Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
JERUSALEM, June 17 (Xinhua) — The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Tuesday that Ali Shadmani, Iran’s chief of military staff and one of the Islamic Republic’s highest-ranking military officers, was killed in an overnight airstrike on a command center in Tehran.
The strike was carried out by Israeli aircraft after receiving “precise intelligence” and a “sudden opportunity,” the IDF said in a statement.
A. Shadmani, a senior military commander and closest to Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, commanded the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iranian army.
He was appointed commander of Iran’s armed forces at the start of the ongoing five-day war after his predecessor, Alaa Ali Rashid, was killed in an Israeli strike that started the current fighting.
The killing of A. Shadmani “continued a series of assassinations of Iran’s top military command and disrupted the chain of command,” the IDF said. –0–
Israel’s military intercepted and eliminated 30 drones from Iran overnight, the Israel Defense Forces said Tuesday, describing it as the least impactful night by the Iranian attacks since the beginning of this operation. The IDF also reported Iran fired several ballistic missiles toward Israel, though the exact number was not specified.
Around 20 missiles fired from Iran on Tuesday triggered sirens across Israel, including northern and southern areas, central Israel, Jerusalem, and the West Bank. Reports indicated a direct hit in central Israel, with property damage confirmed by Israeli police, though authorities have not officially confirmed the strike.
The foreign ministers of 20 Arab and Muslim countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey, and Pakistan, denounced Israel’s attacks on Iran and called for de-escalation in a joint statement. The ministers expressed grave concern over the dangerous escalation in the region and urged all parties to settle disputes peacefully while respecting state sovereignty and territorial integrity. They also emphasized the importance of creating a Middle East free of nuclear weapons and urged countries to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
US President Donald Trump called for the immediate evacuation of all of Tehran, issuing the warning shortly after Israeli forces told residents in northeastern Tehran to leave ahead of planned strikes. The Pentagon announced deployment of additional military capabilities to West Asia to enhance defensive posture amid the escalating conflict.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz later clarified that Israel has no intention of deliberately harming Tehran’s residents. “There is no intention to physically harm the residents of Tehran as the murderous dictator does to the residents of Israel,” Katz said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Monday that the strikes have set Iran’s nuclear program back “years” and said he is in daily contact with Trump, who left the G7 summit in Canada early amid reports he was heading to Washington to work on a ceasefire deal.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Tuesday announced that it had eliminated Ali Shadmani, Iran’s wartime chief of staff and close aide of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an overnight strike.
“Following accurate intelligence received by the Intelligence Branch and a sudden opportunity during the night, Air Force fighter jets attacked a manned headquarters in the heart of Tehran and killed Ali Shadmani, the Chief of Staff of the War, the most senior military commander and the man closest to Iranian leader Ali Khamenei,” the IDF said in a post on X.
This is the second time in recent weeks that Israel has targeted and killed a high-ranking military commander of the regime, with an aim to disrupt Iran’s military leadership.
According to the Israeli military, Shadmani served as Chief of War Staff and Commander of the Armed Forces Emergency Command and commanded the Revolutionary Guards and the Iranian army.
“Prior to the assassination of his predecessor, Shadmani served as deputy commander of the Hatem Al-Aniba Emergency Command and head of the Operations Department of the Armed Forces General Staff. Shadmani’s assassination joins a series of assassinations of the highest military command in Iran and constitutes another blow to the chain of command of the Iranian armed forces,” the IDF added.
The IDF further asserted that the “Khatem al-Anbiya” emergency command, under the assassinated Iranian officer’s command, was responsible for managing combat and approving Iranian fire plans.
In his various roles, the military said that Shadmani “directly influenced” Iranian fire plans to harm Israel.
Shadmani earlier replaced Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid, who was killed on Friday when Israel launched ‘Operation Rising Lion’ against Iran, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat of nuclear weapons to Israel’s very survival.
“In view of Lt. Gen. Gholamali Rashid’s martyrdom at the hands of the vile Zionist regime, and in light of Major General Ali Shadmani’s meritorious services & valuable experience, I confer the rank of Major Gen. & appoint him Commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central HQ,” Iranian Supreme leader Khamenei had posted on X.
Earlier in the day, Israel also announced the destruction of several surface-to-surface missiles and surface-to-air missile launchers of the Iranian regime as the hostilities between both nations escalated.
“Dozens of infrastructure for storing and launching surface-to-surface missiles and surface-to-air missile launchers of the Iranian regime were destroyed. Last night, Air Force fighter jets completed several waves of attacks against dozens of Iranian regime military targets in western Iran. As part of the waves of attacks, the Air Force attacked dozens of infrastructures for storing and launching surface-to-surface missiles, UAV storage sites, and surface-to-air missile launchers in western Iran,” said the Israel Defence Force (IDF) in a post on X.
