

After years of volatility, the long-term growth trajectory risks settling well below pre-COVID averages for Pacific Island countries. Increasing investment, building fiscal and climate resilience, and improving the access to finance and greater regional connectivity will be key to improving long-run growth prospects in the Pacific.

Answering to the people
One truism that runs through our three stints as Foreign Minister is this: there are no votes in it. Struggling New Zealand taxpayers and their families find it difficult to understand why their government is handing out multi-million-dollar aid grants overseas.

Foreign policy practitioners and academics may focus intently on our obligations to New Zealand’s development partners and the way we conduct our relations with them. But the bottom line is that we are accountable first and foremost to the New Zealand taxpayer.
During our three tenures as Foreign Minister, we have demonstrated a staunch commitment to a well-resourced New Zealand development programme with a predominant focus on the Pacific.

Few New Zealand Governments have gone to the wire to significantly lift the size of our international development programme as a proportion of New Zealand’s Gross National Income. One was Norman Kirk’s Government in the 1970s. Two others were during my two previous terms as Foreign Minister.

In short, we have been determined to use all of our influence and all of our negotiating power to get the best possible New Zealand development programme for the Pacific.

And while times are very tough here at home right now, we will continue to advocate with our Cabinet colleagues and the New Zealand people for the importance of an active Pacific policy and a properly-resourced international agenda – whether in defence, foreign policy, or development. That’s what is right for New Zealand and it’s what is in the best interests of the Pacific.

We will never apologise for directly connecting New Zealand’s security and prosperity to the security and prosperity of the region and world around us.
The Coalition Government’s Foreign Policy Reset established a new strategic direction for New Zealand, including for our international development programme, with an emphasis on sustaining our deep focus on the Pacific.

As part of ensuring our accountability to the New Zealand taxpayer, last year the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade undertook a review of our development programme to gauge alignment with government priorities and assess its overall impact and efficiency. A report on the review’s findings is being released today.

The review found that while our development is generally aligned with Government priorities, some reshaping and streamlining is required. In short, we will achieve more impact by doing fewer, bigger, projects better. This work is already under way.

Our predominant focus remains on the Pacific, where we will be working with partners including the United States, Australia, Japan and in Europe to more intensively leverage greater support for the region. We will maintain the high tempo of political engagement across the Pacific to ensure alignment between our programme and New Zealand and partner priorities. And we will work more strategically with Pacific Governments to strengthen their systems, so they can better deliver the services their people need.

Greater development funding is being devoted to South East Asia to meet our ambition for closer relations overall with this important region. We have also increased humanitarian funding in response to the scale of need regionally and globally. And we have reduced multilateral funding, to focus on those partners who make the most concrete impact.

We see this work of reshaping our development programme as part of meeting our obligation to the New Zealand taxpayers whose continuing support underpins its social licence.

Friendship, challenges and dialogue
Over the decades, our Pacific-oriented foreign policy has been defined as much by our actions as our words. We are there in times of need, whether in response to natural disasters, helping with budget support during fiscal emergencies, spurring economic development, or helping to resolve conflicts.

Our 2018 Pacific Reset emphasised that exhibiting friendship in all our engagements was the cornerstone of our Pacific foreign policy orientation. What does friendship in that context mean?

It means we are honest, empathetic, trustful and respectful through frequent engagement. And it means having frank and open conversations with our Pacific counterparts.

Over the past year, we have consistently stressed that we see all states as equal, whatever their size. We are guided by the mutual respect and trust that has grown over time between New Zealand and other Pacific Island countries. A second theme that has run through all our public engagements is just how important diplomacy is in our troubled world.

New Zealand has faced two isolated challenges in the past twelve months in our relations with the Pacific. In these two very different cases, our accountability to our taxpayers and our fidelity to promoting the interests of Pacific peoples throughout the region require that we explain openly what has taken place.

Of the 18 Pacific Islands Forum member countries, the only one we did not spend time in during the past year was Kiribati. That was not for a lack of trying.

For more than a year we respected Kiribati’s preference to avoid outside engagement. But with over $100 million of development assistance committed to Kiribati over the past three years, we had to review the status of existing projects and understand Kiribati’s ongoing development needs. After all, we all have to negotiate with our Ministers of Finance.

This requirement was urgent given our own budget cycle and the need to make decisions about how future development spending is allocated in Micronesian countries and across the region for the next three years.

So, we were pleased when a visit to Kiribati was finally scheduled for January 2025. We began organising our cross-party Parliamentary group to visit Tarawa. Then, with about a week to go, we were told President Maamau, who is also my counterpart as Kiribati’s Foreign Affairs Minister, would no longer meet with our delegation.
We made public our regret and concern, as well as our consequent decision to review our development programme to Kiribati. We are accountable to the worker in Kaitaia, the builder in Gore, and the farmer in the Waikato for the spending of taxpayer money, and we felt it important to express our concerns openly and transparently.

At the same time, we have a long-standing relationship with the Kiribati people, which has overcome previous challenges. We will weather this one too.

We have made clear that we are still working towards meaningful dialogue with Kiribati’s President and Foreign Minister, whether in Kiribati, New Zealand or elsewhere in the region. We are taking positive steps towards that goal in coming weeks.

The second isolated challenge we have faced has been developments in our relationship with the Cook Islands Government. Unlike the people of Samoa, the people of the Cook Islands have never opted for their country to be fully independent from New Zealand – though they are of course always free to choose to do so.

Rather, they have opted since 1965 to be in free association with New Zealand. This means that New Zealand is bound constitutionally to the Cook Islands by sharing the King of New Zealand as a head of state, a common, single citizenship and passport, as well as by shared values and interests.

Over the past 60 years, New Zealand has taken very seriously its obligations and commitments to the Cook Islands people. Every year we deliver for the Cook Islands people in areas as broad as health and education, economic development, defence and security, good governance, resources and environment, and culture and heritage.

The Cook Islands, in exercising self-government, is supported by New Zealand funding and provision of expertise. As long as the Cook Islands remain tied to New Zealand constitutionally, we have an expectation that the Government of the Cook Islands will not seek benefits only available to fully independent states – such as separate passports and citizenship, or membership of the United Nations or the Commonwealth – or pursue policies that are significantly at variance with New Zealand’s interests.

We also have an expectation that New Zealand will be fully and meaningfully consulted on all major international actions that the Cook Islands contemplates that affect our interests.

These are not unreasonable expectations. And they are not new. For example, our Prime Ministers, Norman Kirk in 1973, David Lange in 1986 and Helen Clark in 2001 all expressed these expectations formally.

To use but one example: in 2001, Helen Clark stated that Cook Islanders retained New Zealand citizenship “on the basis that there will continue to be a mutually acceptable standard of values in Cook Islands’ laws and policies”. She again repeated our longstanding position that if full independence from New Zealand was what the Cook Islands people wanted, then they were free to opt for it at any time.

These have been well-established and previously settled understandings between us, although there have been periodic attempts by Cook Islands Prime Ministers to test the boundaries of this constitutional pact.

But our free association relationship in its current form has endured because the overwhelming majority of Cook Islands people have wanted to maintain their New Zealand citizenship and passport and the rights it affords them to the same opportunities and privileges as all other New Zealanders, including in health and education. The wishes of the Cook Islands people are paramount here.

Our explicit advice to Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and his officials since he first raised the issue with us in July 2024 was that if he proceeded with trying to implement a separate Cook Islands citizenship and passport system then the people of the Cook Islands would risk losing their New Zealand citizenship and passport – an outcome we know is opposed by the vast majority of Cook Islanders.

There is also the matter of the Cook Islands Government’s decision to enter into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) and a number of other agreements with China last week without any meaningful consultation with New Zealand or its own people over either the architecture or details of those deals.

New Zealand and the Cook Islands people remain, as of this evening, in the dark over all but one the agreements signed by China and the Cooks last week.

Given this lack of consultation, the New Zealand Government, once it has seen the text of all of the agreements that were signed, will need to undertake its own careful analysis of how they impact our vital national interests. Only then will we be able to fully gauge the deals’ impact on the relationship between New Zealand and the Cook Islands.

While the connection between the people of the Cook Islands and New Zealand remains resolutely strong, we currently face challenges in the government-to-government relationship.

But this state of affairs – disagreements and debates between the leaders of New Zealand and the Cook Islands – has been a periodic feature of our 60 years of free association. We have always found a way through, guided by the wisdom and wishes of the Cook Islands people.

As then US President Franklin Roosevelt said in 1945, “We shall strive for perfection. We shall not achieve it immediately – but we still shall strive. We may make mistakes – but they must never be mistakes which result from faintness of heart or abandonment of moral principle”.

During 2025, as we celebrate 60 years of free association, we are going to need to reset the government-to-government relationship. We will also need to find a way, as we did in 1973 and 2001, to formally re-state the mutual responsibilities and obligations that we have for one another and the overall parameters and constraints of the free association model.

Resetting and formally re-stating the parameters of the relationship is not a small task. But it is one which we are confident we can meet – powered by the history of goodwill and common bonds between New Zealand and the Cook Islands people.

Another issue on which the region has devoted significant attention over the past year has been New Caledonia – which is, geographically, New Zealand’s closest neighbour. Uncertainty and discord there is obviously something that prompts concern and discussion right around our region.

From the moment of the unrest onwards, New Zealand has been very clear that everyone – no matter their view on New Caledonia’s political status – should agree that violence is not the answer.

The focus must be on dialogue – and finding a new pathway forward on the important issues facing New Caledonia. We had the benefit – working closely with authorities in Paris and Nouméa – to have had a productive visit to New Caledonia in December.

We went there to listen and to learn, and to engage with a very wide range of New Caledonians of all backgrounds. Hearing New Caledonians voice their hopes and dreams for economic development led us to the view that there may be lessons from New Zealand’s own experiences that might be of value.

We hope lessons from New Zealand’s own economic development as a multi-ethnic Pacific Island country can be shared with New Caledonians, who might be able to adapt them to their unique context.

Conclusions
When we reflect on the past year, it is impossible not to be optimistic about this region’s future. As we travelled to places as diverse as Suva, Pohnpei, Alofi, Port Vila, Nauru and Apia, we were struck also by a profound commonality.

Pacific Islanders scattered around our vast, beautiful region all want a brighter, more prosperous and more secure future for their children and for future generations.

As a founding member of the Pacific Islands Forum, and as a Pacific and Polynesian country itself, New Zealand has always been at the forefront of efforts to bring about that future.

Over the past year, we have done our very best to deliver, through words and actions, on New Zealand’s commitment to contribute to a brighter future for all Pacific peoples. This very important work – involving discussion, debate and, yes, sometimes disagreement – will continue.

The Pacific Islands region is a profoundly democratic one. People from every village, town or city in every Pacific Island country have a direct say in how their affairs are run. Just this year, people in six Pacific Islands Forum countries – Australia, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Tonga and Vanuatu – are heading to the polls to cast ballots which will help determine the future direction of their countries.

And so it is Pacific peoples’ hopes and aspirations which must drive political leaders and policy makers. Our policies must be responsive and accountable to the perspectives of those we represent.

And no matter the future we face, or the challenges we encounter, we will always be members of the same Pacific family. We inhabit the most vast and breathtaking ocean continent in the world. And as family, we will always find a way forward, together, towards the secure and prosperous future that our people deserve.

Thank you. Kia kaha. Go well.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with Australia’s Senior Official for ASEAN, East Asia Summit, and ASEAN Regional Forum

Source: ASEAN

Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this morning met with Deputy Secretary for South and Southeast Asia Group and Australia’s ASEAN, EAS and ARF Senior Official, Michelle Chan, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Both sides recalled their fruitful discussions in Canberra, Australia, last year and exchanged views on various aspects of ASEAN-Australia relations as well as sought ways to further strengthen cooperation under the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, giving support to ASEAN’s priorities in 2025.

The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with Australia’s Senior Official for ASEAN, East Asia Summit, and ASEAN Regional Forum appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

MIL OSI Economics –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN engages with ASEAN Studies Centre ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute

Source: ASEAN

Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today welcomed a delegation from the ASEAN Studies Centre (ASC) of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, headed by its Director, Mr Choi Shing Kwok, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Both sides discussed ASEAN’s progress and future directions, especially under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship. The meeting was followed by a roundtable discussion with the researchers and academic representatives from the ASC, alongside senior ASEAN Secretariat staff. The discussion centred on the challenges and opportunities facing ASEAN’s three Community pillars. The roundtable served as a valuable platform for exchanging views and ideas on ASEAN’s strategic direction, fostering resilience, and enhancing regional cooperation. The ASEAN Studies Centre of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute is an ASEAN Prize Recipient of 2020.

The post Secretary-General of ASEAN engages with ASEAN Studies Centre ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

MIL OSI Economics –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Visit to G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in South Africa

Source: Australian Government – Minister of Foreign Affairs

This week, I will attend the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa.

As a middle power and trading nation, cooperation with other countries ensures our nation’s success and keeps Australians safe.

The G20 is an opportunity for Australia to engage with some of the world’s largest economies on shared challenges, delivering strong and sustainable growth, and advancing peace and security.

I look forward to discussing our progress in the fight against global inflation and to continue the Albanese Government’s work to ease cost of living pressures.

The Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will mark the first ministerial meeting for South Africa’s host year.

The Australian Government supports South Africa’s G20 Presidency and its focus on building partnerships.

While in Johannesburg, I will also undertake other ministerial meetings with G20 members, including MIKTA ministers from Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea and Türkiye.

Media note: Imagery will be available via this folder on the DFAT Multimedia Library.

MIL OSI News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Real Estate – Ark for sale in New Zealand – NZSIR

Source: New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty (NZSIR)

Noah’s Ark is now up for sale in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The distinctive property – believed to be the only ark for sale in the world – is expected to attract international interest.

Listed by leading real estate agency New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty (NZSIR), the (approximate) 860 sq m Ark is nestled upon Clifton Hill in Sumner and features three levels with amenities such as a grand ballroom, two expansive commercial kitchens, several entertaining spaces, and a large basement.

NZSIR sales associate Rod Cross says the Ark – located at Lot 4, 4 Loader Lane – is one of the most intriguing and unconventional properties in NZ.

“The dwelling was built in the early 2000s as a function centre and has been utilised for multiple purposes, from a church and wedding venue to tearooms and a private residence,” Cross says. “The building itself is incredible with its grand, nautical design and exquisite craftsmanship.”

The Ark was a central feature of the renowned Gethsemane Gardens, which has more recently been developed into the high-end subdivision, Gethsemane Heights. The building’s three separate levels each present a blank canvas that can be structured into spaces to suit any lifestyle.

“The beauty of this building is that it’s an opportunity for a visionary, and a chance for the next owner to realise a dream,” Cross adds. “It certainly has ample space and versatility for many options to be considered.”

Vaulted ceilings, exposed timber beams, and picture windows invite natural light while showcasing views of the Southern Alps and Pegasus Bay.

The Ark was part of the Gethsemane Gardens sale in 2016 and, since being subdivided, this is the property’s first time to the market in its own right.

“We’re sailing into new territory with this exceptional property, and expect worldwide interest,” says Cross. “It presents a chance to create something extraordinary.”

The Ark will be sold via auction on Friday, March 28 at 4pm.
  
About New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty                    
New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty (NZSIR) is a specialist agency that focuses on the sale of premium property through quality marketing and global networking. Founded in 2005 by Mark Harris and Julian Brown, the NZ branch of the global company has 27 offices nationwide – Northland, Auckland Ponsonby, Auckland North Shore, Auckland Remuera, Auckland Eastern Bays, Auckland South East, Waiheke Island, Hamilton, Cambridge, Rotorua, Taupō, Napier, Ahuriri, Havelock North, Palmerston North, Masterton, Greytown, Kapiti, Wellington, Hutt Valley, Nelson, Marlborough, Christchurch, Wānaka, Arrowtown and its head office in Queenstown. It also has an Australian office in Melbourne, Victoria.  

NZSIR is part of Sotheby’s International Realty – the world’s leading luxury real estate company – with a global network of approximately 1,110 offices and more than 26,000 affiliated independent sales associates throughout 84 countries and territories. It is through this unparalleled luxury network that NZSIR is able to access and market properties on an international level. In 2022/2023 NZSIR was named Best International Real Estate Agency Asia Pacific (5-20 offices) at the International Property Awards.                  
www.nzsothebysrealty.com    

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Annual Washington, Thai exchange expands disaster response topics

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

“This is the fourth year of this subject matter expert exchange, which continues to foster team building and knowledge sharing between the Washington National Guard and the Royal Thai Army,” said Col. Amanda Doyle, the exchange lead.

The exchange aimed to enhance knowledge sharing and capability development between the two organizations. This iteration focused on equipment demonstrations, organizational structures, communication strategies, fire line tactics, CBRNE response, and emergency medical operations. The lessons learned will help the Royal Thai Army participants refine tactical-level wildland firefighting operations, emergency medicine triage and assessment, and CBRNE response while shaping future training initiatives.

“After each instructional module, facilitators provided participants with opportunities for open discussion, fostering a deeper understanding of disaster response concepts and best practices,” Doyle explained. “ The dialogue between facilitators and participants was reinforced through hands-on exercises designed to demonstrate and elaborate on disaster response techniques and strategies.”

This engagement built upon the success of previous exchange events, validating the receipt of critical safety information and updates to emergency response protocols. Another objective was to enhance collaboration and interoperability between disaster response teams, bridging gaps and strengthening partnerships to ensure effective humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.

The long-running exchange successfully met its objectives while also offering U.S. personnel valuable insight into Thailand’s wildfire environment, response procedures, and the Royal Thai Army’s role in wildland firefighting, medical operations, and CBRNE response. Thai personnel gained insight into the Washington National Guard’s mission, tactical wildfire response strategies, hand crew organization and training, and its collaborative relationship with the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

“The success of this exchange sets the stage for future engagements in other regions of Thailand, enhancing the capacity for joint disaster response operations and fostering a stronger partnership,” Doyle said. “The robust discussions of best practices, shared by both, provided increased awareness and understanding of techniques and processes used in Thailand and Washington state.”

This was the fourth exchange of this type, and discussions have already begun regarding future engagements, including expanding the scenarios and duration of the training.

MIL Security OSI –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Space Force leaders visit Japan to strengthen partnership

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

While in Japan, Lt. Gen. David N. Miller Jr., SpOC commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Caleb Lloyd, SpOC command senior enlisted leader, met with members of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force’s Space Operations Group, which was activated in 2022, at Fuchu Air Base. During this engagement, Miller spoke to the continuously growing strength of the partnership between the two organizations.

“I believe what you see from the United States is a recognition that throughout our history, we don’t go it alone when deterring conflict. We have found willing and abiding partnerships as fundamental to our ability to deter and ultimately, if necessary, defeat threats and deal with any crises that evolves,” Miller said. “The U.S. and Japan have been allies for decades and are going to continue to build on this strong partnership. I believe our multilateral partnerships in and across the Indo-Pacific region, and globally, have a stabilizing effect to counterbalance threat activity.”

Miller and Lloyd also met with representatives from U.S. Space Forces Japan which was activated in December 2024 at Yokota Air Base. U.S. Space Forces Japan plans, integrates and executes Space Force and space security efforts in close coordination with Japanese counterparts. During their meeting, Lloyd commented on the importance of their mission.

“It’s paramount that this organization ensures seamless integration of space capabilities between the Japanese Self-Defense Force and U.S. Space Force,” he said. “I have no doubt you’ll achieve this by continuing to develop complimentary capabilities together and focusing on building realistic combined training exercises ensuring the highest levels of readiness needed to sustain a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

The U.S. Space Force and Japanese Space Operations Group both participated in exercise Keen Sword in November 2024. Keen Sword is an annually held bilateral exercise designed by Japan to increase readiness and interoperability. This edition of Keen Sword was the largest iteration of the exercise since its inception in 1986.

As Miller and Lloyd concluded their visit to Japan with a trip to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Miller discussed the joint statement released after U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru met in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 7. In this meeting, Trump and Shigeru discussed cooperation in the space domain.

“What I heard over the last few days in the commitment from the president and the prime minister is that this relationship is broad and enduring, and that the partnership in many areas is going to be deepened,” Miller said. “The way we demonstrate our resolve is a shared commitment in both the development of capability, the training and exercising of that capability, and also in the strengthening of the coordination and synchronization of our military forces, as well as our diplomatic, informational, and economic instruments of national power.”

Miller and Lloyd also visited South Korea while in the region, where they discussed trilateral partnership amongst Japan, the U.S., and RoK.