The Israel-Iran conflict entered its fifth day, and hostilities between the two nations continued to escalate as several missiles from Iran were fired at Israel, triggering air raid sirens in Haifa and dozens of other cities and communities across northern Israel and the occupied Golan Heights, confirmed by the Israeli military.
Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)
Issued by: on
SUVA, Fiji (June 13, 2025) Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Deika Bustamante, assigned to Navy Medicine Readiness Training Command, sanitizes a petri dish at the Fiji Centre for Disease Control, during Pacific Partnership 2025 in Suva, Fiji, June 13, 2025. Now in its 21st iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval/Released)
Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)
Issued by: on
SUVA, Fiji (June 13, 2025) Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Jake Ziegler, center left, with the Pacific Partnership 2025 (PP-25) team, races students of the Waiqanake District School during PP-25 in Suva, Fiji, June 13, 2025. Now in its 21st iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval/Released)
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Speech
UN Human Rights Council 59: UK Statement on the Fact-Finding Mission on the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the Oral Update of the FFM on the eastern DRC. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.
Thank you, Mr Vice President.
Let me thank the High Commissioner and the Fact-Finding Mission for their important, indeed chilling, update on the situation in eastern DRC.
The UK is deeply concerned by the devastating accounts of human rights abuses and violations perpetrated by all parties to the conflict.
The reported extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, sexual violence and forced recruitment of children are simply horrendous. As are accounts of Rwandan Defence Forces and M23 entrenching administrative control through violence, displacing civilians, targeting civil society, and dismantling legal and civil institutions.
We urge all parties to protect human rights, respect international humanitarian law and engage meaningfully with the peace processes.
We also reiterate our call on the DRC to reconsider its decision to lift the moratorium on the death penalty.
Mr Vice President, we remain convinced that this Council must use all the mechanisms available to investigate reports of human rights violations and abuses in the eastern DRC, identify the perpetrators and end impunity once and for all.
Mr Vice President, I listened carefully to what the High Commissioner said about the challenges in establishing the independent Commission of Inquiry to continue the Fact-Finding Mission’s important work, but I do think we should try harder to fulfil this Council’s mandate.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
ALMATY, June 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping has repeatedly told a touching story of friendship between China and Kazakhstan: “More than 80 years ago, Chinese and Kazakh composers Xian Xinghai and Bakhytzhan Baikadamov met and became friends in Almaty, and their brotherly friendship transcended the borders of their countries… In difficult times, when Xian Xinghai was alone, sick and poor, Kazakh composer Bakhytzhan Baikadamov provided him with shelter.”
This year marks the 120th anniversary of Xian Xinghai’s birth. B. Baikadamov’s nearly 80-year-old daughter, Baldyrgan Baikadamova, who recently recovered from a serious illness, gave an interview to Xinhua at her home in Almaty.
She says that Xian Xinghai often repeated two cherished wishes: first, to find his family and tell them about his life in Almaty; second, to take his latest works to China. “Stories about these two cherished wishes are still told today, and this proves that true friendship can transcend time and space,” she says.
“KAZAKHSTAN-CHINESE FAMILY”
In May 1940, Xian Xinghai left Yan’an for the Soviet Union to work on the documentary film “Yan’an and the Eighth Army”. In 1941, due to the war, the film’s production was suspended, and Xian Xinghai was unable to return to his homeland. At the end of 1942, he reached Almaty, but still could not find a way to leave for China. B. Baikadamov, whom he had never met before, extended a helping hand to him.
B. Baikadamov, meeting Xian Xinghai on the street, saw a thin, poorly dressed young man sitting on a suitcase with a violin in his hands. Despite the language barrier, he realized that this man needed help and brought him to his home. The two composers supported each other in difficult times, inspiring the people with their music in the fight against fascism. The story of their friendship, which went through trials, still remains in the memory of the peoples of the two countries.
“Over the years, my father’s stories and the memories of relatives made me feel like I was a witness to this history,” says B. Baikadamova. Before retiring, she held the position of vice-rector of the Almaty Conservatory. On the walls of her office, you can see many folk instruments, and in the bookcase by the wall, there is a photograph of her father.
B. Baikadamova says that the days when Xian Xinghai and B. Baikadamova’s family lived together were difficult. Food was rationed, and there was very little of it. “/We/ planted potatoes, beets, carrots, and that’s how we survived… Grandma could exchange potatoes, for example, for butter. She always worried about Xian Xinghai, saying: “He’s too thin.” In the cold winter, Xian Xinghai didn’t have warm clothes, and Grandma remade an old coat for him,” she says.
After the death of composer B. Baikadamov, his family continued to remember Xian Xinghai’s wishes. In 1986, after numerous efforts, B. Baikadamova managed to contact Xian Xinghai’s daughter, Xian Ning. “When Xian Ning first came to Kazakhstan, we had a long conversation about her father’s life here. This was the beginning of our friendship, and one could say that our two families became one Kazakh-Chinese family,” she says.
B. Baikadamova believes that the history of “brotherly friendship that transcended the borders of countries,” which Chairman Xi Jinping spoke about, is a symbol of friendship between Kazakhstan and China and “an ideal example of people’s diplomacy.”
As the keeper of this friendship, she often interacts with the Chinese and feels part of this country. She has witnessed how the story of her father’s friendship with a Chinese composer continues to promote cultural exchanges between Kazakhstan and China, and is pleased to see the blossoming of practical cooperation between the two countries in various fields. “And the more people know about this story and the details of this story, the closer our peoples will become,” says our interlocutor.
“HIS WORKS HAVE RETURNED INSTEAD OF HIM”
Music always sounded in B. Baikadamov’s house. Music was the most important language in the communication between the two composers.
During the war years, Xian Xinghai never stopped yearning for his homeland and loved ones. Symphony No. 1 “National Liberation”, Symphony No. 2 “Holy War”, Suite “The Whole River is Red” /”Manjianghong”/… Each piece, each manuscript carried a piece of the composer’s soul.
On the advice of B. Baikadamov, Xian Xinghai took on the task of creating a symphonic poem about the hero of the Kazakh people, Amangeldy. Based on the folk songs collected by the Kazakh composer, Xian Xinghai created the poem “Amangeldy”, which inspired local residents. In Kazakhstan, Xian Xinghai also taught music theory, taught how to play musical instruments, and held concerts, receiving wide recognition.
In early 1944, on the advice of B. Baikadamov, Xian Xinghai went to Kostanay to work in a local musical ensemble as an accompanist. In 1945, while touring in a remote village, he fell ill with pneumonia and soon died in Moscow.
According to B. Baikadamova, Xian Xinhai wanted to bring the works written in Kazakhstan to China. “There is nothing more important and valuable for a composer than his work, it is his brainchild. /He wanted/ the Chinese people to know, hear and understand what he was thinking about in his last years,” she says, adding that the last works mean a lot to a musician, “like his last breath, like his last exhalation.”
“My grandmother, father and aunt were gone, and fulfilling Xian Xinghai’s wishes, returning his last works to his homeland – this mission fell on me, and I had to fulfill it,” she adds.
Due to the limited conditions, “Amangeldy” was originally written as a piano duet. Many years later, B. Baikadamova commissioned the Kazakh composer Bakir Bayakhunov to create an orchestral arrangement of the work and actively contributed to the poem’s return to China.
Xian Xinghai was born in Panyu City, Guangdong Province. In December 2023, the Xian Xinghai Concert Hall in Guangzhou hosted the “Musical Evening in Honor of the Friendship of Chinese Composer Xian Xinghai and Kazakh Composer B. Baikadamov”. The orchestral arrangement of “Amangeldy” was performed for the first time in the homeland of the Chinese composer.
“It was a great happiness, I said to myself: “You finally did it!” — recalling that moment, B. Baikadamova is very excited. “He did not return /to his homeland/, but let his music return,” she adds.
“SPREADING A COMMON VOICE AGAINST OPPRESSIVENESS AND AGGRESSION”
“To survive, we must join forces and protect our homeland, which is more precious to us than our mother,” Xian Xinghai wrote in one of his letters to his mother.
Xian Xinghai was born into a poor family of boatmen and raised listening to his mother’s folk songs and his grandfather’s flute. In 1929, the 24-year-old went to Paris to study and work, pursuing his musical dreams. He wrote an article expressing his aspirations: “a person who studies music” should “assume the heavy responsibility of saving China in decline.”
“Saving China in Decline” — this phrase became the main idea of Xian Xinghai’s life and work. In 1935, he returned from Paris after completing his studies and actively joined the work of creating and distributing songs about resistance to Japanese aggression and saving the country. In 1938, he came to Yan’an and began teaching at the music department of the Yan’an Lu Xun Institute of Arts.
It was very cold in the cave house in the winter, but Xian Xinghai’s enthusiasm for creating songs about saving the country was hotter than fire. In an old photo, the composer, wrapped in a cotton coat, sits at a small table, his brows slightly furrowed, and ponders something with a pen in his hand. It was here that he worked for six days and nights on the cantata “Yellow River.”
In April 1939, the premiere of the work took place in the hall of the North Shaanxi Public School in Yan’an, and it was a huge success. “Defend the Motherland! Defend the Yellow River! Defend North China! Defend all of China!” These words, coming from the depths of the soul, were a fierce call to fight against the Japanese invaders, a melody written in defense of justice. From there, they spread throughout China, throughout the world, and can still be heard today.