U.S. Space Operations Command is committed to protecting America and its allies in, from, and to space, now and into the future.

MIL Security OSI –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: Interview of President Trump and Elon Musk by Sean Hannity, “The Sean Hannity Show”

Source: The White House

class=”has-text-align-center”>Roosevelt Room

11:48 A.M. EST

     Q    Mr. President, great to see you again.

     THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Thank you.

     Q    How are you?

     THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

     Q    Elon Musk.

     MR. MUSK: Hi.

     Q    Great to see you.

     MR. MUSK: Thanks. Thanks for having me.

     Q    I’ve been reading a lot about you. I’ve got to start with this. So, he’s working for free with DOGE. He’s — he’s kind of put a lot of his life on hold, and you sued Twitter a number of years ago. You just made him pay you $10 million?

     THE PRESIDENT: That’s right. That’s right.

     Q    That’s — that’s right. (Laughs.)

     THE PRESIDENT: Well, I sued — I sued from long before he had it.

     MR. MUSK: Yeah. Yeah. (Inaudible.)

     THE PRESIDENT: And, I mean, they really did a number on me, you know. And I sued, and they had to pay. You know, they paid $10 million settlement.

     Q    You’re okay with that?

     MR. MUSK: I mean, I left it up to the lawyers and, you know, the team running Twitter. So, I said, “You guys do what you think is the right — makes sense.”

     Q    I think it’s funny.

     THE PRESIDENT: I think —

     Q    Because —

     THE PRESIDENT: — it’s a very low — I was looking to get much more money than that.

     Q    So, you gave him a discount w- — in the lawsuit?

     THE PRESIDENT: He got — oh, he got a big discount. I don’t think he even knows about it.

     Q    He’s become one of your — if you read and believe the media — he’s become one of your best friends. He’s working for free for you. He’s —

     MR. MUSK: Well, I love the president. I just want to be clear about that.

     Q    You don’t care about that?

     MR. MUSK: I — no, I love the pr- — I —

     Q    You love the president?

     MR. MUSK: I think — I think President Trump is a good man, and — and he’s, you know — I — I —

     THE PRESIDENT: That’s the way he said that. You know, there’s something nice about. (Laughter.)

     MR. MUSK: No, it is. I, you know —

     THE PRESIDENT: It is.

     MR. MUSK: Because, I mean, the president has been so — so unfairly attacked in the media. It’s truly outrageous. And I’ve sp- — at this point, spent a lot of time with the president, and not once have I seen him do something that was mean or cruel or — or wrong. Not once.

     Q    You know, I’ve known him for 30 years.

     MR. MUSK: Yeah.

     Q    And I’ve never seen anybody take as much as he’s taken.

     MR. MUSK: Yeah.

     Q    And we’ve discussed this. And I’m like, “How do you deal with it?”

     THE PRESIDENT: Did have a choice? (Laughs.) I didn’t have a choice.

     Q    Well, you would say that to me. I’m like, “What — what am I going to do? Worry about it?”

     THE PRESIDENT: That’s the only thing I can say.

     Q    And, you know — and then culminating in two assassination attempts, which resulted in your endorsement.

     MR. MUSK: Well, I was going to do it anyway, but that was —

     Q    That was it?

     MR. MUSK: — a precipitating event, yeah.

     THE PRESIDENT: That speeded it up a little bit?

     MR. MUSK: Yeah. Yeah.

     Q    The day of the assassination?

     THE PRESIDENT: Nice. I didn’t know that.

     MR. MUSK: Yeah, it just — it sped it up, but I was going to do it anyway.

     Q    Mr. President, with your indulgence, I’m convinced that people only know a little bit about Elon. I don’t think they know everything about Elon, because as I studied for and prepared for this interview, I learned a lot about you that I didn’t know. I think people will think about Tesla. Democrats are demonizing you and — and trying to make the country hate you.

     I just want people to understand you a little bit better, and the person that you’ve gotten to know and have now put a lot of trust in.

     THE PRESIDENT: Sure.

     Q    And, you know, just — let’s go over a little bit of your bio, starting —

     MR. MUSK: Ah, okay.

     Q    — with PayPal and how you became involved in Tesla and SpaceX and Neuralink —

     MR. MUSK: This — this could take a while.

     Q    — and all these —

     MR. MUSK: I mean, you know, I — I think the way you think of me is, like, I’m a technologist and I try to make technologies that improve the world and make life better.

     Q    You can show them your shirt.

     MR. MUSK: Yeah, and that’s why, like, my t-shirt says “tech support” — (laughter) — because I’m here to provide the president with — with technology support.

     And now, that — that may seem, like, well, is that a silly thing? But actually, it’s a very important thing, because the president will make these executive orders, which are very sensible and good for the country, but then they don’t get implemented, you know?

     So, if you take the — for example, all the funding for the migrant hotels, the president issued an executive order: Hey, we need to stop taking taxpayer money and — and paying for luxury hotels for illegal immigrants —

     Q    It’s crazy.

     MR. MUSK: — which makes no sense. Like, obviously, people do not want their tax dollars going to — to fund high-end hotels for — for illegals. And yet, they were still doing that, even as late as last week.

     And so, you know, we went in there, and we were like, “This is in violation of the presidential executive order. It needs to stop.”

     So — so, what we’re — what we’re doing here is — is — one of the biggest functions of the DOGE team is just making sure that the presidential executive orders are actually carried out. And this is — I just want to point out, this is a very important thing, because the president is the elected representative of the people, so he’s representing the will of the people. And if the bureaucracy is fighting the will of the people and preventing the pres- — the president from implementing what the people want, then what we live in is a bureaucracy and not a democracy.

     Q    Yeah. You — you’re both aware — you have to be keenly aware that the media and — and the punditry class — not that — you know, I think you’ve proven they have no power anymore, because they threw everything they had at you, and they didn’t win. And that was, you know, the New York Times, Washington Post, three networks, every late-night comedy show, two cable channels — they — they just threw — they threw everything — lawfare, weaponization.

     THE PRESIDENT: It’s true.

     Q    And now I see they want you two to start — they want a divorce. They want you two to start hating each other. And they try — “Oh, President Elon Musk,” for example. You do know that they’re doing that to you?

     THE PRESIDENT: Oh, I see it all the time. They tried it, then they stopped. That wasn’t — they have many different things of hatred.

     Actually, Elon called me. He said, “You know they’re trying to drive us apart.” I said, “Absolutely.”

     You know, they said, “We have breaking news: Donald Trump has ceded control of the presidency to Elon Musk. President Musk will be attending a Cabinet meeting tonight at 8 o’clock.” (Laughter.) And I say — it’s just so obvious. They’re so bad at it.

     I used to think they were good at it. They’re actually bad at it, because if they were good at it, I’d never be president because I — I think nobody in history has ever gotten more bad publicity than me.

     I could do the greatest things; I get 98 percent bad publicity. I could do — outside of you and a few of your very good friends. It’s, like, the craziest thing.

     But you know what I have learned, Elon? The people are smart. They get it.

     MR. MUSK. Yeah. They do, actually. Yeah.

     THE PRESIDENT: They get it. They really see what’s happening.

     MR. MUSK: Yes.

     Q    And at the end of this interview, I — what I would like is, I — I want people to know the relationship and know more about you.

     What is the relationship, Mr. President?

     THE PRESIDENT: Well, I respect him. I’ve always respected him. I never knew that he was right on certain things, and I’m usually pretty good at this stuff. He did Starlink. He did things that were so advanced and nobody knew what the hell they were.

     I can tell you, in North Carolina, they had no communication. They were wiped out. Those people were — you know, they had rivers in between — land that never saw water, all of a sudden, there was a river and a vicious — like, rapids. People were dying all over. They had no communication.

     They said, “Do you know Elon Musk?”   And they didn’t really know I knew him. I said, “Yeah.” They said, “Could you get Starlink?” It’s, like, the first time I ever heard of it. I said, “What’s Starlink?” “A communication system that’s unbelievable.”

     Q    I have it.

     THE PRESIDENT: And he — yeah. And he said — I called him, and I said, “Listen, they really need it.” And he got, like, thousands of units of this communication, and it saved a lot of lives. He got it immediately. And you can’t get it. I mean, you have to wait a long time to get it. But he got it to him immediately.

     And I said, “That’s pretty amazing.” And I didn’t even know he had it.

     We watch the rocket ships, and we watch Tesla.

     I think, you know, something that had an effect on me was when I saw the rocket ship come back and get grabbed like you grab a beautiful little baby. You grab your baby. It just —

     MR. MUSK: Just hug the rocket.

     THE PRESIDENT: I’d never seen —

     MR. MUSK: Everyone — right. Everyone needs (inaudible) —

     Q    You hug the rocket. You hug the rocket.

     MR. MUSK: — (inaudible) rockets.

     THE PRESIDENT: Yeah. No, but — and he said, “You know, you can’t really have a rocket program if you’re going to dump a billion dollars into the ocean every time you fly. You have to save it.” And he saved it. First time —

     Q    That’s ever been done.

     THE PRESIDENT: — I’ve ever seen that done. Now nobody else can do it.

     If you look at the U.S., Russia, or China, they can’t do it, and they won’t be able to do it for a long time. He has the technology. So, you learn — I wanted somebody really smart to work with me, in terms of the country — a very important aspect. Because, I mean, he doesn’t talk about it. He’s actually a very good businessman. And when he talks about the executive orders — and this is probably true for all presidents: You write an executive order and you think it’s done, you send it out; it doesn’t get done. It doesn’t get implemented. They don’t implement it.

     They — maybe they’re from the last administration — and they are, in some cases. You try and get them out as fast as you can. But I could — as soon as he said that, I said, “You know, that’s interesting.” You write a beautiful executive — and you sign it and you assume it’s going to be done, but it’s not. What he does is he takes it, and with his hundred geniuses — he’s got some very brilliant young people working for him that dress much worse than him, actually —

     MR. MUSK: Yeah, the do.

     THE PRESIDENT: — they dress in just t-shirts. (Laughter.) You wouldn’t know they have 180 IQ.

     Q    Wait. Wait. So, what — he’s — he’s your tech support?

     MR. MUSK: I —

     THE PRESIDENT: No, no. He is —

     MR. MUSK: I actually virtually am tech support.

     THE PRESIDENT: He’s much more than that.

     MR. MUSK: I actually am tech support, though. But that’s —

     THE PRESIDENT: But he gets it done. He’s a leader. He really is a — he gets it done. You get a lot of tech people, and you have people, they’re good with tech, but they — he gets it done.

     You know, I said, in real estate, you had guys that would draw beautiful renderings of a building, and they’d draw the rendering, it would be great, and you’d say, “Great. When are you starting?” But they were never able to get it built. They couldn’t get the finances. They couldn’t get the approvals. It would never get done. And then you have other guys that are able to get it done. You know, they could just get it done.

     I was in real estate. Same thing in this. He gets it done.

     So, when he said that — he said, “You know, when you sign these executive orders, a lot of them don’t get done, and maybe the most important ones,” and he would take that executive order that I’d signed, and he would have those people go to whatever agency it was — “When are you doing it? Get it done. Get it done.” And some guy that maybe didn’t want to do it, all of a sudden, he’s signing — he just doesn’t want to bothered.

     Q    Does — do a lot of those executive orders have to be codified into law to — do you need the Republican Congress to follow up?

     THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, and they will. A lot of them will be. Yeah.

     Q    They will?

     THE PRESIDENT: Look, in the meantime, we have four years. The beauty is, we have four years. That’s why I like doing it right at the beginning. Because an executive order is great. I mean, the one problem — it’s both good and bad, because when they did all these executive orders, I’ve canceled most of them. They were terrible. I mean, we were going to go radical left, communist, okay? It was crazy. Their —

     MR. MUSK: Really crazy.

     THE PRESIDENT: — executive orders were so bad, if they ever got them codified, you’d never be able to break them. So, the damage that Biden has done to this country — and it’s not even Biden; it’s the people that circled him in the Oval Office, okay? — but the damage they did to this country, in terms of, let’s say, open borders — you know, there’s so many things, but open borders, where millions of people poured into our country, and hundreds of thousands of those people are criminals. They’re murderers. They’re drug dealers. They’re gang members. They’re people from prisons from all over the world.

     And we have a great guy, Tom Homan, and he is doing so incredibly. You saw the numbers. They’re down like 96 percent.

     Q    Ninety-five percent.

     THE PRESIDENT: He is a phenomenal guy. And Kristi Noem is doing an unbelievable job. And he wanted her. He said, “She’s so tough.” And I said, “I don’t think of her as that way. You know, she’s very nice.” He said, “No, she’s so tough.” And she is. I see her with the horses. She’s riding the horse. Let’s — (laughter) — she’s great.

     But the team we have is — is really unbelievable.

     But those executive orders, I sign them, and now they get passed on to him and his group and other people, and they’re all getting done. We’re getting them done.

     Q    Let me go back a little bit to your background, because —

     MR. MUSK: Sure.

     Q    — it’s beyond impressive. You were the chief engineer, for example — you were an early believer in Tesla. You became the CEO and — and then the chief engineer, which was phenomenal. SpaceX, same thing, which is unbelievable.

     I mean, you were the first company — private company to send astronauts successfully into — into space, first private company to send astronauts into orbit.

     MR. MUSK: Yeah.

     Q    That’s — that’s pretty deep.

     THE PRESIDENT: He’s going to go into orbit soon.

     Q    Okay.

     MR. MUSK: (Laughs.) Yeah.

     THE PRESIDENT: No, he’s going to go to Mars. He’s going to fly on his —

     Q    Starlink.

     MR. MUSK: At some point, yeah.

     Q    As in (inaudible) —

     MR. MUSK: But they say — they always ask me, like, “Do you want to die on Mars?” And I say, “Well, yes, but not on impact.” (Laughter.)

     Q    Star- — Starlink is in 100 countries.

     This is going to be hard. I feel like I’m interviewing two brothers here.

     MR. MUSK: You go ahead.

     Q    Starshield, which could be used for national defense.

     MR. MUSK: Yeah, it is already being used for national defense.

     Q    Then you have a — what is it called? Optimus, a part of Tesla.

     MR. MUSK: They’re a robot, yeah.

     Q    A robotic arm. Then you have an AI arm. And then you have something that really fascinated me, and it’s called Neuralink.

     MR. MUSK: Yes.

     Q    You might help the blind to see and people with spinal cord injuries that they — that they can recover, where in the past — how close is that to becoming a success?

     MR. MUSK: At Neuralink we’re — we’ve ha- — we’ve implanted Neuralink in three patients so far, who are quadriplegics, and it allows them to directly control their phone and computer just using their mind, just by thinking. It’s like — so, we call this product Telepathy, so you control your computer and phone just by thinking, and it’s possible to actually control the computer and phone faster than someone who has working hands.

     Then the next step would be to add a second Neuralink implant past the point where these — the neurons are damaged, so that somebody can walk again and so the pe- — they can have full-body functionality restored. And —

     THE PRESIDENT: And you like Bobby, right?

     MR. MUSK: I like Bobby, actually. Yeah. I — I supported Bobby Kennedy. I think he — you know, he’s unfairly maligned as someone who is anti-science. But I think he — he isn’t. He just wants to question the science, which is the essence of the science — the scientific method, fundamentally, is about always questioning the science.

     Q    Well, they didn’t tell us the truth about COVID.

     MR. MUSK: Correct.

     Q    That’s for sure.

     MR. MUSK: Yes.

     Q    And we learned a lot with the Twitter files. And that just, then, raises a question. You’re the richest man in the world. You may not like that part.

     THE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

     Q    You’re pretty competitive.

     MR. MUSK: I mean, it’s neither here nor there.

     Q    I’ve known you a long time.

     MR. MUSK: I don’t think it matters.

     Q    But —

     THE PRESIDENT: That’s why I became president.

     Q    — he’s on your team.

     THE PRESIDENT: (Inaudible) —

     Q    Well, that’s true. He can’t top that.

     THE PRESIDENT: He’s good. You know, I wanted to find somebody smarter than him. I searched all over. I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t. I couldn’t.

     Q    You really tried hard.

     THE PRESIDENT: I couldn’t find anyone smarter, right? So, we had to — we had to, for the country.

     Q    But this is the thing —

     THE PRESIDENT: So, we settled on — we settled on this guy.

     MR. MUSK: Well, thanks for having me.

     THE PRESIDENT: (Laughs.) Yeah.

     Q    So —

     MR. MUSK: I’m just trying to be useful here.

     Q    But this is the interesting — but this is where we are as a so- — a society. And I — I hate to do this to you, but I’m going to do it anyway. You’re doing all of these things. At DOGE, nobody at DOGE gets paid a penny, correct?

     MR. MUSK: Well, actually, some people are federal employees, so they do.

     Q    Oh, okay.

     MR. MUSK: Yeah. They’re (inaudible). But it’s fair to say that the software engineers at DOGE could be earning millions of dollars a year and instead of earning a small fraction of that as federal employees.

     Q    Okay. So, just —

     THE PRESIDENT: And they’re very committed people.

     MR. MUSK: Yes.

     Q    So — you’re — you’re committed to helping the blind see, people with spinal cord injuries recover.

     MR. MUSK: Yes.

     Q    You’re committed to getting to Mars. You’re committed to rescue — you’re going to help rescue, next month, two astronauts that I think were abandoned. They — they dispute that in an interview.

     THE PRESIDENT: When are you — when are you getting them?

     MR. MUSK: At the — at the president’s request, we — or instruction, we are accelerating the return of the astronauts, which was postponed, kind of, to a ridiculous degree.

     THE PRESIDENT: They got left in space.

     Q    They’ve been there. They were supposed to be there eight days. They’re there almost 300.

     THE PRESIDENT: Biden.

     MR. MUSK: They were put —

     Q    Yeah.

     MR. MUSK: Yes, they were left up there for political reasons, which is not good.

     Q    Okay, it’s not good. Now, if I had the weight and pressure of doing that successfully on my shoulders, I think I’d be, you know — but you — when we spoke before we did this interview, you were very confident. You think this will be a successful mission.

     MR. MUSK: Well, we don’t want to be complacent, but we have brought astronauts back from the space station many times before, and always with success. So, as long as we’re not complacent —

     THE PRESIDENT: When are they — when are you going to launch?

     MR. MUSK: I think it’s about — about four weeks to

bring them back.

     Q    About four weeks?

     MR. MUSK: Yeah.

     THE PRESIDENT: And you have the go-ahead.

     MR. MUSK: We’re being extremely cautious.

     Q    Yeah.

     THE PRESIDENT: You now have the go-ahead.

     MR. MUSK: Yes. Well, thanks to you —

     THE PRESIDENT: They didn’t have the go-ahead with Biden.

     Q    What’s that?

     THE PRESIDENT: He was going to leave him in space. I think he was going to leave them in space.

     Q    Well, it’s like the (inaudible) —

     THE PRESIDENT: He considered it a —

     Q    — growing up, lost in space.

     THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, he didn’t want the publicity. Can you believe it?

     Q    Unbelievable. And so —

     MR. MUSK: Yeah.

     Q    — I want to echo something that the president said and then ask an overarching question. So, people in — get hit with Hurricane Helene, they have no communication with the outside world. You come to the rescue. You donated that, I believe?

     MR. MUSK: Yes. Yes.

     Q    You donated to the people of —

     THE PRESIDENT: He saved a lot of lives. In North Carolina, he saved a lot of lives.

     Q    And California, after the wildfires?

     THE PRESIDENT: California. But, I mean, in North Carolina, where they were really in trouble, they had no communication, people were dying.

     Q    Nothing.

     THE PRESIDENT: They were dying of starvation. He saved a lot of lives in North Carolina.

     Q    Okay. Now you’re going to rescue astronauts. And now — again, you do — you do all of this — I would think liberals would love the fact that you have the biggest electric vehicle company in the world.

     MR. MUSK: Yeah. I mean, I used to be adored by the left, you know.

     Q    Not anymore.

     MR. MUSK: Le- — less so these days.

     Q    He killed that, huh?

     MR. MUSK: I mean, less —

     THE PRESIDENT: I really (inaudible) —

     MR. MUSK: Well, I mean, this — this whole sort of, like, you know — it was — they call it, like, “Trump derangement syndrome.” And I didn’t — you know, you don’t realize how real this is until, like, it’s — you can’t reason with people.