“The Yellow River Cantata embodies Xian Xinghai’s twenty years of experience and efforts in the field of musical creativity. At the decisive moment of the World Anti-Fascist War, Xian Xinghai used music to convey the great fortitude of the Chinese nation and convey the common voice of the people of the world against oppression and aggression,” said Liu Ni, director of the Yan’an Revolutionary Memorial Museum.
At that time, Yan’an was short of material resources and lacked instruments for performing symphonic music. Therefore, the original version of “Yellow River” was written in simplified musical notation. After arriving in the Soviet Union to work, Xian Xinghai completed the overture and orchestral accompaniment score for the cantata.
In 2005, the musical notation of the cantata “Yellow River” was published, on the systematization of which his daughter Xian Ning worked for eight years. It includes the “Yan’an version” and the “Soviet version”. Thus, Xian Ning “did what her father could not”.
“PRECIOUS MEMORIES ARE PASSED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION”
“We have performed the Yellow River cantata on stage many times. In my opinion, it is one of the most outstanding and touching works of China. Everyone, from musicians to ordinary people, can appreciate it, understand it and draw strength from it,” Beimbet Demeuov, chief conductor of the B. Baikadamov Kazakh State Choir, told Xinhua.
In 2024, it was 85 years since the premiere of the cantata “Yellow River”. In October of the same year, B. Demeuov headed the Kazakh State Choir named after B. Baikadamov, which gave a concert in Wuhan. When the inspiring melody sounded and the Kazakhs sang in Chinese, the hall burst into prolonged applause.
“In recent years, relations between the two countries have become increasingly close, from close high-level contacts to rich cultural exchanges,” Demeuov said, expressing hope that President Xi Jinping’s visit to Kazakhstan to attend the second China-Central Asia Summit will contribute to “further deepening cooperation between the two sides in all areas.”
Roza Bakbergenova, soloist of the B. Baikadamov Choir, said that the brotherly friendship between Xian Xinghai and B. Baikadamov is a valuable memory of the friendly relations between the peoples of the two countries, and expressed hope for deeper cultural exchanges between the two countries in the future.
According to B. Demeuov, Xian Xinghai’s “Amangeldy” and “Yellow River” have amazing power, reflect the composer’s deep study of the Kazakh people, culture and history, and are very popular with the local population. “Many thanks to Xian Xinghai for writing such works for us,” said B. Demeuov.
Like Xian Xinghai, the famous Kazakh composer B. Baikadamov was also a patriot, inspired people to resist oppression with music, and dedicated his entire life to collecting, recording, and preserving Kazakh folk music. His works, such as “Dombyra” and “Su tasushi kyz” /“Water Carrier Girl”/ are still widely known.
Yu Yafei, a teacher at the music department of the Xinghai Conservatory of Music in Guangzhou, noted that awakening the spirit of resistance, unyielding will and confidence in victory in the people through national music was the common goal of Xian Xinghai and B. Baikadamov, as well as the spiritual force that allowed the cantata “Yellow River” and the poem “Amangeldy” to overcome space and time. “This is the true meaning of why we still remember them, remember history and maintain friendship,” he added.
In Almaty, Xian Xinghai Street is located next to Baikadamov Street and there is a monument on it with an inscription in Chinese, Kazakh and Russian: “The street is named in honor of the outstanding Chinese composer, an ambassador of friendship and culture between the peoples of Kazakhstan and China.”
“The younger generation of Kazakhstan should know and continue this beautiful friendship, and I believe that in the future there will be even more beautiful stories about the friendship between Kazakhstan and China,” says local resident Ulan Bekmukhanbetova.
Old age and illness do not prevent B. Baikadamova from traveling to promote friendship. The elderly woman plans to visit Guangzhou again this August to donate several valuable items that belonged to Xian Xinghai, as well as historical materials related to him. She also plans to take her granddaughter with her to see Xian Xinghai’s hometown. “I hope that this familial friendship between our fathers and the precious memories between our countries will be passed on from generation to generation,” says B. Baikadamova. –0–
Oil prices rose sharply on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump called for the evacuation of Tehran, raising fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
The prices jumped initially but later eased, as the market stayed cautious about any major disruption in oil supplies.
Brent crude oil went up by as much as 2.2 per cent before falling slightly to trade just above $73 a barrel.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) also rose and hovered near $72. This comes after oil prices had dropped on Monday when there were signs that Iran was trying to calm tensions.
Israel continued to strike Iranian military targets, including weapons storage sites and missile launchers.