     So, like, I was at a friend’s birthday party in L.A., just a birthday dinner, and it was, like, a nice, quiet dinner, and everything was — everyone was behaving normally. And then I happened to mention — this was before the election, like a month or two before — I happened to mention the president’s name, and it was like they got shot with a dart in the jugular that contained, like, the methamphetamine and rabies. Okay? (Laughter.)

     And they’re like, “Whyy?” And I’m, like, “What is wrong — like, guys, like” — you just can’t have, like, a normal conversation. And it’s like — it’s like they become completely irrational.

     Q    He — he has no idea, if you’re friends with him —

     MR. MUSK: Yeah.

     Q    — you pay a price. You know, it’s like, I walk into a restaurant in New York, and it’s like half the room gets daggers and they want to —

     MR. MUSK: The eye-daggers — eye-daggers level is insane. (Laughter.)

     I mean, there was, like — I had, like, some — some invitation because — so, I got invited to, like, so- — basically, a big, sort of, damn — damn event like that was — but I’d received the invitation, like, the beginning of last year and then — and I still attended, even after I’d endorsed President Trump, and I didn’t realize how profoundly that would affect, you know, how I was received. (Laughter.)

     I mean, I walk into the room and I’m getting just the dirty looks from — from everyone. Like, if looks could kill, I would have been dead several times over.

     Q    But that was not — (laughter) — before Trump

     MR. MUSK: (Inaudible) —

     Q    Before Trump: “BC” —

     MR. MUSK: — ashes on the floor. (Laughs.)

     Q    — or “BT.” Before Trump, that never happened. Right?

     MR. MUSK: No.

     Q    No. So —

     MR. MUSK: I — I just — doesn’t seem strange? Like, what — what is up with this total, like, madness?

     Q    You’re smarter than me. Can you — I actually think that there’s a level of irrationality. It’s almost like a trigger and —

     MR. MUSK: It totally triggers.

     Q    And it’s like — look, I — I’ve been on TV — this is my 29th year. I’ve been on radio 35 years. I will — I’ve gone hard in the paint to — for candidates that lost.

     MR. MUSK: Yeah.

     Q    And guess what? I get over it.

     MR. MUSK. Sure. Yeah, yeah.

     Q    And I just keep doing my show, and I just — you know, I come back to fight another day.

     So, here’s the big — then this is the million dollar or billion dollar — I’m among billionaires — question. So, you have all this going on and you stop, in a way — you’re still doing it — and you partner with him. And this is what you get for it from the Democrats. You get “nobody voted for Elon.” Well, nobody voted for any of your Cabinet nominees. Okay? “People are dying because of DOGE cuts.” I’ll give you a chance to respond to all that. “What DOGE is doing is illegal.” “Elon Musk is” — more street vernacular for a male body part. “It’s a constitutional crisis.”

     MR. MUSK: How c- — why — why are they reacting like this?

     Q    Well, first of all, do you give a flying rip? Number one. And —

     MR. MUSK: Well, I guess we must be — if we’re the target, we’re doing something right. You know, if — like, they wouldn’t be complaining so much if they — we weren’t doing something useful, I think.

     What — all we’re really trying to do here is restore the will of the people through the president. And — and what we’re finding is there’s an unelected bureaucracy. Speaking of unelected, there’s a — there’s a vast federal bureaucracy that is implacably opposed to the — the president and the Cabinet.

     And you look at, say, D.C. voting. It’s 92 percent Kamala. Okay, so we’re in 92 percent Kamala. That’s a lot.

     Q    Yeah. They don’t like me here either.

     MR. MUSK: I think about that number a lot. I’m like, 92 percent. That’s, basically, almost everyone. And so — but if — but how can you — if — if the will of the president is not implemented, and the president is representative of the people, that means the will of the people is not being implemented, and that means we don’t live in a democracy, we live in a bureaucracy.

     And so, I think what we’re seeing here is the — sort of, the thrashing of the bureaucracy as we try to restore democracy and the will of the people.

     Q    You —

     MR. MUSK: Is this making sense? I mean — sorry.

     Q    Y- — no, of course it does. I mean, to me, if you look at our framers and our founders — and you’ve really become a student of history, Mr. President, and we’ve ta- — we’ve had conversations both on air and off air — and if we talk about constitutional order or transformational change, nobody can argue that what’s happening here is going at the speed of light.

     But however, what were the principles of our framers and our founders? They wanted limited government, greater freedom for the people — and we’ll get to the specific cutting of waste, fraud, and abuse. That — that is your goal, is it not?

     THE PRESIDENT: Yeah. And my goal was to get great people. And when you look at what this man has done, I mean, it was something — I knew him a little bit through the White House. Originally, I’d see him around a little bit. I didn’t know him before that, and I respected what he did. And he fought hard. You know, he was a — he was maybe questioned for a while. He was having some difficulties. It was not easy doing what he did.

     I mean, how many people have started a car company and made it really successful and made a better car where it’s, you know, beating these big companies that that’s all they do is cars? I mean, it’s really amazing the things that he’s done.

     But I didn’t know it as much then as now. I mean, the fruits have sort of taken hold.

     But I wanted great people, and he’s a great person. He’s an amazing person. He’s also a caring person. You know, he uses the word “care.”

     So, they sign a contract in a government agency, and it has three months. And the guy leaves that signed the contract, and nobody else is there, and they pay the contract for 10 years.

     So, the guy is getting checks for years and years and years, and he’s telling his family, obviously — maybe it was crooked, maybe he paid to get the contract, or maybe he paid that they didn’t terminate him. But, you know, we have contracts that go forever, and they’ve been going for years, and they’re supposed to end in three months or five months or two years or something, and they go forever. So, the guy is either crooked — you know, where he knew this was going to happen — or he’s crooked because he’s getting payments that he knows he shouldn’t be getting.

     MR. MUSK: Yeah.

     THE PRESIDENT: But they’re finding things like that. They’re finding things far worse than that. And they’re finding billions — and it will be hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of fraud. I say waste and abuse, but fraud, waste, and abuse. And he’s doing an amazing job.

     And he attracts a young, very smart type of person. I call them high-IQ individuals, and they are. They’re very high Q and — high IQ. And when they go in to see the people and talk to these people — you know, the people think they’re going to pull it over. They don’t. These guys are smart, and they love the country. You know, there’s a certain something.

     But he uses the word “care.” So, people have to care. Like, when I bought Air Force One —

     MR. MUSK: Exactly.

     THE PRESIDENT: — I negotiated the price. It was $5.7 billion, and I got it — I got them down $1.7 billion. Now they’re not building the plane fast enough. I mean, they’re actually in default — Boeing. They’re supposed to —

     Q    When is it —

     THE PRESIDENT: They’ve been building this thing forever. I don’t know —

     Q    This is the new Air Force One?

     THE PRESIDENT: — what’s going on.

     MR. MUSK: Yeah.

     THE PRESIDENT: We don’t build the way we used to build. You know, we used to build like a ship a day, and now to build a ship is, like, a big deal, and we’re going to get this country back on track. We could do it, but so many things — it takes so long to get things built and get things done.

     And a lot of it could be something we’ve been discussing. The regulators go in and they make it impossible to build. They make it very difficult to build anything, whether it’s a ship, a plane, or a building or anything. And some of them do it because they want to show how important they are. Some of them do it maybe because they think they’re right. They use the environment to stop progress and to stop things. It’s always the environment. “It’s an environmental problem.” It’s not an environmental problem at all. But they do a lot of things.

     And, by the way, speaking of that, Lee Zeldin is going to be fantastic in the position. So important. He could take 10 years to approve or disapprove something, or he could do it in a month. You know, just as good.

     Q    Sure.

     THE PRESIDENT: And I think you’re going to see some fantastic — a fantastic job done by him. He’s a tremendous guy.

     Q    Newt — you echoed something when I had just met you, and it was very similar to what Newt has been saying, that we’re — he brought this country to the dance. This is the opportunity to be transformational, and to have, I would argue, a — the most consequential presidency if we — if we’d really dig down and do something that had never been done before, and that is get rid of this bureaucracy. And I’m going —

     MR. MUSK: Yes.

     Q    — to get to specifics. You say the same thing. It’s not done yet.

     MR. MUSK: Absolutely.

     Q    And what did you mean by that?

     MR. MUSK: Well, I mean the — w- — winning the election is really the opportunity to fix the system. It is not fixing the system itself. So, it’s an opportunity to fix the system and to restore the power of democracy.

     And, you know, people — like, it’s funny how — how often it — you — when these attacks occur, the thing that they’re accusing the administration of is what they are guilty of. They’re saying that things are — are being done are unconstitutional, but what they are doing is unconstitutional. They are guilty of the crime of which they accuse us.

     THE PRESIDENT: That’s always the first thing they do.

     MR. MUSK: Yeah.

     THE PRESIDENT: “He’s in violation of the Constitution.” They don’t even know what they’re talking — well, they know.

     MR. MUSK: It’s absurd.

     THE PRESIDENT: It’s just a con job. It’s a big con job. And they’re so bad for the country, so dangerous and so bad.

     And the media is so bad. When I watch MSNBC, which I don’t watch much, but you have to watch the enemy on occasion, the level of arrogance and — and cheating and — they’re just horrible people. These are horrible people.

     Q    They lie.

     THE PRESIDENT: These are horrible people.

     Q    They tell conspiracy theories.

     THE PRESIDENT: They lie, and they start up with the Constitution. They couldn’t care less about the Constitution.

     CNN, likewise. I mean, I watched them asking questions with, you know, the hatred with the — why — I said, “What are you asking the question with such anger? You’re asking me a normal question.” But you see the bias. The bias is so incredible. Those two are bad.

     PBS is bad. AP is bad. CBS is terrible.

     I mean, CBS now — they changed an answer in Kamala. They asked her some questions. She answered them like, you know, a low-IQ person. The opposite of him — the absolute opposite. But she gave a horrible answer. They took the entire answer out, and they put another answer that she gave 20 minutes later into the — in- — as the answer.

     Q    It was part of her word salad.

     THE PRESIDENT: I’ve never even heard of that be- — I thought I heard of it all.

     MR. MUSK: Right.

     Q    That wh- — “60 Minutes” once — one — wanted to do an interview with me, and I said, “Live to tape.”

     MR. MUSK: Yeah, exactly.

     Q    They said, “No.” And I said, “No” —

     MR. MUSK: Right.

     Q    — “No deal.”

     MR. MUSK: Exactly. They can- —

     Q    Like, this interview will —

     THE PRESIDENT: I’ve never even heard — you know, I’ve seen where they take a sentence off or something and they’ll do — but they —

     Q    Sometimes you cut for time o- —

     THE PRESIDENT: No, no. They took the entire — this long, terrible statement that she made and put another.

     Nobody’s ever seen what’s happening. And, you know, the people that do all this complaining, they’re very dishonest people.

     MR. MUSK: Yeah.

     Q    Yeah. I — I’m going to, just for the sake of saving time —

     THE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

     Q    — because I could spend — and I’ve done this on radio and TV, I — I can spend an hour finding the outrageous amounts of money being spent abroad, like USAID.

     MR. MUSK: Sure.

     Q    And I do want to mention a couple, but I’m going to —

     MR. MUSK: Yeah.

     Q    — scroll it and —

     MR. MUSK: Well — well, I guess, at a high level, I think it’s what the president mentioned earlier, which is that in order to save taxpayer money, it comes down to two things: competence and caring. And —

     THE PRESIDENT: That’s right.

     MR. MUSK: — and when — when president was shown the outrageous bill for the new Air Force One and — and then negotiated it down, if he had — if the president had not applied competence and caring, the price would have been 50 percent higher — literally, 50 percent higher. The president cared. The president was competent. The price was not 50 percent higher as the result.

     And so, when you add more competence and caring, you get a better deal for the American people.

     THE PRESIDENT: But we could take — we were talking about this yesterday. I could take — give me thousands of bills — any — I could pick any one of them, and I could —

     MR. MUSK: Yes, exactly.

     THE PRESIDENT: — take all thousand. And let’s say it’s a bill for $5,000 — just $5,000, and it’s done by some bureaucrat. And if he would say, “I’ll give you three. I don’t want to pay you five. It’s too high. I’ll give you three.” But they don’t do that. If a guy sends in a bill for $5,000, they pay $5,000. They expect to be cut. Everybody expects to be cut. When you send in a bill, you expect to be cut. They send in the bill higher, for the most part. This is true with lawyers, legal fees. When they send in legal fees, you — I can cut — I wish I had the time, I would save so — but I could cut these bills in half — much better than half.

     But you offer people a much lower number because you know they — they actually put fat — I’m not even saying it’s — it’s like a way of business. They put more on because they expect to be negotiated. When you send in a bill to the government, there’s nobody to negotiate.

     MR. MUSK: Yes.

     THE PRESIDENT: You send it a bill for $10,000, and they send you a check back for $10,000. If you would call them and said, “We’ll give you five.” “No, no, no. I need more than five.” “We’ll give you a five.” “I’m not going to pay any more than five.” “Make it six.” “No, I’m not going to make it six.” And you’ll settle for $5,500. You’ve just cut the bill almost in half, and it took, like, two minutes. When did that stop? But —

     Q    (Inaudible) the art of the deal?

     THE PRESIDENT: — that’s caring. No, it’s not even the art of the deal. It’s caring. He uses the word —

     MR. MUSK: It’s — it’s competence and caring.

     THE PRESIDENT: — it’s caring.

     Q    Yeah.

     THE PRESIDENT: It’s — it’s a certain competence, but I think it’s more caring.

     MR. MUSK: I — if you —

     THE PRESIDENT: (Inaudible.)

     MR. MUSK: Actually, if you add either ingredient — either competence or caring — you’ll — you’ll get a better outcome. But it stands to reason —

     Q    Right. People don’t want to do this (inaudible.)

     MR. MUSK: — that’s the reason that if you don’t have competency and you don’t have caring, you’re going to get a terrible deal. And the problem is that the American taxpayer has been — been getting a terrible deal, because — look at the last administration. Can you — can anyone — can any reasonable person say that last administration was either competent or caring?

     Q    But they lied to us and said that Joe didn’t have a cognitive decline.

     MR. MUSK: They fully lied.

     Q    They said the borders were closed. They said that the borders were secure. They said that —

     MR. MUSK: Right.

     Q    You know, they said Obamacare would save —

     MR. MUSK: They flat out lied.

     Q    They flat out lied —

     MR. MUSK: It was insane.

     Q    — on many occasions.

     MR. MUSK: Yes.

     Q    I tell my audience all the time: Don’t trust government.

     MR. MUSK: Yes.

     Q    So, the — I want — as I scroll this information, and it’s — it’s — I’ll scroll a lot more than I’ll mention to both of you, and this is the cost savings. I want you — I want people at home to understand this part: The average American makes $66,000 a year.

     MR. MUSK: Yeah.

     Q    Okay? We have $37 trillion in national debt.

     MR. MUSK: Yes.

     Q    Now, all the money I’m about to mention and what we’re going to scroll on our screen — and all of this is going to foreign countries. It is not being spent here in America —

     MR. MUSK: Yes.

     Q    — for better schools, law and order.

     MR. MUSK: I — I think the average taxpaying American should be mad as hell because their tax money is being poorly spent.

     Q    I’m mad. It’s stealing from —

     MR. MUSK: It’s a — it’s an outrage —

     Q    — our kids and grandkids.

     MR. MUSK: Yes, and the — and people —

     THE PRESIDENT: And a lot of fraud, Sean. A lot of fraud.

     Q    Yes.

     THE PRESIDENT: And a lot of kickbacks.

     They’re sending money out. They’re not that stupid. These people aren’t that stupid. They’re sending for transgender — something having to do with the opera, and they’re sending out $7 million —

     MR. MUSK: (Laughs.) Literally.

     THE PRESIDENT: — $7 million. (Inaudible) —

     Q    You just stole my next line. I can’t believe that.

     THE PRESIDENT: No, it’s incredible.

     Q    I was going to mention that.

     THE PRESIDENT: No, but it’s incredible: $7 million.

     Now, you know they — they’re not so stupid. They’re sending all this money. They expect to get a lot of it back. And that’s what happens.

     Q    Okay. So, let’s go through it.

     MR. MUSK: Yes, they’re — a bunch of —

     Q    So, for the average person at home —

     MR. MUSK: — this stuff is round-tripping. To the president’s point, they’ll — they’ll make it sound like it’s going to help some people in a foreign country, but then they — then they get kickbacks.

     Q    All right. Let me go to the ne- — to the fir- —

     MR. MUSK: Yeah.

     Q    — to the second question first. I want to know, because people like Joni Ernst, and — and House —

     MR. MUSK: Yeah, Joni — Joni Ernst has been —

     Q    They tried to get —

     MR. MUSK: — has tried for a long time, and she’s actually got a lot of good data. Senator Ernst has been really helpful, actually.

     Q    Okay, but they — they actually hide what the real purpose of the spending is.

     MR. MUSK: That’s true.

     Q    In other words, they — and — and h- — this is a question: How did you decipher? It will say, “Humanitarian blah, blah, blah in Serbia or Afghanistan.” We’ve been giving money to China for crying out loud, which I think is nuts.

     MR. MUSK: Well, we’re giving money to the Taliban.

     Q    Money to the Taliban?

     MR. MUSK: Like a lot.

     Q    All right. So —

     MR. MUSK: (Laughs.) I’m like, for what?

     Q    But they —

     MR. MUSK: I — I want to see pictures of what they did.

     Q    But they try to obscure it, and — and — but then you got to the bottom line, which is what I’m now scrolling on the screen —

     MR. MUSK: Yes.

     Q    — and that is: $20 million on a Sesame Street show in Iraq; $56 million to boost tourism in Tunisia and Egypt; $40 million to build schools in Jordan; $11 million to tell the Vietnamese to stop burning trash; $45 million for DEI scholarships in Burma; $520 million for consultant-driven ESG investments in Africa; DEI programs in Serbia; the president’s favorite — I’m sure you — you love that taxpayer money was spent on a DEI musical in Ireland or a chan- — transgender opera in Colombia or a —

     MR. MUSK: If I could, like, it sounds like —

     Q    — transgender comic book in Peru.

     MR. MUSK: It sounds like — it sounds like how can these things be real? But this is actually what was done.

     Q    Okay. The — I —

     MR. MUSK: It — it sounds like a comedy sketch or something. It’s like —

     Q    I have 20 pages of this.

     MR. MUSK: Right. It’s not — the list is a mile long.

     THE PRESIDENT: The one thing you didn’t mention, the media. The media is getting millions of dollars.

    MR. MUSK: Yes.

     THE PRESIDENT: Now, they say Politico, which is a radical left —

     Q    Subscriptions.

     THE PRESIDENT: — you know, garbage magazine or — or program. I guess they have magazine and they have some — some media of all types. $8 million.

     I hear the New York Times got a lot. I hear they get subscriptions — where they have subscriptions but maybe the paper is not sent. I have no idea if that’s true or not, but it’s — they call it subscriptions. Lots of subscri- — to different media, not just the Times — maybe the Times, and maybe not the Times.

     Q    A million dollars in subscriptions is a lot.

     THE PRESIDENT: Well — but — but millions of dollars going to media that’s radical-left, crooked, dishonest media.

     MR. MUSK: Well — well, Reuters — this is actually really wild: Reuters got like — something like $10 million for something that was literally titled “mass disinformation campaign.”

     Q    Well —

     MR. MUSK: That was on the purchase order. Well, I — I

thought that was a little bold. (Laughs.)

     Q    I will tell you what was bold is when you released —

     MR. MUSK: I’m like —

     Q    — the Twitter files.

     MR. MUSK: — shouldn’t you at least try to call it something else? (Laughs.)

     Q    The Twitter files — how they targeted him; how Twitter, at the time, worked closely with the FBI, the CIA; and, even before the release of Hunter’s very real laptop, they were feeding them disinformation. That —

     MR. MUSK: Absolutely.

     Q    — you found all that out.

     MR. MUSK: Well, I think —

     Q    That’s called transparency, right?

     THE PRESIDENT: The FBI has to be rehabbed. The FBI —

     MR. MUSK:   Yeah.

     THE PRESIDENT: What’s happened with the FBI and the DOJ is just — their — their stock has gone way down. I mean, their reputation is shot.

     Q    And intelligence.

     THE PRESIDENT: And I think Pam is going to do great. I think Kash is going to do great. I think they have to do great or we have a problem.

     But when you look at what they did, the raid of Mar-a-Lago — the raid of Mar-a-Lago — you look at what they did, their reputation is shot.

     Q    It is.

     What — you were going to say, Elon?

     MR. MUSK: Well, no, I was going to say that I think probably a — like, a lot of people still —

     Q    How — how did you find (inaudible)?

     MR. MUSK: — still believe, like, the Russia hoax, even though you’ve done a lot to combat that. The — you know, the — the Steele dossier was an incre- — a massive scam that was concocted by Hillary Clinton and her — her campaign.

     Q    She bought and paid it — for it —

     MR. MUSK: Right.

     Q    — Russian disinformation.

     MR. MUSK: There was — it was — the — people still think the — the Russia hoax is real. Like a lot of people s- — because they never — they never heard the counterpoint. I mean — I mean, a bunch of people should be in prison for that. That was a — that was outrageous election interference, creating a fake Russia hoax.

     Q    How much — if you had to put a number on it, how much do you think you’ve identified waste, fraud, abuse, corruption at this point? And again, we’ve been — we’re going to be scrolling this throughout the program.

     MR. MUSK: Well, the — the overall goal is to try to get a trillion dollars out of the deficit. And if we — if we — if the deficit is not brought under control, America will go bankrupt. This is a very important thing for people to understand. A country is no different from an individual, in that if an individual overspends, an individual can go bankrupt, and so can a country.

     And — and the out- — the massive waste, fraud, and abuse that has been going on, which is leading to a $2-trillion-a-year deficit, that — that’s what the president was handed on Jan. 20th, a $2 trillion deficit. It’s insane.

     Q    For this fiscal year?

     THE PRESIDENT: Two trill- — yeah. We inherited it.

     MR. MUSK: Two —

     THE PRESIDENT: Yeah. And inflation is back. I’m only here for two and a half weeks.

     Q    That was January —

     THE PRESIDENT: Inflating is back —

     Q    — you were there for a week.

     THE PRESIDENT: No, think of it, inflation is back. And they said, “Oh, Trump infla-” — I had nothing to do with it. These people have — have run the country. They spent money like nobody has ever spent. They were — they were given $9 trillion to throw out the window — $9 trillion, and they spent it on the Green New Scam, I call it. It’s the greatest scam in the history of the country. One of them. We have a lot of them, I guess. But one of them.

     Q    Well —

     THE PRESIDENT: Dollar-wise, probably —

     Q    — and DEI —

     THE PRESIDENT: — it is.

     Q    — and wokeism —

     THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, yeah.

     Q    — and transgenderism —

     THE PRESIDENT: Well, that’s all part of it. Yeah.

     Q    — and LGBTQ+.

     MR. MUSK: Yes.

     Q    And, by the way, not in America — other countries, not here.

     THE PRESIDENT: You know, the amazing thing is when you see, like, the teaching of DEI: $9 million. How do you spend $9 million to teach no matter what it is?

     MR. MUSK: Right.

     THE PRESIDENT: You could teach physics.

     MR. MUSK: Exactly. Totally.

     THE PRESIDENT: You could go to MIT for a lot less.

     MR. MUSK: It’s (inaudible) expensive. (Laughs.) Expensive.

     THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, the teaching —

     MR. MUSK: Expensive BS.

     THE PRESIDENT: — of DEI.

     Q    Well, I think it would be better spent on —

     THE PRESIDENT: No, it’s a kickback. It’s got to be a kickback. Nobody is that — nobody could do that. Nobody is —

     Q    Well, it —

     THE PRESIDENT: Nobody is giving — to assess the dialog of an audience coming out of a theater: $4 million.

     Q    How much do you believe, Elon, you’ve identified in — in waste, fraud, abuse, corruption now? And how much —

     MR. MUSK: Well —

     Q    — do you anticipate you will?

MR. MUSK: Sure. Well, the — I — I think —

THE PRESIDENT: One percent.

MR. MUSK: (Laughs.)

THE PRESIDENT: No, because it’s so massive. It’s — this is —

MR. MUSK: Yeah, exactly.

THE PRESIDENT: — huge money. Huge money. Look —

Q    So, what we’ve found now is one percent?

MR. MUSK: Well, we’ve j- — we’ve just gotten started here.

THE PRESIDENT: As good as they are, they’re not going to find some contract that was crooked — you know, crooked as hell. And, I mean, there’s going to be so much that isn’t found. But what is found — I think he’s going to find a trillion dollars.

MR. MUSK: Yeah, I think so.

THE PRESIDENT: But I think it’s a very small percentage compared to what it is. I mean, he could tell you about treasuries; he could tell you about a woman that worked for Biden that became a very wealthy woman while she was working for him. Right?

MR. MUSK: Yeah.

Q    Yeah, I know who you’re talking about.

MR. MUSK: I mean, there are some strange situations where people — where, you know, someone’s working for the government earning $200,000 a year, and then, suddenly, they’re worth tens of millions of dollars within a few years. Where’d the money come?

Q    How’d they earn it?

MR. MUSK: Yeah.

Q    They have a private company on the side?

MR. MUSK: We’re just curious. Like, can you —

THE PRESIDENT: While they were working.

MR. MUSK: Can you show us — because, like, in order to be worth tens of millions of dollars, you’d have to start a company, or you’ve got to get some kind — the compensation has got to come from somewhere. So, how does a civil servant with — earning $200,000 a year suddenly, within a span of a few years, be worth tens of millions dollars?

Q    W- —

MR. MUSK: So, I just want to connect the dots here.

Q    All right, s- —

MR. MUSK: Maybe there’s a legitimate explanation, but I don’t think so. (Laughter.)

Q    So, you know, and this gets to kind of the heart of where I am. I — I looked at your work, and I look at this amount of money, and I get angry. And I don’t get v- — I’m not an angry person.

MR. MUSK: Sure.

Q    I don’t get angry. I get a- — I get annoyed sometimes, but I don’t get angry.

And I did live paycheck to bay- — paycheck a part of my life. And I think of, you know, the working men and women in this country that the — 56 percent of which cannot afford a $1,000 emergency after four years of Harris and Biden.

MR. MUSK: Sure.

Q    Okay? That is serious, you know, financial trouble. Or they’re putting bare necessities on credit cards.

And I’m looking at this and I’m thinking, well, how much — when we — when all is said and done, we could have written a check or cut the taxes or fixed our schools —

MR. MUSK: Yes. Yes.

Q    — or deported these illegals that we keep finding, known terrorists, cartel members, gang members.

MR. MUSK: Yeah.

Q    And — and we’re not doing it.

THE PRESIDENT: Sean, the saddest thing is they don’t talk about the individual lines. I could go on your show right now, I could get a list that I have on the beautiful Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, and it’s got 40 points, and all they are is the heading of what this money is.

You don’t have to go deep into it, and you see it’s, you know, all different things and it’s so ridiculous.

I mean, normally, when you look for fraud, you’re looking for one thing out of a hundred. Here, out of a hundred, 95 are going to be bad. I mean, they’re — and they’re so obvious just by the heading.

But they never mention that. They only mention, “This is a violation of our Constitution. This is a” — the word they give, you know, it’s like a sound bite — “constitutional crisis.” It’s a new thing, “constitution-” — But they never mention about where the money is going.

MR. MUSK: Yes. Exactly.

THE PRESIDENT: And when people hear that — I had a very smart man, John Kennedy — he’s actually a very smart man. He said, “Sir, you should just go on television and just read the name of the topic that you’re giving all the money — just the topic that you’re giving this money to, and don’t say anything more,” and he’s right.

MR. MUSK: Yeah.

THE PRESIDENT: And I’ll do it at some point, you know, when —

But they never talk about where the money is going. They just talk about, “It’s a constitutional crisis.”

It’s so sad. And honestly, I think they’re bad people. I used to give them the benefit of the doubt, but you almost think they hate the country. I think they hate the country. They’re sick people.

Q    Remember, what they can’t — what they couldn’t accomplish at the ballot box, what they can’t accomplish legislatively, now they’re using the courts.

MR. MUSK: Yes.

Q    And they c- — they’re trying to bury you in lawsuits.

THE PRESIDENT: That’s right. You know the good news, though? They’ve lost their confidence. They’re not the same people.

Q    I think you’re right.

THE PRESIDENT: They’re — they’re not the same people.

This election was brutal for them. We won every swing state. We won by millions and millions of votes. We won everything. We — all 50 states went up — all 50. It’s never happened.

Q    Popular vote.

THE PRESIDENT: Every one. All 50 states went up.

They’ve lost their confidence. I see it. And they’re — they’re just swirling and twirling. They don’t know what the hell is happening. They’re much different. They’re just as mean, but they’re not getting to the point.

Q    Why do you invite them into the Oval Office nearly every day?

MR. MUSK: (Laughs.)

THE PRESIDENT: Well, the media — you’re talking about the media.

Q    Yeah, your friends in the media.

THE PRESIDENT: The media — no, they’re — you know, the anger that — they ask questions so angry — a question — a normal question. I give them an answer. They — but they — I say, “Why are you so angry when you ask a question?” Just a standard question. And, I don’t know, there’s something —

Q    They haven’t had a- — they haven’t been allowed in that office for the last four years, and here you’re giving them access.

Let me go to an area that I think is key, and — and you talked about this in recent interviews, and that is: We don’t need a Department of Education. Okay. And what some people are trying to do is stoke fears that, “Oh, my gosh, my kid is not going to get the money for education.”

THE PRESIDENT: (Laughs.) Yeah.

Q    Or “grandma’s Social Security and Medicare.” This was a big promise of yours on the campaign trail.

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah. Yeah.

Q    So, I really want to give you both an opportunity to assure the American people you will keep — that money will be allocated for students, but with higher standards. For example, I would assume associated with monies given or vouchers.

THE PRESIDENT: (Inaudible) so much and — and then Elon goes. But, look, Social Security won’t be touched —

Q    Won’t be touched.

THE PRESIDENT: — other than if there’s fraud or something — we’re going to find it; it’s going to be strengthened — but won’t be touched. Medicare, Medicaid, none of that stuff is going to be touched. It’s just —

Q    Nothing. I want you to —

THE PRESIDENT: (Inaudible) don’t have to.

Now, if there are illegal migrants in the system, we’re going to get them out of the system, and all of that fraud. But it’s not going to be touched.

School — I want to bring school back to the states, so that Iowa, Indiana — all these places — Idaho, New Hampshire — there’s so many places, the states. I figure 35 really run well.

And right now, it’s Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, China — China, can you imagine? — has top — top schools. We’re last.

So, they have a list of 40 countries. We’re number 40. Usually we’re 38, 39, but last time, we were number 40. And what I say is you’ve got to give it back.

So, it doesn’t work.

I’ll tell you what we’re number one in: cost per pupil. We spend more money than any other country by far — it’s not even close — per pupil. Okay? So, we know it doesn’t work.

So, we spend the most and we have the worst — right? — the worst result. When we give that — when we give that back to Indiana, when we give that b- — back to Iowa and back to a lot of the states that run well — they run well, a lot of them — 35, 37, 38 — now, you’re going to have 10 laggards, but you’re going to have 5 real laggards, but that’s going to be okay.

Take New York — you give it to Westchester County, you give it to Suffolk County, you give it to Upstate New York, and you give it to Manhattan — but you give it to four or five subsections. Same thing in California. Los Angeles is going to be a problem, but you’re going to give it to places that run well. We can change education

Now, school choice is important, but that will get care — taken care of automatically.

We want to bring education back to the states. You will spend half the number. And I’m not even doing this —

Q    So, you’re leaning more towards grants not vouchers, like to parents?

THE PRESIDENT: I’m not even — I’m not even doing this to save, but you will save. It will cost you much less money. You get a much better education.

If you go to some of these states, you’ll be the equivalent of Norway, Sweden, Denmark — places that really have a good school system. You’ll have — those places will be the equivalent, and your overall numbers will get so much better.

Q    Do you want standards associated with the money?

THE PRESIDENT: The only thing I want to do from — from Washington, D.C., is make sure they’re teaching English, reading, writing —

Q    Math and science.

THE PRESIDENT: — and arithmetic. Okay?

Q    Science? Science might help.

THE PRESIDENT: Okay. A little science. You know —

Q    Computers.

THE PRESIDENT: — you’re not going to have much of a problem with that, but that’s it.

Do you know, we have half the buildings — I mean, you look at Department of Education —

MR. MUSK: It’s empty.

THE PRESIDENT: Look at the real estate and the —

MR. MUSK: Yeah.

THE PRESIDENT: — the level. For what? To — to — I mean, for — what do they do?

We have really bad educa- — the teachers — I love teachers. I respect teachers. And, by the way, there’s no reason why teachers can’t form a union. They can do whatever they want to do, if it’s back in the states. So, we’re not looking to hurt the teacher — I’m — I’m going to help the teachers. I think the teachers should be incentivized, because a good teacher is like a good scientist, is like a great doctor.

MR. MUSK: Sure.

THE PRESIDENT: It’s a valuable commodity.

MR. MUSK: Yeah.

THE PRESIDENT: I think they should be incentivized.

MR. MUSK: Yes.

THE PRESIDENT: So, I’m totally for the teachers.

MR. MUSK: Absolutely.

Q    I interview a guy a lot on radio. He’s from Wichita, Kansas. And he started —

THE PRESIDENT: Right.

Q    — as a medical doctor. Started Atlas.MD, and he’s now — he’s rolled it out nationwide. Concierge care, $50 a month, 24-hour access to a doctor.

THE PRESIDENT: Right.

Q    You know, they use a lot of telemedicine now as part of it — very innovative. He negotiates directly with pharmaceutical companies. People — if they have high blood pressure, they walk out with their medicine. They have high cholesterol, they walk out with their medicine. And they pay pennies on the dollar.

You mentioned —

THE PRESIDENT: By the way, forms of that could be done.

Q    Forms of that?

THE PRESIDENT: Forms of that could be done.

Q    Innovation.

THE PRESIDENT: We got hurt when we didn’t get the vote on Obamacare. I made Obamacare — I had a choice: I could let it rot and win a point, or I could do the best you could do with it. And that’s what I did. We did a great job with it, and we made it sort of work, but it’s lousy. We could do so much better.

And when you say — you go to certain areas, they — they have doctors round the clock. They have great medical care for a fraction of what we’re paying right now.

There are things we could do.

But, look, just overall, this man has been so valuable. I hate to see the way they go after him. They go after him. It’s so unfair. He doesn’t need this. He wants to do this.

First of all, this is bigger than anything he’s ever done. He’s done great companies and all, but this is much — you know, this is trillion — everything’s trillions, right?

MR. MUSK: Yeah. The numbers are crazy.

Q    To go back to my original point —

THE PRESIDENT: He can save —

MR. MUSK: Yeah.

Q    But let me — give him his $10 million back.

MR. MUSK: Well — well — I — no. So, people ask me, like, “What’s — what’s the — what’s the — what’s, like, the — what’s your biggest surprise in — in D.C.?” And I’m like, “The sheer scale.”

Q    It’s massive. So, you love the challenge?

MR. MUSK: Well, I mean, to —

THE PRESIDENT: He’ll never do anything bigger.

MR. MUSK: To the president’s point —

THE PRESIDENT: That’s the only thing you can say, “He’ll

never do anything” —

     MR. MUSK: But, I mean, you do something slightly better, and you save billions of dollars for the American taxpayer — just slightly better. Slightly. (Laughs.)

     Q    When you say “tech support” —

     MR. MUSK: You go one percent better, and it’s, like, you know, tens of billions of dollars saved to the American taxpayer.

Now, if I may address the point that you — the question you asked earlier, which is, you know, how do we assure people that —

Q    They want to know.

MR. MUSK: Yeah, how do we assure people that we’re going to do the right thing, that their — that their Social Security benefits will be there, that their — the medical care will be good and s- — and — in fact, how do we make it — ensure that there’s better medical care in the future? How do we improve their benefits? How do we make sure that their Social Security check goes further than it did in the past and not — it doesn’t get weakened by inflation?

So, the — if we — if we address the — the massive deficit spending, the sort of — the — the waste in the government, then — then we can actually address inflation.

So, provided the economy grows faster than the money supply, which means you stop the government overspending and the waste, and the output of real useful goods and services exceeds the increase in the money supply, you have no inflation.

Q    Yeah.

MR. MUSK: And — and you also drop the — the interest payments that people pay, because if the government keeps —

Q    Way too high.

MR. MUSK: Yes. The — the reason the interest payments are so high is because the — the national debt keeps increasing. So, the — the government is competing for — to sell debt with — for — with — with the private citizens. This drives up the interest rate.

So, if you have a — if you have a — if you cut back on the deficit, you actually have an amazing situation for people, because you get r- — you get rid of inflation and you drop the interest rates. And that means people’s mortgage payments go down, their credit card payments go down, their car payments go down, their student loans go down. Everything — their — their life becomes more affordable and they’re standard of living improves.

Q    How quickly? Because I think people are suffering now. We’re still living under the Biden-Harris economy.

THE PRESIDENT: But, Sean, you have states right now —

Q    Yeah.

THE PRESIDENT: You have some states that operate that way. They operate as well as any corporation. They really operate well.

MR. MUSK: Yeah.

Q    Florida.

THE PRESIDENT: They have surpluses. They ha- — they don’t —

MR. MUSK: Texas is — has a surplus, for example.

Q    Yeah.

THE PRESIDENT: When they — when they look at New York and — and California and some of these places that should have an advantage — I mean, there’s a big advantage — or Pritzker does such a bad job in Illinois; it’s horrible how bad he is — and they don’t have that advantage.

You know, New York has stock exchange and a lot of things. And California has the weather and the beautiful water and all the thing- —

MR. MUSK: California has — has great weather. The most expensive weather on Earth.

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah. (Laughter.) But — but —

Q    I like Florida.

MR. MUSK: Yeah.

THE PRESIDENT: But some states operate the way he’s talking about.

Q    Efficiently.

THE PRESIDENT: When you go into some of these states, you’re going to find very little. You’re going to find almost nothing. They really operate well — big surpluses, low taxes. And —

Q    You know, my taxes went up the first time you were president, because you took away the SALT deduction —

THE PRESIDENT: I — well, I did.

Q    — which, by the way, I thought was the right decision.

THE PRESIDENT: It was the right decision — in fact, Reagan tried to do it — because it rewards badly run states.

But at the same time, it’s a tough — it was — it’s tough for the states. I mean, it really is tough for the states.

The sad part is it rewards really badly run states.

Q    Yeah.

THE PRESIDENT: And Reagan tried to do it. He was unable to do it. I got it done.

Q    You got it done, and —

THE PRESIDENT: And now we’re going to give some back.

     Q    A little bit.

THE PRESIDENT: Because you know what? We’ve got to help them.

Q    It’s only a little.

THE PRESIDENT: We’ve got to help.

Q    Because otherwi- — we’re encouraging people to elect high taxes, spen- —

THE PRESIDENT: Nobody had any idea it would be that devastating. I did the right thing. I got something that Reagan couldn’t do. I got it done, where everybody is — are the same. But you know what? We’ve got to help them out.

Q    Reagan had the Grace Commission, some of the best business minds in the country.

THE PRESIDENT: Right.

Q    And they came up with recommendations. Congress adopted none of them, and none of them were implemented.

I’ve got to ask this question, because the media is obsessed about it: What — what if there is a conflict? In other words, because you do business — it was funny, when it came out the other day, that there was going to be, I think, $400 million — billio- — I don’t know if it was millions or billions — a lot of money on Teslas that Joe Biden’s administration w- — did with Tesla, and —

MR. MUSK: I’m not familiar with that.

Q    You’re not even familiar with it? But —

MR. MUSK: I — I don’t think — are you talking about, like, the Inflation Reduction Act stuff or —

Q    It was some — it was a purchase order of Tesla vehicles.

MR. MUSK: Oh. Oh, that was — that was incorrect. There was s- — like, there’s some sort of — the media claim that there was, like, $400 million worth of Cybertrucks —

Q    That was it.

MR. MUSK: — being bought by the DOD.

Q    And that he gave it to you.

MR. MUSK: No — well, first of all, that was —

THE PRESIDENT: No, actually, it was —

MR. MUSK: Th- — it was fa- —

THE PRESIDENT: It was Biden.

Q    It was Biden.

THE PRESIDENT: And you know Biden wouldn’t give him much.

MR. MUSK: But — but it wasn’t even — it was fake news, six weeks to Sunday. Tesla is not getting $400 million for Cybertrucks. And the — and the — and this alleged —

Q    That’s what it was, Cybertrucks.

MR. MUSK: This — yeah. This alleged award occurred in December, before the president took office. So, it’s — it’s fake on multiple levels. There i- — Tesla isn’t getting $400 million. And even if it — even if it was, which it isn’t, it was awarded during the Biden administration.