The oil market is closely watching the Strait of Hormuz – a narrow waterway that plays a crucial role in global oil trade.
Around 20 per cent of the world’s daily oil supply passes through this route. Maritime security company Ambrey reported a possible incident near the area on Tuesday, although details were not clear.
So far, the impact of the conflict has mostly been seen in the shipping sector. According to the UK Navy, ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf are facing issues with navigation signals.
Many shipping companies are now hesitant to take bookings in the region due to safety concerns. However, Iran’s infrastructure for exporting oil has not been damaged yet.
Even with some gains being reversed, oil prices remain higher than they were before the current conflict began.
This has led to record levels of hedging by oil producers and a rise in trading of oil futures and options.
Investment bank Morgan Stanley has also raised its oil price forecasts – citing higher risks because of the conflict.
Meanwhile, the White House is reportedly discussing the possibility of meeting Iranian officials this week to talk about reviving the nuclear deal and ending the ongoing war with Israel, according to a report by Axios.
Israel, on the other hand, claimed that it has taken control over large parts of Iran’s airspace and has heavily damaged its missile and nuclear facilities since launching its assault on Friday.
This has sparked fears of a broader war in the region, which produces nearly one-third of the world’s oil.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Celebrations as 17 Ministry of Defence Silver ERS Award winners are announced in Wales
17 organisations in Wales have been awarded the 2025 Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award among more than 300 nationally.
Employers in Wales that have actively demonstrated their support for the armed forces community through implementing practical policies in the workplace have been recognised with the prestigious Defence Silver ERS Award.
The 17 Welsh winners will be invited to receive their award as honoured guests at a Royal Gun Salute ceremony at the Pierhead Building, Cardiff Bay, on 17 July.
The 17 recipients are:
Active4Blood
Andy Swan Driver Services Ltd
Bulldogs Boxing and Community Activities
Cobra Life Martial Arts Ltd
Events Medical Team – Saltney Ltd
Henry Williams and Son (Roads) Ltd
Platts Group
Riverside Retreat Veterans Camp CIC
Shadow Response Security & Medical Ltd
The Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum Trust
Business in Focus Limited
IG Doors Limited
MPH Construction
Powys Teaching Health Board
R&M Williams Limited
V3 Group (UK) Ltd
Bridgend College
Major General Jamie Gordon, Chief Executive of the Council of Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations, said:
These Silver Award winners are trusted allies of defence. They don’t just talk about support—they show it, every day, through flexible policies, visible advocacy, and long-term commitment to those who serve. This is about more than good intentions, it’s about practical, sustained support that strengthens our national resilience. It is very pleasing that they have been recognised for all they do for our reservists, veterans and cadets.
Gareth Jones, Veterans Project Manager, Bulldogs Boxing and Community Activities, said:
Bulldogs BCA is incredibly proud and deeply honoured to have been awarded the Silver Award as part of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme. This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to supporting the armed forces community, including veterans, reservists, and their families.
We are thrilled that our efforts to provide opportunities, understanding, and practical support have been acknowledged at such a prestigious level. This award not only highlights the values at the heart of Bulldogs BCA, but also strengthens our resolve to continue championing those who have served our country with dedication and respect.
To achieve Silver, organisations must proactively demonstrate that the armed forces community are not unfairly disadvantaged as part of their recruitment policies. They must also ensure that their workforce is aware of the policies that benefit defence personnel, including reservists, veterans, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, and military families.
The scheme has 3 levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold, awarded to organisations that support defence personnel and encourage others to do the same.
Mr Craig Middle, the MOD’s DRM for South Wales, said:
Achieving the Silver ERS award has been a journey for all of our deserved winners. This journey has involved an exploration into what all aspects of the defence community can do for their teams. Many congratulations to all of this year’s winners – we look forward to celebrating with them in person next month.
Find out how your organisation can support the armed forces community through the Armed Forces Covenant and Defence Employer Recognition Scheme:
NATO has announced the programme for the summit that will be held in The Hague on 24 and 25 June. Dozens of heads of state and government of NATO countries will meet at the World Forum to discuss international security and current global developments, together with foreign and defence ministers.
Pre-Summit Press Conference by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
On Monday 23 June, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will hold a press conference at the World Forum in The Hague, ahead of the NATO Summit.
NATO Public Forum
On both days of the summit (24 and 25 June), interested parties can follow the NATO Public Forum online. During this public event, heads of state and government, ministers, experts, opinion leaders, young people and academics will discuss current issues relating to peace and security. The all-day programme can be followed viaNATO Public Forum Live.
NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum
TheNATO Summit Defence Industry Forumwill take place on Tuesday 24 June. Defence ministers, experts and representatives of the defence industry in NATO countries will come together to discuss innovation, cooperation and ways of strengthening the industry.