Q    Okay, but you’re — you — you —

MR. MUSK: It’s total fake news.

Q    There — there is —

MR. MUSK: It’s fake on, like — it’s like multiple leverals —

Q    There is some integration —

MR. MUSK: — multiple layers of fake.

Q    So, you’re — you’re tasked now — and I pray to God this is successful. I really do. I wish you Godspeed.

MR. MUSK: Yeah.

Q    You know, “Godspeed, John Glenn.”

THE PRESIDENT: It’s — it’s going to be, by the way. I really believe it’s going to be.

Q    But — but there —

MR. MUSK: Oh, yeah.

Q    But there are legitimate areas —

THE PRESIDENT: Because the country is going to do well beside this.

This is cutting. We’re only talking about cutting.

We’re also going to make a lot of money. We’re g- — we’re taking in so much money.

Q    But what about his business? What if — if there is —

THE PRESIDENT: Then we won’t let him do it.

Q    — a contract he would otherwise get?

THE PRESIDENT: We’re not going to let him do it. He — if —

Q    You’re not going to let him do it?

THE PRESIDENT: If he’s got a conflict — I mean, look — he —

Q    Y- — now y- —

THE PRESIDENT: He’s in certain areas — I mean, I see this morning — I didn’t — I didn’t know, but I said, “Do the right thing” — where they’re cutting way back on the electric vehicle subsidies.

MR. MUSK: Yes.

THE PRESIDENT: They’re cutting back.

Q    You’re losing —

THE PRESIDENT: Not only cutting back —

Q    It hurts you.

MR. MUSK: Correct.

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

Now, I will tell you —

Q    You don’t care?

MR. MUSK: Well —

THE PRESIDENT: He’s probably not that happy with it, but that would have been one thing he would have come to me and said, “Listen, you got to do me a favor. This is crazy.” (Laughter.) But this was in the tax bill. They’re cutting back on the subsidies.

I didn’t — I wasn’t involved in it. I said, “Do what’s right, and you get” — and they’re coming up with the tax, but it’s just preliminary.

     But I mean, if he were involved, wouldn’t you think he’d probably do that? Now, maybe he does better if you cut back on the subsidies. Who knows. Because he figures — he does think differently. He thinks he has a better product, and as long as he has a level playing field, he doesn’t care what you do —

     MR. MUSK: Exactly.

     THE PRESIDENT: — which he’s very — he’s told me that.

MR. MUSK: Yeah. I mean, I haven’t asked the president for anything ever.

THE PRESIDENT: It’s true.

Q    And if it comes up, how — how will you handle it? (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT: He won’t be involved.

MR. MUSK: Yeah, I’ll — I’ll re- — I’ll recuse myself if it is a conflict.

THE PRESIDENT: If there’s a conflict, he won’t be involved.

MR. MUSK: Yeah.

THE PRESIDENT: I mean, I wouldn’t want that, and he won’t want it.

MR. MUSK: Right. And — and also, I’m getting a — sort of a daily proctology exam here. You know, it’s not like I’ll be getting away from something in the dead of night.

Q    Welcome to D.C. If you want a friend, get a dog.

MR. MUSK: Well, I do have a dog, but I also have friends. (Laughter.) My dog loves me, poor little creature.

THE PRESIDENT: You know the truth was —

MR. MUSK: I need to bring him to D.C.

THE PRESIDENT: He’s — I know every businessman. I know the — the good ones, the bad ones, the smart ones, the lucky ones. I know them all. This guy is a ver- — he’s a brilliant guy. He’s a great guy. He’s got tremendous imagination and scientific imagin- — far beyond — you know, you keep talking about a technologist and all, but you’re much more than a technologist. You are that. But he’s also a good person. He’s a very good person, and he wants to see the country do well.

And I know a lot of great businesspeople, really great business people, but, you know, they’re not really, in some cases, very good people. And I know people that would try and take advantage of the situation.

This guy is somebody that really cares for the country, and I saw that very early on. I saw it, really, a long time ago when I got to know him. He’s a very different kind of a character.

That’s why — you know who loves him: young people that are very smart and that love the country. He’s got, like, a tremendous following, because that’s what he’s — he’s a good person.

And he doesn’t need this. He didn’t need this, and he’s doing this to help the country. If I didn’t win this election, this country was — I don’t think it could have made it. I don’t — I mean, we’re allowing criminals — millions of criminals into our country, where everything is transgender, it’s men playing in women’s sports.

I mean, none of this stuff — you could go — I could give you a hundred things. It’s almost like they’re trying to destroy the fabric of — of the country, of the world, because the world was following us. Now the world is following us out of this pit.

We’ve done a lot. I’ll tell you what, in three weeks, we’ve done more — I think we’ve done more — in — in terms of meaningful, not just dollars — than maybe any president ever. And a lot of people are saying that.

Q    Shock — it’s been shock and awe.

THE PRESIDENT: I mean, if we can keep it going at this level, this country is going to be at a level that it’s never seen before.

Q    You know one of the things you did that I really thought was pretty clever and smart and fair, and that was reciprocal tariffs.

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, reciprocal.

Q    Ta- — I didn’t know India charged so much. I didn’t know the European Union to charge them.

MR. MUSK: Yeah, totally.

Q    I didn’t know Canada was charging us.

THE PRESIDENT: Everybody. Everybody. Everybody but us.

Q    Brazil, why?

THE PRESIDENT: And I was doing it — you know, I charged China tariffs. I took in hundreds of billions of dollars, and I was doing that. But when we got — we had the greatest economy in history. But then we got hit with COVID, and we had to solve that problem, because I was doing it — and now I said, I want to come back and do the recipri- — because every country in the world almost — we have a deficit with almost every country — not every one, but just about, pretty close.

And — but every country in the world takes advantage of us, and they do it with tariffs. They makes — make it — it’s impossible for him to sell a car, practically, in, as an example, India. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but I think —

MR. MUSK: The tariffs are like 100 percent import duty.

THE PRESIDENT: The tariffs are so high —

MR. MUSK: Yeah.

THE PRESIDENT: — they don’t want to — now, if he built the factory in India, that’s okay, but that’s unfair to us. It’s very unfair.

And I said, “You know what we do?” I told Prime Minister Modi yesterday — he was here. I said, “Here’s what you do. We’re going to do — be very fair with you.” They charge the highest tariffs in the world, just about.

Q    36 percent?

THE PRESIDENT: Oh, much — much higher.

MR. MUSK: It’s 100 percent on — auto imports are 100 percent.

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, that’s peanuts. So, much higher. And — and others too. I said, “Here’s what we’re going to do: reciprocal. Whatever you charge, I’m charging.” He goes, “No, no, I don’t like that.” “No, no, whatever you charge, I’m going to charge.” I’m doing that with every country.

MR. MUSK: It seems fair.

Q    Don’t you —

THE PRESIDENT: (Laughs.) It does.

MR. MUSK: It’s — it’s like fair is fair.

THE PRESIDENT: Nobody can argue with me. You know, the media can’t argue — I said — they said, “Tariffs — you’re going to charge tariffs?” You know, if I said, like, 25 percent they’d say, “Oh, that’s terrible.” I don’t say that anymore —

Q    Can I — (inaudible) —

THE PRESIDENT: — because I say, “Whatever they charge, we’ll charge.” And you know what?

     Q    They stop.

     THE PRESIDENT: They — then they say, “Oh, that sounds fair.”

MR. MUSK: All the president is saying is that —

     Q    (Inaudible.)

     MR. MUSK: — it needs to be at a level playing field and — and fair and square.

Q    Yeah. And how does — how —

THE PRESIDENT: And we’re going to make a lot of money and a lot of businesses are going to come pouring in.

MR. MUSK: How can you argue with a fair and square situation?

Q    Don’t — don’t you think most of them will look at the — the — for example, without America, China’s economy will tank. They need our business.

THE PRESIDENT: They do. Everybody needs us.

Q    Everybody needs it.

THE PRESIDENT: And you know what?

Q    Do- — don’t you think they’ll stop?

THE PRESIDENT: We only have so long left where we’re in this position. We’re the bank, and the bank is getting smaller and smaller and smaller. We — we’re the bank. We got to do this now. We can’t wait another 10 years and have a shell of a country left, because that’s what was going to happen.

Q    Mr. President —

THE PRESIDENT: This country — if I didn’t win this election and have people like this man right here that really do care, because that’s the other word — if you don’t care, you could be the smartest guy in the world, it’s not going to matter. But if we didn’t win this election, I’m telling you, we would not have had a country for very long.

Q    How quickly —

MR. MUSK: May I say —

Q    — do you balance the budget and — and when do we start paying down that debt?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, potentially, very quickly, between what he’s doing and with income coming in from tariffs and other things. I mean, I hope we can — I don’t want to give a date, because then these people are going to say, “Oh, well, he didn’t make the date.” But I think we can do it very quickly.

We would have never done it if this didn’t happen. Never. It would have never been — it would only get worse and worse, and ultimately, it would have exploded.

This country was headed down a very bad track. And the whole DEI thing, that was — that was a trap. That was a sick trap.

Q    (Inaudible.)

     MR. MUSK: (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT: And, you know, we’ve destroyed that. That’s gone. That’s pretty much gone.

Q    I agree.

     MR. MUSK: (Inaudible) —

     Q    We’re not — we’re not funding it.

MR. MUSK: If — I really want to — I really want to emphasize to people that — this is a very important point — if we don’t solve the deficit, there won’t be money for medical care. There won’t be money —

THE PRESIDENT: Right.

MR. MUSK: — for Social Security. We either solve the deficit or all we’ll be doing is paying debt.

Q    Nobody —

MR. MUSK: It’s — it’s got to be solved, or there’s no medical care, there’s no Social Security, there’s no nothing. That’s got to be solved. It’s not optional. America will go bankrupt if this is not done. That’s why I’m here.

Q    The president’s —

THE PRESIDENT: Europe takes advantage of us.

MR. MUSK: And — and I’d like to also just send a message — like, because, as the president said, like, this — there’s a lot of rich people out there. They should be caring more about the country because — the reason they should be caring about — more about country is: America falls, what do you think is going to happen to your business? What do — what do you think — do you think you’re be going to be okay if — if the ship of America sinks? Of course not.

Like, what — what I’m doing here, what the president is doing is it’s just long-term thinking. The ship of America must be strong. The ship of America cannot sink. If it sinks, we all sink with it.

     THE PRESIDENT: Sean, you’re a —

Q    This is what — this is what drives you?

MR. MUSK: Yes.

Q    This is important. It says “tech support.” So, you’re not trying to be president, as the media suggests. You are really here because your heart and your passion is this. And the president described you as being — this is the biggest thing you ever done. Now you trying to bring sight to —

THE PRESIDENT: There could be nothing bigger. There’s nothing —

Q    You’re sending ships up to Mars — you know, spaceships up in the sky all the time —

THE PRESIDENT: That’s peanuts.

Q    — and saving astronauts. That’s pretty big.

THE PRESIDENT: That’s peanuts compared to what we’re talking about.

Q    It’s peanuts?

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

Q    Do you agree with that?

MR. MUSK: Well, it’s esse- — it’s essential that America be healthy, that America’s economy be strong. And — and if that — if — basically, like, my concern is like, if — if — America is the central pillar holding up Western civilization. That pillar must be strong. If that pillar falls, the whole roof comes crashing down.

THE PRESIDENT: Including his ships.

MR. MUSK: There’s no place to hide.

THE PRESIDENT: Including his ships going up.

MR. MUSK: There’s no place to run.

THE PRESIDENT: Nothing. There’s nothing left.

Q    Why — why, if this is your goal, your motivation, you’re losing money in the process, you’re offeri- — you do all these nice things for people for free; you’re trying to solve, you know, blindness; you’re going to rescue astronauts; you help the people in North Carolina, California; you’re cutting money that was sent abroad that’s not helping the American people, then why the rage —

MR. MUSK: Actually, I think it was like —

     Q    But why this rage?

     MR. MUSK: — it was not helping the American people and hurting people overseas, to be clear.

Q    Why this rage against you now? First, they hated him. Now they hate both of you.

MR. MUSK: Well, I think we’re seeing an antibody reaction from — from those who are receiving the — the wasteful and fraudulent money.

Q    They’re being exposed.

MR. MUSK: Yes.

Q    Nobody wants to be exposed when you’re corrupt.

MR. MUSK: I’ll — I’ll tell you a lesson I learned at PayPal. You know who complained the loudest — the quickest and the loudest and with the most amount of righteous indignation? The fraudsters. That’s who complained first, loudest, and — and they would generally have this immense overreaction. That’s how we knew there were the fraudsters. That’s how we knew. There’s a tell.

Q    What di- — I’ve never — I’ve never met you before today.

MR. MUSK: Yeah.

Q    And it’s nice to meet you, by the way. Thank — thank you for doing this.

You guys are really friends. I could s- — you guys — I could see you kicking up your shoes.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, he doesn’t do this kind of thing. And the way I figured that you’d get to know him is if I did it with him. I said, “Come on, let’s do it together.” He doesn’t do this.

I think he’s smarter not doing it, overall. Because, you know, I mean, he’s done very well without doing it. But he doesn’t feel it’s really worthwhile. He wants the product to speak for itself, or whatever he does speak for itself. But he views it as — you know, does it matter?

And I’m doing this with you today because I wanted to have people understand him. And I think it’s very important — I disagree with him. I think it’s very important that they do understand him.

He doesn’t need this. He doesn’t need it. Now, I happen to think it’s made him very popular. I think it — he’s more popular now because there are so many people — you know, you’re talking about the radical left — they have the lowest ratings. MSNBC is dying. CNN is dying. They’re all dying. The New York Times is doing lousy. The Washington Post is doing horribly. They’re all doing badly because people don’t buy it anymore.

But I think it was important that he do this one interview. You’ve been a very fair guy. I think you were the right guy to do it. If we could get some radical left guy — and he’d do just as well, frankly, because it’s all about common sense.

Q    They would attack him —

THE PRESIDENT: But this — Sean —

Q    — as being unconstitutional, not — a fascist.

THE PRESIDENT: — to me this was a — it was important for people to understand, he’s doing a big job. He’s doing a very thankless job. He’s doing a thankless job, but he’s helping us to save our country.

Our country was in serious trouble, and I had to get the best guy, somebody with credibility, because if he were just a regular, good — very good, solid businessman, he wouldn’t have the credibility. He’s got the best credibility for this.

And people also know he’s an honest guy. He’s an honest guy. He’s just a very, very smart guy who’s done amazing things. And this will be the biggest thing he’s ever done, because, you know, his companies are all great. But if this country goes bad — I guess where he is a little selfish is this. He knows one thing and probably doesn’t think — but if his — if this country goes bad, his stuff is not going to be worth very much, I can tell you.

MR. MUSK: Well, I’d say, if the — if the ship of America sinks, we’re all go- — going down with it. You know, this idea that people can escape to New Zealand or some other place is false. If the central pillar of Western civilization that is America falls, the whole roof comes crashing down and there is no escape.

Q    It’s amazing, since you’ve been elected, to watch Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia — I — I was shocked at the statements that Vladimir Putin made about you. I — I was shocked at the hostage release. I was shocked that Venezuela had done it — had done it. Zelenskyy wants a deal. Putin wants a deal.

THE PRESIDENT: All good statements.

Q    King Abdullah was interested.

THE PRESIDENT: You mean by that all good statements. Look, they respect the president of this country. They respect — they did not respect the last president. They laughed at him, and they laughed at our country, and he’s done great damage to our country.

Q    Have foreign leaders told you what they thought of Biden?

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, they have, but I’d rather not say. They — they have. It’s not — it — look —

Q    It’s the obvious.

THE PRESIDENT: He was not George Washington, let’s put it that way.

MR. MUSK: (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT: Not the greatest.

Q    Sorry, if that’s (inaudible).

THE PRESIDENT: He’s done a tremendous disservice.

Q    Will you be here —

THE PRESIDENT: And, by the way, the Democrats have done a great disservice, and they ought to get their act together and use a little judgment, and they ought to work with us on straightening out this mess that —

Q    Who? John Fetterman?

THE PRESIDENT: — a lot of people have —

Q    Maybe? Who — what Democrat is not radicalized?

THE PRESIDENT: Actually, you mention John.

Q    John Fetterman.

THE PRESIDENT: He’s become the best voice in the Democrat party. You know, I had lunch with him, and I thought he was terrific, but he’s a much different man than he was before he had this difficulty. He used to be radical left, and I think he became much smarter, actually. He’s really — he’s really a voice of reason.

But the Democrats have to get together. They have to get their act together, because the stuff they — they talk about makes no sense. It makes — none whatsoever. And they must know it. They must know.

MR. MUSK: Yeah. I mean, like, the country has spoken very clearly and rejected the core tenets of the Demo- — Democratic Party. The country voted t- — fo- — I mean, the country made the — America has made its vote clear. The president won the popular vote decisively. The Republicans won the House. Repub- — Republicans won the Senate. What more do you need?

The Democratic Party needs to take a hard look in the mirror and — and change their ways.

Q    I think they went from shock, denial, into the depression stage of grief, and now they’re in the rage stage, where I anticipate they’ll stay for four years, and if they get the chance, they’ll want to impeach him 10 times. Do you anticipate you’ll be here in four years? My last question.

MR. MUSK: I’ll — I’ll be as helpful as long as I can be helpful.

THE PRESIDENT: That’s a good question. I mean, I was thinking about that just now. I said, “I wonder how long he’s going to be doing it.” You can’t get somebody like this. He cares, and he’s brilliant, and he’s got energy.

You need energy, also, in addition to those other things.

You know, I have a lot of guys that are very smart, but they have no energy. They want to sleep all day long. You need a lot of energy. He’s got a lot of energy. He’s doing a great job.

If there’s any conflict, he — he will stop it. But if he didn’t, I’d stop it. I’d see if there’s a conflict. I mean, we’re talking about big stuff.

But he’s under a pretty big microscope.

MR. MUSK: Yeah, seriously.

THE PRESIDENT: I mean, everybody is watching him. If there’s a conflict, you’re going to be reading about it within about two minutes after the conflict.

MR. MUSK: Exactly. There — there’s — the possibility of me getting away with something is 0 percent — 0.0. I — I’m scrutinized to a ridiculous degree.

And — and the other thing is that we — you know, what — what’s — you know what’s better than saying “trust — trust me” is just full transparency. So, what we’re doing with — with the DOGE — DOGE dot — just go to DOGE.gov. You can see every single action that’s being taken.

And now –and I want to be clear, we are going to make some mistakes. We’re not going to be perfect. Nobody bats a thousand. But we’re going to fix the mistakes very quickly. That’s what matters: not that you don’t make mistakes, but that you fix the mistakes very fast.

THE PRESIDENT: And you’re going to ask the other side, when they talk about, “This is a constitutional crisis,” you got to a- — what are they paying for? Where are those tax — because when you read off the list of things, it’s a big con job. See, when they talk Constitution —

MR. MUSK: Totally.

THE PRESIDENT: — it’s a total con job.

MR. MUSK: Yes.

THE PRESIDENT: They never talk — and I watch some of the shows —

MR. MUSK: It’s specifics — they avoid specifics.

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, when you start talking about how did — how come they spent money on transgender here and transgender there —

MR. MUSK: Yeah, totally.

THE PRESIDENT: — and all the stuff in some country that nobody ever heard of, they don’t want to talk about it. They just talk about, “This is a constitutional crisis.”

Q    It shocks the conscious.

THE PRESIDENT: The money is being squandered purposely — tremendous theft, tremendous kickbacks, everything — and we’re straightening it out. And thank goodness. I look up, and I say, “Thank you,” because I think if it went on for four more years, it would not be salvageable. You wouldn’t be able —

MR. MUSK: Absolutely.

THE PRESIDENT: You wouldn’t be able to save it.

Q    You believe, too, that when you were in Butler, came within a millimeter being assassinated —

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

Q    The day you endorsed him, that was that day.

MR. MUSK: Yes.

Q    But you had been planning on it?

MR. MUSK: Yeah.

Q    Pretty — I think everybody will never forget that iconic blood on your face. “Fight, fight, fight.” I actually was afra- — watching it and thought you might drop again. You know, I didn’t know if it had hit you. You can sometimes get up and then the blood starts to accumulate. It was scary — pretty scary.

MR. MUSK: Well, I mean, th- — this is how you know someone’s true character, because everyone can say they’re brave, but the president was actually shot. Okay? Courage under fire. “Fight, fight, fight,” blood streaming down the face. That’s true courage. You can’t fake that.

Q    Yeah. Thank you both.

     Mr. President, thank you, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much.

Q    Appreciate it. Elon, thank you for your time. Really nice to meet you.

                              END                    1:01 P.M. EST

MIL OSI USA News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Sentiment over property sector seen recovering

Source: China State Council Information Office 3

An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 9, 2023 shows a newly-built residential complex in Feixi County of Hefei City, east China’s Anhui Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Six out of 10 investors expect market activity to recover by the end of this year and property investment transactions are projected to stage a growth of 5 percent-10 percent on the Chinese mainland, a report on Chinese investor intentions suggested.

The projection is based on a survey looking to offer an in-depth analysis of investors’ views and strategic preferences for en bloc commercial property transactions in China this year, according to the survey published on Thursday by commercial real estate services and investment firm CBRE.

Industrial logistics and rental housing are the most favored types of assets for investors, while retail property investment is expected to continue its positive trend from 2024, according to the analysis.

“Key office buildings in first-tier cities will maintain their attractiveness for both long-term capital and enterprises looking for self-use space,” the survey said.

Geopolitics, economic recession and weak rental demand are the top three challenges for commercial real estate investment in 2025. However, commercial real estate remains an important part of investors’ asset allocation, as 80 percent of people polled plan to increase or maintain the proportion of real estate assets in 2025, an increase of 5 percentage points from a year ago.

“The attractiveness of China’s high-quality commercial property for investment is on a gradual rise after corrections to asset pricing, central bank interest rate reductions, as well as the positive impact of macro incremental policies on corporate and consumer confidence in 2025,” said Li Ling, president of CBRE China.

As many as 61 percent of respondents believe that commercial property investment activity will recover by the end of 2025, leading CBRE’s forecast for a year-on-year growth of between 5 and 10 percent for en bloc commercial property transactions across the Chinese mainland this year, the survey found.

“After several years of volatility and price adjustments in the Chinese market, some assets have shown higher investment value and they have drawn investor attention,” said Eric Pang, head of capital markets for JLL China.

“As investors pay more attention to the operational management capabilities and long-term revenue generation potential of projects, high-quality assets with prime locations, stable cash flow and high value prices will continue to be sought after. Looking ahead, we expect more investors would like to seize market opportunities, therefore driving a recovery in transaction volume,” said Pang.

Institutional investors remain cautious about commercial real estate, while private wealth and corporates have become more active, said the latest version of JLL’s Asia Pacific Capital Tracker published in January.

“As we enter a new economic cycle in 2025, the influx of capital and competition for high-quality assets will enhance market activity, and signs of a recovery have been seen in investment and trading activity. The real estate market is at a critical juncture in the improvement of the liquidity cycle,” JLL said.

Not only are institutional investors more active in key markets, but private buyers are also raising their allocation to prime locations in core markets. It is expected that along with the transaction level rise, investors will be ready to diversify their asset allocations, JLL added.

Li said investors will focus on rental housing, regional shopping malls, high-standard logistics facilities, and Grade A office buildings in first-tier city CBDs with limited supply.

Industrial logistics is believed to continue at its top position among all investment categories, and high-standard warehouses in major Chinese cities are a primary focus, said the report. Rental housing has been the second most preferred category for three years in a row, and 18 en bloc rental housing transactions were registered in China in 2024, with a combined value of 7.5 billion yuan, CBRE said.

The tone-setting annual Central Economic Work Conference in December urged making boosting consumption a top priority for 2025.Retail property is believed to be the third most sought-after category in property investment, particularly regional shopping centers with consistent population inflows, said the survey.

Properties related to life sciences and healthcare ranked in top positions in terms of alternative assets. As the industrial adjustment of the biopharmaceutical sector gradually comes to an end, leading biopharmaceutical industrial clusters in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou of Guangdong province, and Suzhou of Jiangsu province are expected to take the lead in demand recovery, CBRE said.

Its report is based on a survey conducted between Nov 12 and Nov 29, with a total of 125 valid responses.

MIL OSI China News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Foreign firms to ramp up investment

Source: China State Council Information Office 3

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows the skyline during the early morning in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

China’s sustained efforts to boost domestic demand and reinforce supply chain resilience, as well as drive businesses toward green and digital transformation, will pave the way for deeper global business collaboration in its market this year, said executives of multinational corporations on Monday.

Despite the slowdown in global trade and investment growth in recent years, foreign companies remain steadfast in ramping up their investment in the Chinese market, they added.

Lan Qingxin, a professor specializing in cross-border investment studies at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, said that as China embraces a new era of green and innovation-driven growth, global investors are increasingly focusing on digital solutions, supply chain optimization, high-end manufacturing, customized innovation and green businesses in the Chinese market.

Noting the widespread adoption of the advanced large language model DeepSeek among domestic and overseas users, Chen Shihua, deputy secretary-general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, said that China’s ability to attract foreign investment will be further enhanced this year.

DeepSeek, a two-year-old startup based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, has created the open-source LLM of the same name at a cost much lower than its foreign peers.

Even though geopolitical tensions are rising, global demand remains subdued and certain countries have tightened investment regulations, China saw the establishment of 59,080 new foreign-invested companies in 2024, marking a 9.9 percent year-on-year increase, data from the Ministry of Commerce shows.

Cummins Inc, a United States-based engine manufacturer, plans to increase its market share this year in key application sectors within China, including power generation equipment for data centers and high-tech manufacturing.

“Together with local partners, we will also accelerate the innovation pace on the internal combustion engine system, including high-efficiency diesel, natural gas and hydrogen internal combustion engines,” said Nathan Stoner, vice-president of Cummins.

Eager to seize more market share in China, Thai beverage company TCP Group, will commence operations of a production base in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region later this year to supply its popular energy drink Red Bull.

The production base, set up with a total investment of 1.3 billion yuan ($179.2 million), will strengthen the supply chain network, empower upstream and downstream partners, and create another important link connecting the markets between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said Saravoot Yoovidhya, CEO of TCP Group.

“The rapid response capability and strong execution power of China’s supply chain enable us to quickly adapt to market changes and promptly adjust production and supply chain strategies to meet the diversified demands of markets worldwide,” he added.

Yin Zheng, executive vice-president of Schneider Electric’s China and East Asia operations, said that as a major engine of global economic growth, China has a huge market, a strong industrial base and abundant innovation resources, while its cultivation of new quality productive forces provides an even stronger impetus for industrial transformation and upgrading.

The French industrial conglomerate has continuously increased research and development investment in China and has established a series of world-class innovation institutes in China to support industrial upgrading and energy transformation.

“We have been introducing innovative Chinese solutions and advanced products to the global market, expanding China’s impact and realizing the vision of ‘in China for the world’,” Yin said.

According to a recent survey by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China, more than 58 percent of Japanese companies surveyed recognize China as a key market for their global operations, and they plan to maintain or expand their investment in the Chinese market this year.

Several factors have influenced their investment decisions, including increasing demand and rising orders. The chamber said that Japanese businesses are also more confident about the Chinese market this year, driven by an improved business environment, a visa-free policy for Japanese citizens and government initiatives such as trade-in policies.

MIL OSI China News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Navy Joins Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo in Indonesia

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

MNEK emphasizes multilateral maritime cooperation and disaster response protocols. The exercise takes place in conjunction with the International Maritime Security Symposium (IMSS), the largest international symposium organized by the Indonesian Navy. The theme of this year’s IMSS is “Addressing Maritime Security Challenges with Technology and Cooperation.”

“I am proud of what the U.S. Pacific Fleet and our joint force can generate in terms of military power, our ability to synchronize in all domains, and do all of that with our allies and partners,” said Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, during his presentation at the IMSS. “We will continue to be a reliable maritime partner for all like-minded nations and their citizens in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. We do so with unity of purpose, and with a powerful and resolute force.”

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105), as well as a P-8A Poseidon aircraft from Commander, Task Force 72, are representing U.S. Navy forces in the exercise.

The theme for this year’s MNEK is “Maritime Partnership for Peace and Stability.” The theme is designed to encourage multinational naval forces coordination to strengthen Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR), establish civil-military linkage, and enhance a mutual understanding and interoperability toward affected regions.

During a six-day harbor phase, the exercise will include international military workshops on infrastructure repairs and emergency medical response, as well as community outreach and cultural exchanges. That will be followed by a sea phase, during which participating ships and aircraft will conduct coordinated maneuvering and search-and-rescue training.

Komodo 2025 is the fifth iteration of the exercise, which was first held in 2014.

Dewey operates under Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed destroyer squadron and U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force.

U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

MIL Security OSI –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: USS Alexandria (SSN 757) Completes Scheduled Port Visit to Busan

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

The port visit in Busan reinforces the role of the alliance as a cornerstone for regional peace and security, reaffirming the ironclad commitment between the U.S. and ROK to defend their homelands.

Alexandria is assigned to Submarine Squadron 11, homeported in Naval Base Point Loma, California, and has been deployed in the Indo-Pacific since October.

The port visit marks the first visit to Busan by a U.S. submarine in 2025.

During the visit, Alexandria received logistics support and met with their host-nation counterparts to strengthen ties with a key ally in the Indo-Pacific.

Submarine Group 7 directs forward-deployed, combat-capable forces across the full spectrum of undersea warfare throughout the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea.

U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

For more news from Commander, Submarine Group 7, visit www.csp.navy.mil/csg7/

MIL Security OSI –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Frenchman to donate album on Japan’s war atrocities

Source: China State Council Information Office 2

Frenchman Marcus Detrez was leafing through an album of photos depicting his grandfather’s fulfilling life in Shanghai in the 1930s when a picture thrust him into appalling moments of war.
A sharp contrast to scenes of tranquil lakes and bustling food stalls on the streetside, the photograph shows a civilian, whose head has been completely blown off, lying on the ground.
The chance discovery made in the garage of his family home in 2021 put the 26-year-old on a truth-seeking journey that offered further evidence of the wartime atrocities committed by Japanese soldiers during China’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), as well as the resilience of local residents — which is all documented in a collection of 622 photographs.
Detrez, accompanied by two friends, arrived in Beijing on Saturday to donate the photos to China. They also plan to visit Shanghai to see venues shown in the pictures.
“I was very shocked when seeing the horrible pictures of the war with corpses and bombings. My mom told me the story of my grandfather, his life in Shanghai, his struggles, the Japanese invasion and the war crimes he witnessed,” Detrez said during an interview with China Daily on Tuesday.
Detrez has spent his spare time researching the topic and attempting to learn more about his grandfather’s experiences in Shanghai as a business owner and a witness of and fighter against the brutalities of war.
The first group of pictures uncovered by Detrez in the garage totaled about 170. In December, he and his family members found hundreds more related pictures.
“We’ve been discussing what we should do with these pictures, and finally we decided to donate them to China,” he said.
The pictures are now stored in a leather, handheld briefcase — the same one that his grandfather used when traveling back from China many decades ago.
As he opened the suitcase and sorted through the pictures in waterproof covers and envelopes, Detrez appeared unfazed by some of the graphic, bloody images.
But he said he has had many sleepless nights since finding these pictures, and his senior family members have been traumatized for many years by the memories.
“We’ve been carrying a heavy (emotional) burden,” said Bastien Ratat, one of Detrez’s friends assisting with the donation.
But they have persisted, driven by a desire to spread awareness about the truth of a part of history that they believe is not fully understood by the world.
Ratat, who is also from France, explained that in his home country and many parts of the world, China’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression is known as the Sino-Japanese war.
“There is a big difference because it was a war where the Chinese people were under attack, and resisted and defended themselves,” he said. “For Detrez’s grandfather, a foreigner in Shanghai, his world had suddenly changed and he had to be resilient to protect his family and his friends, including Chinese friends.”
Despite the fact that looking at these pictures is a painful experience, Detrez said it is important to confront and reflect on such historical events.
“As human beings, we have made some mistakes, and we should make sure that we learn from that,” he said. “I hope that we can tell the truth and inspire the future generations. If we don’t tell the truth, if we deny the truth, we just go into a big war.”
After finishing his trip in China, Detrez, a language teacher, said he plans to establish an association in France to promote awareness about the wartime atrocities suffered by the Chinese people and foster people-to-people friendship between China and France.

MIL OSI China News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Head of French Navy hosts commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, aboard FS Charles De Gaulle

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

This visit was part of Exercise Pacific Steller 2025, a Multi-Large Deck Event (MLDE) in the Philippine Sea involving ships from U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Group (CSG) ONE, French CSG, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. This exercise is designed to advance coordination and cooperation between French, Japanese and U.S. maritime forces. It simultaneously demonstrates capabilities in multi-domain operations, promotes a shared dedication to regional stability, and highlights the U.S. Navy’s enduring power projection capability.

“Professionalism is making the extremely difficult look routine and easy when it is not, and you are example of that,” said Adm. Koehler while addressing the crew via the shipboard announcing system. “Our professional militaries do amazing things together on a regular basis, and Pacific Steller is another example of that. Your historic 2025 deployment highlights your ability to integrate and operate alongside like-minded partners to continue to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific.”

Our allies and partners are one of our greatest strengths and a key strategic advantage. When we operate alongside one another during exercises such as Pacific Steller, we are advancing a shared vision of a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific.

“During Pacific Steller, you are carrying out an extraordinary mission in the literal sense,” said Adm. Vaujour, “by the length of the deployment, by the extension we are carrying out today to this Philippine Sea, from the home port of Toulon to more than 6,500 nautical miles and then by the level of integration we are achieving with our American and Japanese partners.”

MLDEs are conducted in a manner that is consistent with international law and with due regard to the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other states.

Participating large-deck ships include the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), the French carrier FS Charles de Gaulle, and Japan’s Izumo-class multi-functional destroyer JS Kaga (DDH-184).

CSG-1 consists of Vinson, embarked staffs of CSG-1 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) one, Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW-2), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59), and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110).

CVW-2 is composed of nine squadrons flying the F-35C Lightning II, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growler, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, CMV-22 Osprey and MH-60R/S Seahawks.

CSG-1 is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

French CSG consists of Charles De Gaulle, its embarked French Strike Force staff and carrier air wing, an air-defense destroyer, multi-mission frigates, a supply ship, an attack submarine, and a detachment of Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft.

The French carrier air wing flies the Rafale Marine (F4) fighter aircraft, E-2C Hawkeye, and Dauphin, Caiman Marine, and Panther helicopters.

French CSG is currently engaged in Mission CLEMENCEAU 25, sailing alongside its allies and strategic partners to promote a free, open and stable Indo-Pacific for the benefit of French populations, interests, and those of their regional partners, within the framework of international law.

For more news from CSG-1 and Vinson visit: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/CSG1, https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/CVN70

MIL Security OSI –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer reinforces partnership and integration at Aero India 2025

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Aero India’s biennial airshow was held at Yelahanka Air Force Station, which hosted over 50,000 attendees. The air show also served as an exposition of emerging technologies, hosting nearly 800 exhibitors and more than 900 national and international manufacturers showcasing cutting-edge technological advances serving aerospace.

While deployed at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to lead Bomber Task Force 25-1, the 34 EBS forward-deployed to Bengaluru to conduct four flyovers on Feb. 11 and Feb. 13 over Yelahanka Air Force Station. The flyovers helped to demonstrate U.S. airpower projection and readiness in the Indo-Pacific region.

“In 2023, the 34th EBS Thunderbirds participated in Aero India. Having the opportunity to do it again this year is a true honor for not only the Thunderbirds, but for team Ellsworth,’’ said Lt. Col. Robert Wasil, 34th expeditionary bomb squadron commander. “The participation is a testament of our commitment to strengthen partnerships with India. We look forward to future opportunities to grow our relationship with the Indian Air Force and to furthering our involvement in the Indo-Pacific region.”

India is a Major Defense Partner leader and drives regional growth and development across the Indo-Pacific. With worldwide support, the air show showcased a variety of dynamic aircraft assets from the U.S. Air Force, Allies and partners. Collectively serving aerial demonstrations and static displays to its attendees.

The U.S.’ partnership with India to participate in the air shows the past decade continues to allow both countries, and their Allies and partners to strengthen military-to-military relationships in training, capabilities, and maintenance goals. This event underscores the importance of the U.S.-India partnership and commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

MIL Security OSI –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Reintroduces Legislation to Ban Foreign Adversaries from Buying American Farmland

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
Legislation would prohibit the sale of agricultural land to Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and U.S. Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) reintroduced the Protecting America’s Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act, which would prohibit the sale of U.S. agricultural land to any individual or entity tied to the governments of Iran, North Korea, China, or Russia. The legislation follows Senator Tuberville’s recent reintroduction of the Foreign Adversary Risk Management (FARM) Act to better vet foreign purchases of America’s farmland.
1819 News first reported the reintroduction of the bill.
“For too long, we’ve sat by while foreign nations have been trying to take over our nation’s agricultural industry,” said Senator Tuberville. “Our adversaries are always looking for any way to get their foot in the door and jeopardize our national security—including our agricultural assets. There’s no reason why foreign adversaries should be allowed to buy American farmland. Not only is it dangerous for our farmers, but it’s disastrous for our national security. It’s past time to take action to protect our American farmers and consumers from threats to our food security. I’m proud to reintroduce this legislation with Senator Banks, and will continue fighting to protect America’s farmland and put our farmers and producers first.”
“Food security is national security. Leaving America’s basic needs vulnerable to extortion by foreign control is not an option,” said Senator Banks. “This bill prevents foreign adversaries, including communist China, from owning American farmland in Indiana and across the U.S.—a no-brainer. Proud to lead this effort alongside Senator Tuberville and Rep. Strong.”
U.S. Representative Dale Strong (R-AL-05) also introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Chinese investment in U.S. farmland, much of which is in close proximity to sensitive national security sites, presents an enormous threat not only to our food, fiber, and fuel markets but also to our national security. As the CCP, Iran, Russia, and North Korea look to exploit weaknesses in our free and open society, it is our responsibility to ensure that the American people are protected against those who seek to undermine our national interest,” said Congressman Strong.
Specifically, the Protecting America’s Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act would:
Restrict foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land, forests, and timberland by Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia,
Prohibit participation in certain USDA programs for individuals from Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia,
Close loopholes to ensure adequate reporting of foreign owned U.S. agricultural land,
Establish a federal tax lien if a violation occurs and amend civil penalties,
Establish more in-depth public data sets through online database,
Require U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of National Intelligence (DNI), and Government Accountability Office (GAO) to submit individual reports to Congress.
Read the bill or learn more here.
BACKGROUND
Over the past few years, the United States has experienced a rapid increase in foreign investment in the agricultural sector, particularly from China. Growing foreign investment in agriculture and other essential industries, like health care and energy, threaten our country’s national security and ability to survive. Senator Tuberville has long been a vocal critic of foreign ownership of American farmland and other elements of our food supply chain. As Alabama’s voice on the Senate Ag Committee, Senator Tuberville has been sounding the alarm about foreign ownership of American farmland and other elements of our food supply chain.
According to USDA data from December 2023, foreign investors own approximately 45 million acres of U.S. agricultural land. This represents an increase of over 1.5 million acres in one calendar year. Foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land increased modestly increased from 2012 to 2017 at an average increase of 0.6 million acres per year. However, since 2017, this number skyrocketed to an annual average of 2.6 million acres annually. Additionally, between 2010 and 2021, entities or individuals from China increased their ownership of U.S. agricultural land more than twentyfold, from 13,720 acres to 383,935 acres. Alabama has the fourth-highest amount of foreign-owned agricultural land in the United States, with 2.2 million acres, most of which is forestland.
Earlier this year, Senator Tuberville reintroduced the Foreign Adversary Risk Management (FARM) Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill that would ensure the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) acknowledges the importance of our agricultural industry and supply chains by adding the Secretary of Agriculture as a permanent member of the committee. Currently, CFIUS does not directly consider the needs of the agriculture industry when reviewing foreign investment and ownership in domestic businesses.
MORE:
Tuberville Continues Efforts to Secure America’s Farmland from Foreign Adversaries
Tuberville Continues Fighting Foreign Influence in American Agriculture
Second Democrat Ag Secretary Endorses Central Provision in Tuberville’s FARM Act
Biden Ag Secretary Endorses Central Part of Tuberville’s FARM Act
Tuberville Continues Push to Combat Chinese Influence in U.S. Agriculture
Tuberville, Jackson Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Effort to Protect Ag Industry from Foreign Interference
Tuberville Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Ban Foreign Adversaries from Buying U.S. Farmland
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Ne Zha 2: the ancient philosophies behind China’s record-breaking new animated film

Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Yanyan Hong, PhD Candidate in Communication and Media Studies, University of Adelaide

IMDB

On the surface, Ne Zha 2: The Sea’s Fury (2025), the sequel to the 2019 Chinese blockbuster Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child, is a high-octane, action-packed and visually stunning animated spectacle, full of hilarious moments and thrilling fight scenes.