Official Meetings
Two sessions will be held in the World Forum at the same time. The foreign ministers will meet for a working dinner of the NATO-Ukraine Council. And the defence ministers will meet for a working dinner of the North Atlantic Council. A reception for all ministers will be held earlier the same evening.
Royal Dinner
On the evening of Tuesday 24 June, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will host an informal dinnerfor the heads of state and government of the NATO countries. The prime ministers of Australia, Japan and New Zealand, the presidents of South Korea and Ukraine, and the presidents of the European Council and European Commission are also invited to attend.
North Atlantic Council
On Wednesday 25 June, the main focus will be on the meeting of the North Atlantic Council, at which theheads of state and government will discuss the most important decisions facing the alliance. After the meeting NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and representatives of the Dutch government and other NATO allies will hold press conferences. Over the course of both days various countries will engage in bilateral talks.
The recent series of high-level agreements between Papua New Guinea and France marks a significant development in PNG’s geopolitical relationships, driven by what appears to be a convergence of national interests.
The “deepening relationship” is less about a single personality and more about a calculated alignment of economic, security, and diplomatic priorities with PNG, taking full advantage of its position as the biggest, most strategically placed island player in the Pacific.
An examination of the key outcomes reveals a partnership of mutual benefit, reflecting both PNG’s strategic diversification and France’s own long-term ambitions as a Pacific power.
A primary driver is the shared economic rationale. From Port Moresby’s perspective, the partnership offers a clear path to economic diversification and resilience.
But many in PNG have been watching with keen interest and asking: how badly does PNG want this?
While Prime Minister James Marape offered France a Special Economic Zone in Port Moresby (SEZ) for French businesses, he also named the lookout at Port Moresby’s Variarata National Park after President Emmanuel Macron drawing the ire of many in the country.
The proposal to establish a SEZ specifically for French industries is a notable attempt to attract capital from beyond PNG’s traditional partners.
Strategically coupled This is strategically coupled with securing the future of the multi-billion-dollar Papua LNG project.
Macron’s personal undertaking to work with TotalEnergies to keep the project on schedule provides crucial stability for one of PNG’s most significant economic ventures.
For France, these arrangements secure a major energy investment for its national corporate champion and establish a stronger economic foothold in a strategically vital region between Asia and the Pacific.
In the area of security, the relationship addresses tangible needs for both nations.
PNG is faced with the immense challenge of monitoring a 2.4 million sq km Exclusive Economic Zone, making it vulnerable to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The finalisation of a Shiprider Agreement with France provides a practical force-multiplier, leveraging French naval assets to enhance PNG’s maritime surveillance capabilities. This move, along with planned defence talks on air and maritime cooperation, allows PNG to diversify its security architecture.
For France, a resident power with Pacific territories like New Caledonia and French Polynesia, participating in regional security operations reinforces its role and commitment to stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Elevating diplomatic influence The partnership is also a vehicle for elevating diplomatic influence.
Port Moresby has noted the significance of engaging with a partner that holds permanent membership on the UN Security Council and seats at the G7 and G20.
This alignment provides PNG with a powerful channel to global decision-making forums. The reciprocal move to establish a PNG embassy in Paris further cements the relationship on a mature footing.
The diplomatic synergy is perhaps best illustrated by France’s full endorsement of PNG’s bid to host a future UN Ocean Conference. This support provides PNG with a major opportunity to lead on the world stage, while allowing France to demonstrate its credentials as a key partner to the Pacific Islands.
This deepening PNG-France partnership does not exist in a vacuum.
The West’s view of China’s rapid emergence as a dominant economic and military force in the region has reshaped the strategic landscape, prompting traditional powers to re-engage with renewed urgency.
increased diplomatic footprint The United States has responded by significantly increasing its diplomatic and security footprint, a move marked by Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Port Moresby to sign the Defence Cooperation Agreement.
Similarly, Australia, PNG’s traditional security partner, is working to reinforce its long-standing influence through initiatives like the multi-million-dollar deal to establish a PNG team in its National Rugby League (NRL), a soft-power exercise reportedly linked to security outcomes.
This competitive environment has, in turn, created greater agency for Pacific nations, allowing them to diversify their partnerships beyond old allies and providing a fertile ground for European powers like France to assert their own strategic interests.
A strong foundation for the relationship is a shared public stance on environmental stewardship. The agreement on the need for rigorous scientific studies before any deep-sea mining occurs aligns PNG’s national policy with a position of environmental caution.
This common ground extends to broader climate action, where France’s commitment to conservation in the Pacific resonates with PNG’s status as a frontline nation vulnerable to climate change.
This alignment on values provides a durable and politically important basis for cooperation, allowing both nations to jointly advocate for climate justice and ocean protection.