But beneath all that, it’s something much deeper: a bold re-imagining of Chinese traditional mythology, cultural history and philosophies.

Unlike Hollywood’s classic hero’s journey, Ne Zha 2 is rooted in Chinese thought, weaving together ideas from Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Mohism, Legalism and more.

Through the story of a baby-faced warrior god who battles demons, it channels centuries of Chinese tradition into something refreshing, relevant and undeniably global.

The film’s success speaks for itself. Directed by Yang Yu (aka Jiao Zi), Ne Zha 2 has shattered multiple global box office records, pulling in more than US$1 billion in China in just one week.

It has entered the top 10 highest-grossing films of all time, and has become the highest-grossing animated film – outperforming Inside Out 2 (2024).

But what makes Ne Zha 2 so compelling beyond its visual spectacle? At its heart, it’s an inspiring story about identity, free will, self-determination and rebellion – ideas that resonate far beyond China.

A child hero forged in myth and philosophy

Ne Zha is a rebellious deity in traditional Chinese folklore – a boy born with immense superpower, who defies both divine and social expectations.

Most people who know of Ne Zha will trace his legend back to Fengshen Yanyi, or Investiture of the Gods, a Ming Dynasty novel that blends mythology with historical elements.

Ne Zha’s true origins, however, trace back to India.

“Ne Zha” is a shortened transliteration of the Sanskrit Nalakuvara (or Nalakūbara), an Indian mythological figure who appears in Buddhist and Hindu mythology.

As Buddhism spread to China during the Tang Dynasty, Ne Zha evolved from an intimidating guardian deity into the rebellious, fire-wheeled warrior we know today.

In Ne Zha 2, this “fighting spirit” against authority and hierarchy is taken even further, turning the story into a deeper philosophical exploration of morality, fate, self-worth and power.

Good and evil – a Daoist perspective

One of the most thought-provoking aspects of Ne Zha 2 is how it challenges the idea of good and evil.

In Daoist philosophy, evil and good, often known as Yin and Yang, are not absolute, but are rather shifting, interconnected forces.

Through its two protagonists: the “Demon Pill” (Ne Zha) and his noble dragon prince buddy, “Spirit Pearl” (Ao Bing), the film beautifully reflects this Daoist idea of balance and self-discovery.

Their merging further blurs the line between hero and villain and brings to life a core concept from the 2,400-year-old text Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching), written around 400 BC by Chinese philosopher Laozi (also called Lao Tzu).

Laozi emphasises that righteousness and villainy aren’t always what they seem. “When the world knows beauty as beauty, there arises ugliness,” he says.

Those we assume to be noble may turn out to be dark inside, while those deemed evil might be fighting for what is right.

Ne Zha’s character in the film embodies this Daoist philosophy. Echoing the Xisheng Jing, The Scripture of Western Ascension, he declares, “My fate is up to me, not the Heaven.”

He is the demon child who is willing to die fighting for his own destiny, proving that even the smallest, most underestimated individual can change the world.

Beyond family bonds: rebirth of Confucianism

In one scene, Ne Zha is struck by the “heart-piercing curse”, a brutal spell that covers his body in ten thousand thorns, causing unbearable pain and keeping him under control by targeting his heart. Ne Zha’s human mother, Lady Yin, clings to him as his thorns pierce her skin – yet she refuses to let go.

It’s a moment of heartbreak, parental love and inner awakening. As his mother takes her final breath, in Ne Zha’s grief, his body shatters into a million pieces. And then, he is reborn.

This is the film’s emotional climax, in which the so-called demon child awakens to “Rén” (benevolence), a core Confucian virtue.

Confucianism teaches that true morality isn’t imposed by rules but arises naturally from within. Ne Zha doesn’t just seek revenge, he awakes to fight for those who have been oppressed, embracing his identity with unwavering resolve.

But perhaps the most profound transformation comes from the dragon prince Ao Bing. As the last hope of his people, burdened by centuries of expectation, he finally makes a choice, not for legacy, not for his ancestors, but for himself.

In this moment, his once-imposing father Dragon King releases his grip: “Your path is yours to forge.”

The weight of tradition gives way to something new, reflecting a changing China where younger generations are defining their own paths.

Wisdom of Legalism and Mohism

Beyond Daoist and Confucian ideals, Ne Zha 2 also weaves in Legalist reform and Mohist resistance. These philosophies challenge rigid hierarchies (or in Ne Zha’s case, “divine order”) and advocate for collective justice.

Across Ne Zha’s three major trials and the climactic celestial-demon war, a brutal truth emerges: those deemed unworthy – whether groundhogs, mystical beings, or ordinary humans – are sacrificed to uphold the elite’s rule.

Take the small groundhogs. Dressed in patched clothes, surviving on pumpkin porridge. They’ve never harmed anyone. Yet, they are mercilessly crushed in the name of celestial balance.

Then there’s Shiji Niangniang, or Lady Rock, a recluse who harms no one. She indulges only in her own beauty and speaks to her enchanted mirror. Yet the heavens brand her a demon, sealing her fate.

A similar cruelty befalls the Dragon Clan and the people of Chentangguan, all caught in a war where they are mere pawns on a celestial chessboard.

Even the last battle is not just Ne Zha’s fight, but a battlefield showing the Chinese spirit of collectivism. Dragons, shrimp soldiers, crab generals, octopus warriors, humans and millions of goblins stand side by side to rewrite destiny.

The celestial-demon war itself plays out like a lesson in Sun Tzu’s Art of War, which states that “All warfare is based on deception.” War is about strategy, resilience and the unstoppable will to rise.

Ne Zha carries the weight of Eastern cultural essence: Daoist balance, Confucian ethics, Mohist resistance, Legalist reform and the strategic wisdom of The Art of War. It is a truly Chinese story, igniting next year’s Oscar buzz and sparking a global awakening to Eastern culture.

Just as Ne Zha is reborn in flames, so too does Chinese animation rise, not by breaking from its past, but by forging a bold future.

Yanyan Hong does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Ne Zha 2: the ancient philosophies behind China’s record-breaking new animated film – https://theconversation.com/ne-zha-2-the-ancient-philosophies-behind-chinas-record-breaking-new-animated-film-249850

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Chinese military warns off Philippine aircraft from territorial airspace over Huangyan Dao

Source: China State Council Information Office 2

Naval and air forces of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command on Tuesday tracked, monitored and warned off a Philippine C-208 aircraft from the territorial airspace over China’s Huangyan Dao in accordance with the law and regulations, a Chinese military spokesperson said.
“Without the approval of the Chinese government, the Philippine aircraft illegally intruded into Chinese airspace,” according to Tian Junli, spokesperson for the theater command, who added that the Philippine side had also spread false narratives.
The acts of the Philippine side severely violated China’s sovereignty as well as international law and Chinese law, Tian noted.
Huangyan Dao is China’s inherent territory, and the Philippines’ attempts to assert illegal territorial claims through military provocations and mislead international understandings through agitation and hyping will ultimately prove futile, according to the spokesperson.
Forces of the theater command remain on high alert to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea, Tian said.

MIL OSI China News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI China: HKSAR gov’t to co-host briefing on new agreement under CEPA

Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

HONG KONG, Feb. 18 — A briefing regarding the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) will be held on Wednesday to outline the new measures and arrangements for the business sector, said John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), on Tuesday.

Signed on Oct. 9, 2024, between the HKSAR government and the Ministry of Commerce, the Second Agreement Concerning Amendment to the CEPA Agreement on Trade in Services took effect upon inking and will be officially implemented as of March 1, 2025.

The agreement is designed to lower barriers for Hong Kong enterprises and professionals seeking access to the Chinese mainland services market, said Lee. It introduces new measures in key service areas where Hong Kong has advantages and removes the requirement that service providers must operate in Hong Kong for three years before entering most service sectors, he added.

The agreement also includes provisions allowing eligible Hong Kong businesses to select Hong Kong law for contracts and designate Hong Kong as the arbitration venue, Lee noted.

The Ministry of Commerce and the HKSAR government will jointly organize a briefing in Hong Kong. Representatives from more than 10 ministries, relevant offices and the HKSAR government will introduce the measures and implementation arrangements in detail according to different service industries.

In addition to business developments, Lee highlighted that March will feature a series of popular cultural, artistic, and sporting events, alongside several major conferences and exhibitions. On the housing front, the average waiting time for public rental housing applicants is set to decrease to 5.3 years by the end of 2024, marking a reduction of 0.2 years and the lowest figure in six years.

MIL OSI China News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI China: First visa-free ASEAN tour group enters China’s Xishuangbanna

Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

KUNMING, Feb. 18 — On Tuesday evening, a group of 15 tourists from Thailand and Laos walked out of the China-Laos Railway’s Xishuangbanna station, greeted by a water-splashing ceremony and a lively dance performance.

They are the first tour group from ASEAN countries to visit the Dai Autonomous Prefecture of Xishuangbanna in southwest China’s Yunnan Province since the implementation of a new visa relaxation policy, which allows tour groups from these countries to visit the prefecture — a popular tourist destination in Yunnan — visa-free for up to six days.

During their stay, the tour group will appreciate the natural scenery of Xishuangbanna, and experience local cuisine and ethnic customs.

The new visa policy has been in effect since Feb. 10, aimed at boosting tourism in southwest China. It is also expected to expand opening-up, promote the exchange of personnel, and deepen the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, the National Immigration Administration said in a statement.

Jiang Jie, deputy director of the culture and tourism bureau of Xishuangbanna, said that the move will boost the local inbound tourism market further. Xishuangbanna will continue cultivating new tourism formats and improve its infrastructure to cater to tourists in an improved manner.

MIL OSI China News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Sullivan, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Honoring the 80th Anniversary of Iwo Jima

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan
02.18.25
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), introduced a resolution with his Senate colleagues recognizing the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, which began on February 19, 1945, and lasted until March 26, 1945.
“Eighty years ago, the brave Marines who stormed the beaches of Iwo Jima turned the tide of the Pacific Theater in one of the greatest displays of valor and sacrifice in our military’s history,” Senator Sullivan said. “It is an honor to introduce this resolution with my colleagues to recognize the members of the U.S. military who fought in Iwo Jima and inspired enduring peace and allyship between the United States and Japan. The United States, and our military members in particular, has done more to liberate humankind from tyranny and oppression than literally any other force in history. Hundreds of millions of people have been liberated because of our military and our country—and Iwo Jima was a proud part of that legacy.”
Specifically, the resolution:
Honors the Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, Army Air Crew, and Coast Guardsmen who fought bravely on Iwo Jima;
Remembers the brave servicemembers who lost their lives in the battle;
Encourages Americans to honor the veterans of Iwo Jima; and
Reaffirms the bonds of friendship and shared values that have developed between the United States and Japan over the last 80 years.
The resolution was cosponsored by Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Coons (D-Conn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Angus King (I-Maine), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
Full text of the resolution can be found here.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Seven Chilean Nationals Charged Following Nationwide Burglaries Of Several Professional Athletes

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the unsealing of a criminal complaint charging Pablo Zuniga Cartes (24, Chile), Ignacio Zuniga Cartes (20, Chile), Bastian Jimenez Freraut (27, Chile), Jordan Quiroga Sanchez (22, Chile), Bastian Orellano Morales (23, Chile), Alexander Huiaguil Chavez (24, Chile), and Sergio Ortega Cabello (38, Chile) with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.

According to the complaint, the individuals were members of a South American Theft Group that burglarized the homes of professional athletes around the country. These individuals targeted high-profile athletes in the National Football League (“NFL”) and National Basketball Association (“NBA”), all of whom were away or playing in professional games at the times of the burglaries. These individuals stole valuables worth over $2 million.

On October 5 and 7, 2024, in the Kansas City area, the homes of two Kansas City Chiefs football players were burglarized and jewelry, watches, cash, and other luxury merchandise was taken. The October 7 burglary occurred while the team played in Kansas City, Missouri.

As detailed in the complaint, in Tampa on October 21, 2024, the home of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers player was burglarized while the team played in Tampa. Jewelry, designer watches, a luxury suitcase, and a firearm were stolen.

On November 2, 2024, the Wisconsin home of a Milwaukee Bucks player was burglarized during a game in Milwaukee. A safe containing several watches, chains, personal items, jewelry, and cash was stolen, along with a designer suitcase and designer bags. The total value of property stolen was approximately $1.484 million.

The below photograph depicts Pablo Zuniga Cartes, Ignacio Zuniga Cartes, Bastian Jimenez Freraut, and a fourth individual posing with the stolen safe and jewelry taken shortly after the theft:

On December 9, 2024, the Cincinnati home of a Cincinnati Bengals player was burglarized while the team played Arlington, Texas. Designer luggage, glasses, watches, and jewelry valued at about $300,000 was stolen. Sergio Ortega Cabello rented a vehicle used in the burglary.

Between the late afternoon on December 19, 2024, and the early morning of December 20, 2024, the Tennessee home of a Memphis Grizzlies player was burglarized while the team played in Memphis, Tennessee. Jewelry, watches, and luxury bags valued at about $1 million were stolen.

A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, United States Customs and Border Patrol, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Hamilton County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office, the Shelby County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office, the Dallas (Texas) Police Department, the Indian Hill (Ohio) Police Department, the Leawood (Kansas) Police Department, the River Hills (Wisconsin) Police Department.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious transnational criminal organizations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Baeza and Special Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Haynes.

MIL Security OSI –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: In Day-Long Security Council Debate, Speakers Offer Divergent Views on ‘New’ Global Order, Stress Need to Update Global Governance

Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

During a day-long Security Council debate on practicing multilateralism and reforming global governance today, speakers stressed the urgent need to update the United Nations — founded 80 years ago — including reforms to the Council itself and to the global economic order to better address twenty-first-century challenges.

“One can draw a direct line between the creation of the United Nations and the prevention of a third world war,” said António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, recalling that the UN was “born out of the ashes” of the second. The UN remains the “essential, one-of-a-kind meeting ground to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights”, he said. However, “eight decades is a long time”, he said, emphasizing that while the “hardware” for international cooperation exists, “the software needs an update”.

As global challenges demand multilateral solutions, he pointed out that the Pact for the Future puts forward concrete solutions to strengthen the machinery of peace, advance coordination with regional organizations and includes the first multilateral agreement on nuclear disarmament in more than a decade. It also includes efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space, advance discussions on lethal autonomous weapons and recognizes the UN’s role in preventive diplomacy.

“But the Pact does even more for peace,” he said, as it recognizes that the international community must address the root causes of conflict and tension and that the Council “must reflect the world of today”. Guided by the Pact, he said that multilateralism — “the beating heart of the United Nations” — can became an even more powerful instrument of peace. “But multilateralism is only as strong as each and every country’s commitment to it,” he added, urging all Member States to continue updating global problem-solving mechanisms to “make them fit for purpose, fit for people and fit for peace”.

Shift of Power to Global South

Wang Yi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of China — Council President for February — then spoke in his national capacity to recall that representatives of his country were the first to sign the Charter of the United Nations, “writing with the Chinese calligraphy brush an important chapter in world history”. Now, though, comprehensive peace and shared prosperity remain elusive. Noting the rise of the Global South on the world stage, he insisted that “international affairs should no longer be monopolized by a small number of countries” and the fruits of global development should not be enjoyed by only a few countries. China, as the world’s largest developing country, has become the major trading partner of more than 150 countries and regions and is promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation to contribute to global prosperity and development.

“The continuing inequalities of the global financial system have further aggravated today’s crises,” said Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, adding that “the very fabric of the world order established under the UN Charter is in danger of being torn apart”. Urging reform of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, he pointed out that the current system favours the rich, while developing nations are trapped in a cycle of poverty and debt.

Also underlining the need to reform the global economic order, Selma Bakhta Mansouri, Secretary of State to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Algeria, said that current financial arrangements are largely led by developed States. It is necessary to ensure a “flexible and sustainable financing mechanism for African States and to work towards improving or easing their debt burden,” she stressed. She also noted that Africa represents more than a quarter of UN Member States, but continues to be deprived of permanent representation on the Council.

Similarly, Francess Piagie Alghali, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone, said that Africa remains the most glaring victim of inequitable Council composition. Without structural reform, the organ’s performance and legitimacy will continue to be questioned, she said, also highlighting Africa’s exclusion from multilateral development banks. Highlighting the African Union’s theme of the year — Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations — she stressed the need to urgently rectify the historical injustices perpetuated against the continent.

Push for Two Permanent Security Council Seats for Africa

Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia, also reiterated the need for a “deep-rooted reform” of the Council, stressing that African States should be granted two permanent seats that include the right to veto. Stating that the UN Charter must be the “linchpin” and “our lodestar” as the international community embarks on reforming the multilateral system, he also noted that Council resolutions are being trampled upon, calling for effective mechanisms to bolster the UN’s capacity to guarantee international peace and security.

“It is illogical that Africa does not feature among permanent members,” observed France’s representative, underscoring: “That must change.” Two African States must hold permanent seats on the Council, and he added that Africa’s demand for veto power is “legitimate”. The representative of Denmark, in that vein, stated that the world needs a more-representative Council — “one which redresses the historical injustice done to the African continent”. She added: “We cannot seriously tackle the issues facing multilateralism when the Security Council continues to operate in a reality of yesteryear.”

“The Security Council is arguably the least representative and most undemocratic of global institutions,” added Guyana’s representative, pointing out that the Council faces the risk of becoming irrelevant. “We have seen repeatedly how the current structure and decision-making format — particularly the use of the veto — have thwarted the will” of the wider membership, she said. Greece’s representative, for his part, expressed support for “any model of reform that is fair, strengthens the UN as a whole and transforms the Security Council into a more democratic, efficient, representative and accountable body”.

Russian Federation, China Accused of Being Drivers of Instability

Meanwhile, the representative of the United States said that “two of the greatest drivers of instability in the world today hold veto power”, spotlighting the Russian Federation’s bloody war in Ukraine and China’s exploitation of its developing-nation status. “We need to take a close look at where this institution is falling short,” she added. Therefore, the United States is currently reviewing its support to the UN, and she said that “we will consider whether actions of the Organization are serving American interests, and whether it can be reformed”.

As to why the UN is falling short of its ambitions, the representative of the United Kingdom observed that “there is more to this than the often-mentioned liquidity crisis”. While the Organization’s membership has increased, it is not fully representative of today’s “multipolar world”, she said. Further, the Council is often characterized as “ineffective geopolitical theatre”, and she added that — while reform is needed — “this body has the tools to implement its peace and security mandate”.

“It is time to rescue multilateralism from ruinous mistrust,” stressed Panama’s representative, urging States to ensure that, rather that floundering, the system flourishes and prospers. Observing that his country has been reaping the rewards of multilateralism since its independence, he said that diplomatic efforts lead to the end of the colonial enclave and to the recovery of “our Canal”.

BRICS Surpasses G7 in Gross Domestic Product

The representative of the Russian Federation noted that developed countries have siphoned off $62 trillion in resources from the Global South since 1960, highlighting Moscow’s efforts to advance anti-colonial agendas at the UN. And “there have been tectonic shifts in the global economy”, with BRICS (Brazil, Russian Federation, India, China, South Africa) accounting for 37 per cent of the global gross domestic product (GDP), surpassing 29 per cent represented by the Group of 7 (G7) countries, he added, stressing the need for a more equitable global financial architecture. Rejecting the West’s domination at the Security Council as “a relic of the past”, he said that his country advocates for indivisible security in Eurasia without infringing on others’ interests.

“It is extraordinary that 193 Member States — with each of us at different stages of political and economic development, like-minded or even antagonistic — gather every day in this very building to discuss and solve current and future issues,” observed the representative of the Republic of Korea. “This should not be taken for granted,” he stressed, stating that the UN’s convening role is the “driving engine of multilateralism”. Slovenia’s representative, similarly, noted that the UN “enabled the power of rules to replace the rule of power”. Citing former Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld, he said: “It is not big Powers who need the UN for their protection. It is all the others.”

Unilateralism Versus Multilateralism

As the floor opened to the wider membership, Celinda Sosa Lunda, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bolivia, pointed to the need for radical change within the UN structure in view of the myriad threats to the planet’s very existence. “We are fighting for the transition towards a multipolar world,” she stressed. “Today the world is in a state of flux,” said Jeje Odongo Abubakhar, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Uganda, pointing to the “palpable loss of trust” in age-old institutions and mechanisms. Observing that many world leaders now favour unilateralism, he stressed: “The future of multilateralism depends on the willingness of State and non-State actors to re-imagine and revitalize the system.”

On that, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cuba, said that it has become crucial to defend multilateralism given “the withdrawal of the world’s greatest Power from international bodies”. He also opposed “trends towards the privatization of the Organization, turning it into a tool that represents the interests of major Powers and large transnational capital”. Meanwhile, Péter Szijjártó, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, said that, during the “global dictatorship of the international liberal mainstream”, the UN has failed to be a platform for peace. He therefore stressed that the UN must adjust itself to the new global political reality or “lose its significance”.

Waleed Abdul Karim El-Khereiji, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, also said that the increasing crisis of confidence in the UN demands reform. Further, “current bloody incidents” call for firm responses from the multilateral system. “No people should feel abandoned by the international community,” stressed Fedor Rosocha, Director General of the Directorate for International Organizations and Human Rights in the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, stressing that the Council must not be passive in the fact of conflict, crisis and atrocity.

The fact that “no new world war has happened” is not a consolation to Ukrainians whose towns have been destroyed, observed Mariana Betsa, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Multilateral institutions are being undermined from within, she said, urging that permanent Council members be limited in their use of the veto when they have a conflict of interest in the matter under consideration. She added: “If the UN begins to resemble a boxing ring — with fighters, their supporters and passive spectators — the prospects for global security will be bleak.”

MIL OSI United Nations News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI: Kairous Acquisition Corp. Limited Announces Additional Contribution to Trust Account to Extend Period to Consummate Business Combination

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Singapore, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kairous Acquisition Corp. Limited (OTCPINK: KACL, the “Company”), a special purpose acquisition company, announced today that Kairous Asia Limited, the Company’s initial public offering sponsor (“Sponsor”), has deposited into the Company’s trust account (the “Trust Account”) an aggregate of $50,000, in order to extend the period of time the Company has to complete a business combination for an additional one (1) month period, from February 16, 2025 to March 16, 2025. The Company issued a promissory note to Sponsor with a principal amount equal to the amount deposited. The promissory note bears no interest and will be converted into the Company’s ordinary shares at a price of $10.10 per share at the closing of a business combination by the Company. The purpose of the extension is to provide time for the Company to complete a business combination.

About Kairous Acquisition Corp. Limited

Kairous Acquisition Corp. Limited is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements, including the successful consummation of the Company’s initial public offering, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

Contacts

Kairous Acquisition Corp. Limited
Athiwat Apichote
ir.kairous@gmail.com

The MIL Network –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health and Business – The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners Partners with Tribal to Transform Learner Management

Source: Tribal Group

Wellington, February 5, 2025 – Tribal Group, a leading provider of education technology, is delighted to announce its partnership with The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College). Following an extensive evaluation process, the College has selected Tribal’s ebs learner management system to assist the transformation of their learner experience and streamline operations as part of Te Kāpehu Whetū, their programme for mapping operational needs and identifying suitable tools.

The College identified the need for a more robust, future-proofed system following their commitment to delivering seamless training experiences to support the next generation of specialist general practitioners and rural hospital doctors.

Toby Beaglehole, College Chief Executive says, “The change in our system was essential to accommodate our organisation’s growth and future needs. Te Kāpehu Whetū represents our continuous improvement approach to finding the right tools that align with our processes and support our vision for the future.”

A Rigorous Selection Process

The College’s search for a new solution began in 2022. After conducting desktop research and gathering recommendations from other organisations in the New Zealand tertiary education and membership sectors, Tribal ebs emerged as an option due to its intuitive functionality and deep integration capability.

“We needed a solution that was not only advanced in its core capabilities but also came from a provider deeply embedded in the education sector. Tribal stood out not just for its extensive experience but for its ability to future-proof our organisation through ongoing R&D and sector insights,” said Mr Beaglehole.

The partnership will see Tribal ebs become the central system supporting the College’s learner journeys, from application through their training and into Fellowship, while integrating seamlessly with their other systems.

Delivering Modern, Learner-Centric Solutions

The learner and staff portals within Tribal ebs were major factors in the College’s decision, offering intuitive user experiences with powerful behind-the-scenes functionality. The system will also automate many of the College’s operational processes.

Steve Exley, Tribal’s General Manager in New Zealand, added, “We are proud to partner with the College and support their journey towards a more robust system that enhances their operations and the services they provide. This collaboration signifies the strength of Tribal ebs in the tertiary education sector, particularly here in Aotearoa New Zealand.”

A Broader Impact on the Tertiary Education and EdTech Sectors

This collaboration highlights the increasing need for future-ready solutions within the tertiary education sector. The College’s adoption of Tribal ebs not only showcases the adaptability of the platform but also underscores Tribal’s deep commitment to addressing the diverse needs of education organisations, particularly in New Zealand and the wider Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

The partnership also celebrates Tribal’s launch of advisory services in APAC, reinforcing its presence and expertise in education technology throughout the region.

“This partnership with Tribal enables us to leverage new technology to enhance our educational infrastructure. By integrating Tribal ebs, we are laying the groundwork for a future-ready institution that aligns with our strategic goals to nurture new generations of specialist GPs and rural hospital doctors,” concludes Mr Beaglehole.

Mark Pickett, CEO of Tribal Group, remarked, “Our collaboration with the College reaffirms Tribal Group’s commitment to delivering solutions that address the intricate needs of educational institutions. By providing a comprehensive and adaptable learner management system, we are committed to fostering innovation and operational excellence within the College, ensuring they remain at the forefront of medical education.”

Next Steps for the Partnership

The College has already initiated workshops with Tribal’s implementation team, and the first project milestone—go-live for applications for the 2026 intake of general practice and rural hospital trainees—is set for March 2025.

About Tribal

Tribal Group plc is global leader in education technology, offering solutions that empower institutions to improve efficiency, innovate processes, and enhance the learner experience. Working with Higher Education, Further and Tertiary Education, schools, Government and State bodies, training providers and employers, in over 55 countries; Tribal Group’s mission is to empower the world of education with products and services that underpin learner success.

About The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners

The Royal New Zealand College Of General Practitioners is New Zealand’s largest medical college with a membership of over 6,000 GPs, rural hospital doctors, and registrars. The College sets standards for general practice in New Zealand, providing research, assessment, ongoing education, advocacy and support for general practitioners and general practice. They advocate for equity, access, and sustainable healthcare and believe fundamentally that regardless of who or where they are, every New Zealander should have access to their own GP.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health – Patients, clinicians to pay price for Te Whatu Ora digital services cuts – RACS

Source: Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)

Te Whare Piki Ora o Māhutonga – the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) – says proposed cuts to Te Whatu Ora’s digital services were made with reference to financial considerations, not clinical ones.

It argues any projected cost savings don’t factor in the potential impact on clinical staff, clinical standards and patient safety and wellbeing.

“These proposed changes may seem like a simple money saver, but we haven’t seen any analysis that weighs the expected cost savings against the risks to patient outcomes,” says Dr Ros Pochin, Chair of the RACS Aotearoa New Zealand National Committee.

She says the current state of the IT systems hospital clinicians rely on are “not what you would hope for from a modern healthcare system”.

“We need systems that talk to each other across hospitals and regions; reliable technology and uninterrupted remote access, especially for the smaller rural and regional centres; and a support team with the capacity to help when there are issues or outages. I can’t see how the proposals allow for these much-needed upgrades. In fact, they’ll likely make matters worse. The loser is always the patient and the clinicians trying to do their best for them.”

The Digital Services Consultation Document proposes significant changes to Te Whatu Ora’s digital infrastructure, including the termination or deferral of 136 digital projects and a near 50% reductions in digital services staff. The changes aim to address financial deficits but raise concerns regarding their potential impact on clinical standards, patient safety, and the overall effectiveness of the healthcare system.

“These drastic changes, focused almost exclusively on cost-saving measures, have been made without consulting those who are most affected – the frontline medical professionals who deliver care,” says Dr Pochin.

“This is a strategic shift being pushed through without the necessary evidence or clinical scrutiny. While it may offer short-term savings, the long-term performance and human cost could be profound.”

RACS, which is committed to equitable, quality healthcare, is voicing its strong objections to these changes, which threaten to destabilise an already fragile health workforce and undermine the safety and efficacy of patient care. It is calling for an immediate suspension of the current decision-making process and urges Te Whatu Ora to engage in a thorough, evidence-based consultation with clinical professionals

As Aotearoa New Zealand navigates its future healthcare needs, RACS remains committed to advocating for the changes that will best serve the health and wellbeing of all communities, and is ready to work alongside Te Whatu Ora and other stakeholders to shape a better, safer, and more equitable system for the country.

About the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)

RACS is the leading advocate for surgical standards, professionalism and surgical education in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The College is a not-for-profit organisation that represents more than 7000 surgeons and 1300 surgical trainees and Specialist International Medical Graduates. RACS also supports healthcare and surgical education in the Asia-Pacific region and is a substantial funder of surgical research. There are nine surgical specialties in Australasia being: Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Paediatric Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Urology and Vascular Surgery. www.surgeons.org

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Former Great Falls woman sentenced to prison for 2021 crash on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation that seriously injured passenger

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

GREAT FALLS — A former Great Falls woman who was convicted by a federal judge for a December 2021 crash on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in which a juvenile passenger suffered serious injuries was sentenced on Feb. 12 to 14 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot said today.

After a one-day bench trial on Aug. 27, 2024, Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris found the defendant, Noblee Rose Littledog, 23, currently of Aberdeen, Washington, guilty of assault resulting in serious bodily injury as charged in an indictment. At sentencing, the court allowed Littledog to self-report to prison.

In court documents and at trial, the government alleged that on Dec. 1, 2021, Littledog was driving a 2019 Jeep Cherokee on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation with the victim, a passenger identified as Jane Doe, who was 17 years old. While driving on Badger Creek Road, Littledog attempted to pass two vehicles at the same time while driving 105 mph. Littledog lost control of the vehicle and overcorrected, causing the vehicle to leave the roadway and roll several times before coming to rest right side up. Both Littledog and the victim were seriously injured. Jane Doe suffered severe trauma to her lower extremities, underwent multiple surgeries and has permanent damage.

The government presented evidence at trial that seconds before the crash, Littledog was traveling at a minimum speed of 105 mph. The evidence also showed that both occupants were restrained at the time of the crash. Jane Doe reported that Littledog had consumed alcohol on the drive, and Littledog told law enforcement at the hospital that she had consumed two alcoholic beverages approximately 30 to 40 minutes before the crash.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, the Montana Highway Patrol and the FBI, with assistance from the Cut Bank Police Department, conducted the investigation.

XXX

MIL Security OSI –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI: Athene Holding Ltd. Declares First Quarter 2025 Preferred Stock Dividends
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Athene Holding Ltd. (“Athene”) announced that it has declared the following preferred stock dividends on its non-cumulative preferred stock (represented by depositary shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of preferred stock), payable on March 31, 2025 to holders of record as of March 15, 2025.
- Quarterly dividend of $396.875 per share on the company’s 6.35% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A (the “Series A Preferred Stock”); holders of depositary shares will receive $0.396875 per depositary share.
- Quarterly dividend of $351.5625 per share on the company’s 5.625% Fixed-Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B (the “Series B Preferred Stock”); holders of depositary shares will receive $0.3515625 per depositary share.
- Quarterly dividend of $398.4375 per share on the company’s 6.375% Fixed-Rate Reset Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C (the “Series C Preferred Stock”); holders of depositary shares will receive $0.3984375 per depositary share.
- Quarterly dividend of $304.6875 per share on the company’s 4.875% Fixed-Rate Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series D (the “Series D Preferred Stock”); holders of depositary shares will receive $0.3046875 per depositary share.
- Quarterly dividend of $484.375 per share on the company’s 7.750% Fixed-Rate Reset Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series E (the “Series E Preferred Stock”); holders of depositary shares will receive $0.484375 per depositary share.
Depositary shares for the Series A Preferred Stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “ATHPrA,” depositary shares for the Series B Preferred Stock are listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “ATHPrB,” depositary shares for the Series C Preferred Stock are listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “ATHPrC,” depositary shares for the Series D Preferred Stock are listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “ATHPrD,” and depositary shares for the Series E Preferred Stock are listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “ATHPrE.”

About Athene
Athene is a leading retirement services company with over $360 billion of total assets as of December 31, 2024, and operations in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, and Japan. Athene is focused on providing financial security to individuals by offering an attractive suite of retirement income and savings products and also serves as a solutions provider to corporations. For more information, please visit www.athene.com.

Contact:

Jeanne Hess
VP, External Relations
+1 646 768 7319
jeanne.hess@athene.com

The MIL Network –
February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Peters Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Authorize FEMA to Accept Tribal Government Requests for Fire Management Assistance Grants

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

Published: 02.14.2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Gary Peters(D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, reintroduced bipartisan legislation that requires FEMA to accept requests from Tribal governments to receive a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) Declaration. FEMA can currently accept Emergency and Major Disaster Declaration requests from Tribal governments, but the agency cannot accept FMAG requests directly from Tribes. This limitation impedes Tribes’ capacity to access federal resources for wildfire management and undermines Tribal independence by forcing them to work through state governments rather than having the option to interact directly with federal authorities for this specific type of assistance.

“When wildfires threaten Tribal communities, Tribal governments must receive the assistance they need quickly,” said Senator Peters. “This bipartisan legislation allows FEMA to directly provide Tribal governments with federal resources to combat wildfires.”

Tribal governments currently face unnecessary limitations in accessing FEMA’s wildfire disaster assistance. While the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act granted federally recognized Tribal governments the authority to directly request Emergency and Major Disaster Declarations from the President or to go through a state request, Tribes cannot do the same for Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) Declarations. Instead, they must work through state governments to receive FMAG assistance, despite their status as sovereign nations.

The Fire Management Assistance Grants for Tribal Governments Act aims to address this gap. This bipartisan legislation would modify the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to give Tribal governments the same options for FMAG Declarations that they already have for other FEMA declarations: either requesting assistance directly from FEMA or to work through their state. This change would create consistency across all three types of FEMA disaster declarations: Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) Declarations, Emergency Declarations, and Major Disaster Declarations.

The bill has been endorsed by the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the National Native American Law Enforcement Association, and the National Association of Counties.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Amid Evolving Threat Landscape, UN Peacekeepers Must Have Adequate Resources to Protect Vulnerable Populations in Conflict Zones, Speakers Tell Special Committee

Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

In an ever-shifting security landscape, ensuring sufficient funding, technology and training, and promoting gender equality in peacekeeping operations while also recognizing the importance of safeguarding vulnerable populations in conflict zones is more critical than ever, speakers told the opening of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, which also marked 60 years since its establishment.

Vice-President of the General Assembly Cherdchai Chaivaivid (Thailand), speaking on behalf of Assembly President Philémon Yang (Cameroon), said that, for nearly 80 years, UN peacekeepers have protected civilians from violence and supported vital political dialogue between parties to conflict.

“The safety and security of United Nations peacekeepers remains of utmost importance,” he stressed, adding that since 1948 over 3,500 blue helmets have lost their lives serving in UN peacekeeping operations. “Going forward, we will need mandates suited for an evolving threat landscape,” he said, also emphasizing the need for improved capacity to assess conflict situations, as well as effective planning and management throughout the peacekeeping cycle.

“It is also vital to improve cooperation of poor countries with other critical partners, increase trust among stakeholders and manage local and international expectations in the Pact for the Future,” he went on to say. Further, Member States must enhance collaboration between the UN and regional and subregional organizations, particularly the African Union.

Adoption of Pact for the Future Created ‘Transformative Moment’ for Peacekeeping

Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, speaking on behalf of Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, said that this annual engagement by Member States is a key source of the “enduring strength as a preeminent symbol of multilateral resolve”. Peacekeepers can be a “lifeline” for hundreds of thousands of civilians caught in conflict.

The Committee’s sixtieth anniversary comes at a transformative moment for peacekeeping following the adoption of the Pact for the Future, where Member States equivocally reaffirmed peacekeeping as a critical tool to maintain international peace and security, she said. “You have a unique opportunity to build on those efforts by providing a platform for dialogue, presenting innovative ideas and ensuring the effectiveness and accountability of UN peacekeeping operations,” she added.

More Peacekeeper Resources Key amid Complex Terrain Marked by Geopolitical Challenges and Volatility

As delegates took the floor, many stressed the need for more resources so that peacekeepers can carry out their work in an ever-shifting security landscape, with Morocco’s delegate, speaking for Non-Aligned Movement, noting that UN peacekeeping operations are currently navigating a complex terrain marked by geopolitical challenges. “Funding and limited resources remain a significant issue,” she stressed. “As a result, peacekeeping operations find themselves in a delicate position, needing to adapt to the realities on the ground while responding to international expectations.”

Troop- and Police-Contributing Countries Stress Consultation with Them Key for Drafting Clear, Achievable Mandates

Speakers from troop- and police-contributing countries stressed the Security Council must further consult with them to draft clear and achievable mandates that preserve the primacy of political solutions and help peacekeeping operations better address the evolving nature of global conflicts.

“Our peacekeepers continue to serve in nations where security situations are volatile, but despite such challenges, our peacekeepers are striving to fulfil their mandates, and therefore we must ensure their safety and security,” said Indonesia’s delegate, speaking for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Noting that its member States contribute over 5,000 peacekeepers across various UN missions, he called for better quality training and equipment for the troops.

Canada’s representative, also speaking for Australia and New Zealand, and echoing other speakers, emphasized the importance of including women in all areas of peacekeeping missions, and commitment to the women, peace and security agenda as a cornerstone of the UN’s efforts to promote gender equality and lasting peace, reduce training obstacles in order to guarantee women’s full, equal participation. “We urge missions to step up efforts to support the role of women in conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding,” he said. He further underscored the importance of planning and the deliberate implementation of transitions and drawdowns in peacekeeping operations, stressing: “Several agencies need to be involved from the very beginning of these processes to identify the capacity of the host Government, the UN and civil society actors to support those transitions.”

Countries Hosting Peacekeeping Missions Urge Focus on Linguistic Capacity-Building, Improved Cooperation

Speakers from countries hosting peacekeeping missions laid out their priorities and concerns, as well, with the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, speaking for the French-Speaking Ambassadors Group, emphasizing that French-speaking areas host several operations that face growing and complex challenges. “The fragility of ceasefire agreements, the high cost of conflict for the civilian population and the complexity of peace processes are making the work of the blue helmets more essential than ever,” he stressed. Recalibrating peacekeeping capacities is vital to improve cooperation with host States and “strengthen the links of trust” with the local population.

“This is a priority that must also be looked at from the point of view of linguistic and intellectual capacity-building,” he said, calling for a focus on language abilities from the strategic planning to the operational phases. Many countries in the Francophone space want to contribute more to peacekeeping operations, but they are being held back by language barriers at every stage of their engagement.

Donor Countries Pledge Continued Support

Donor countries, meanwhile, pledged to continue to support UN peacekeeping missions, and echoed many other Member States in calling attention to the unique opportunity created by the adoption of the Pact for the Future. The European Union’s speaker, noting that the bloc provided almost one quarter of the UN’s peacekeeping budget last year, said it will continue to contribute constructively to the upcoming negotiations with the intent to improve UN peacekeeping in accordance with the Pact. “We currently deploy almost 4,000 military police and civilian personnel to UN peace operations,” he said, adding: “We cannot continue to demand more from our peacekeeping missions by expanding their mandates without providing the necessary resources for their implementation.”

UN peacekeeping operations are confronted with increasingly complex challenges, he observed, citing regional threats, the effects of climate change, mis- and disinformation, increased presence of non-State actors, such as private military companies, transnational criminal activities and the weaponization of new and emerging technology, as demonstrated by the first attack ever last September on UN peacekeepers with an improvised armed unmanned aerial system.

Election of Officers

At the opening of the meeting, the Committee by acclamation elected Francisco Tropepi (Argentina), Michael Gort (Canada), Takayuki Iriya (Japan) and Michal Miarka (Poland) as Vice-Chairs; and Mohamed Soliman (Egypt) as Rapporteur. Michael Gort (Canada) was elected to serve as Chair of the Working Group of the Whole.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

February 19, 2025