For the Papua New Guinea economy, this deepening partnership with France is critically important as it provides high-level stability for the multi-billion-dollar Papua LNG project and creates a direct pathway for new investment through a proposed SEZ for French businesses.
Vital economic resource Furthermore, by moving to finalise a Shiprider Agreement to combat illegal fishing, the government is actively protecting a vital economic resource.
For Marape’s credibility in local politics, these outcomes are tangible successes he can present to the nation as he battles a massive credibility dip in recent years.
Securing a personal undertaking from the leader of a G7 nation, gaining support for PNG to host a future UN Ocean Conference, and enhancing national security demonstrates effective leadership on the world stage.
This allows him to build a narrative of a competent statesman who, through “warm, personal relationships”, can deliver on promises of economic opportunity and national security while strengthening his political standing at home.
The recent series of high-level agreements between Papua New Guinea and France marks a significant development in PNG’s geopolitical relationships, driven by what appears to be a convergence of national interests.
The “deepening relationship” is less about a single personality and more about a calculated alignment of economic, security, and diplomatic priorities with PNG, taking full advantage of its position as the biggest, most strategically placed island player in the Pacific.
An examination of the key outcomes reveals a partnership of mutual benefit, reflecting both PNG’s strategic diversification and France’s own long-term ambitions as a Pacific power.
A primary driver is the shared economic rationale. From Port Moresby’s perspective, the partnership offers a clear path to economic diversification and resilience.
But many in PNG have been watching with keen interest and asking: how badly does PNG want this?
While Prime Minister James Marape offered France a Special Economic Zone in Port Moresby (SEZ) for French businesses, he also named the lookout at Port Moresby’s Variarata National Park after President Emmanuel Macron drawing the ire of many in the country.
The proposal to establish a SEZ specifically for French industries is a notable attempt to attract capital from beyond PNG’s traditional partners.
Strategically coupled This is strategically coupled with securing the future of the multi-billion-dollar Papua LNG project.
Macron’s personal undertaking to work with TotalEnergies to keep the project on schedule provides crucial stability for one of PNG’s most significant economic ventures.
For France, these arrangements secure a major energy investment for its national corporate champion and establish a stronger economic foothold in a strategically vital region between Asia and the Pacific.
In the area of security, the relationship addresses tangible needs for both nations.
PNG is faced with the immense challenge of monitoring a 2.4 million sq km Exclusive Economic Zone, making it vulnerable to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The finalisation of a Shiprider Agreement with France provides a practical force-multiplier, leveraging French naval assets to enhance PNG’s maritime surveillance capabilities. This move, along with planned defence talks on air and maritime cooperation, allows PNG to diversify its security architecture.
For France, a resident power with Pacific territories like New Caledonia and French Polynesia, participating in regional security operations reinforces its role and commitment to stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Elevating diplomatic influence The partnership is also a vehicle for elevating diplomatic influence.
Port Moresby has noted the significance of engaging with a partner that holds permanent membership on the UN Security Council and seats at the G7 and G20.
This alignment provides PNG with a powerful channel to global decision-making forums. The reciprocal move to establish a PNG embassy in Paris further cements the relationship on a mature footing.
The diplomatic synergy is perhaps best illustrated by France’s full endorsement of PNG’s bid to host a future UN Ocean Conference. This support provides PNG with a major opportunity to lead on the world stage, while allowing France to demonstrate its credentials as a key partner to the Pacific Islands.
This deepening PNG-France partnership does not exist in a vacuum.
The West’s view of China’s rapid emergence as a dominant economic and military force in the region has reshaped the strategic landscape, prompting traditional powers to re-engage with renewed urgency.
increased diplomatic footprint The United States has responded by significantly increasing its diplomatic and security footprint, a move marked by Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Port Moresby to sign the Defence Cooperation Agreement.
Similarly, Australia, PNG’s traditional security partner, is working to reinforce its long-standing influence through initiatives like the multi-million-dollar deal to establish a PNG team in its National Rugby League (NRL), a soft-power exercise reportedly linked to security outcomes.
This competitive environment has, in turn, created greater agency for Pacific nations, allowing them to diversify their partnerships beyond old allies and providing a fertile ground for European powers like France to assert their own strategic interests.
A strong foundation for the relationship is a shared public stance on environmental stewardship. The agreement on the need for rigorous scientific studies before any deep-sea mining occurs aligns PNG’s national policy with a position of environmental caution.
This common ground extends to broader climate action, where France’s commitment to conservation in the Pacific resonates with PNG’s status as a frontline nation vulnerable to climate change.
This alignment on values provides a durable and politically important basis for cooperation, allowing both nations to jointly advocate for climate justice and ocean protection.
For the Papua New Guinea economy, this deepening partnership with France is critically important as it provides high-level stability for the multi-billion-dollar Papua LNG project and creates a direct pathway for new investment through a proposed SEZ for French businesses.
Vital economic resource Furthermore, by moving to finalise a Shiprider Agreement to combat illegal fishing, the government is actively protecting a vital economic resource.
For Marape’s credibility in local politics, these outcomes are tangible successes he can present to the nation as he battles a massive credibility dip in recent years.
Securing a personal undertaking from the leader of a G7 nation, gaining support for PNG to host a future UN Ocean Conference, and enhancing national security demonstrates effective leadership on the world stage.
This allows him to build a narrative of a competent statesman who, through “warm, personal relationships”, can deliver on promises of economic opportunity and national security while strengthening his political standing at home.
In a major development, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Monday severely condemned the “brutal terrorist attack” in Pahalgam on April 22, stating that it could not have taken place without “money and the means” to move funds between terrorist supporters.
“Terrorist attacks kill, maim and inspire fear around the world. The FATF notes with grave concern and condemns the brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025. This, and other recent attacks, could not occur without money and the means to move funds between terrorist supporters,” the FATF said in a statement after its plenary meeting.
It mentioned further: “As highlighted by the FATF President at the recent No Money for Terror Conference in Munich, no single company, authority, or country can combat this challenge alone. We must be unified against the scourge of global terrorism. Because terrorists need to succeed only once to achieve their goal, while we have to succeed every time to prevent it.”
As many as 26 innocent tourists were massacred in the Pakistan-sponsored terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
Investigations into the Pahalgam terror attack brought out the communication nodes of terrorists in and to Pakistan. A group calling itself The Resistance Front (TRF) – a front for the UN-proscribed Pakistani terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba – had claimed responsibility for the attack.
India had given inputs about the TRF in the half-yearly report to the Monitoring Team of the United Nations’ 1267 Sanctions Committee in May and November 2024, bringing out its role as a cover for Pakistan-based terrorist groups.
Earlier too, in December 2023, India had informed the monitoring team about LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammad operating through small terror groups such as the TRF. Pakistan’s pressure to remove references to TRF in the April 25 UN Security Council Press Statement were highlighted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) during Operation Sindoor.
Asserting that Pakistan has a history of misusing bailout packages for cross-border terrorism, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had called for putting the failed state back on the FATF grey list.
“The state and non-state actors are two sides of the same coin in Pakistan, which became evident when designated terrorists were accorded funerals with state honours,” Singh said earlier this month.
The FATF, which develops and promotes policies to protect the global financial system against money laundering, terrorist financing and the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, has acknowledged in the past that India has suffered from the effects of terrorism consistently since its independence in 1947 and still faces a “disparate range of terrorism threats”, categorised into different theatres.
Speaking exclusively with IANS recently, several experts, including former diplomats and counterterrorism experts, backed a strong action against Pakistan, including by putting the country back on the grey list of the FATF for its continuous involvement in terror financing and backing global terror outfits.
“Terror doesn’t come out of the blue. It’s something that has to be financed, structured and so forth. So, it’s a long, concerted action that lies behind all this terror. Therefore, you need to do whatever you can globally, also regionally, to secure that we don’t have financing that will flow into the streams of terror. It has to stop. Pakistan has to be put where they belong. So, they have to be put on that list, no doubt about that,” Freddy Svane, the former Danish Ambassador to India, told IANS in an exclusive interview, earlier this month.
FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii — The U.S. Army marked a historic milestone in 2025 as it celebrated its 250th birthday, and U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) led the way in the Pacific theater with a week of events designed to honor the past, inspire the present, and shape the future of the Army.
Israel and Iran attacked each other for a fifth straight day on Tuesday, and U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iranians to evacuate Tehran, citing what he said was the country’s rejection of a deal to curb nuclear weapons development.
Trump was due to leave the Group of Seven summit in Canada later on Monday, a day early, due to the Middle East situation, the White House said. Fox News reported he would convene his National Security Council.
“Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social media platform.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Trump’s early departure from the G7 was positive, given the immediate objective was to get Israel and Iran to agree to a ceasefire that the U.S. had proposed.
“There is an offer that has been made, especially to have a ceasefire and to initiate broader discussions. And I think this is a very good thing,” Macron told reporters. “So now we need to see what the stakeholders will do.”
Iranian media reported explosions and heavy air defence fire in Tehran early on Tuesday. Air defences were activated also in Natanz, home to key nuclear installations 320 km (200 miles) away, the Asriran news website reported.
A White House aide said it was not true that the U.S. was attacking Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Fox News that Trump was still aiming for a nuclear deal with Iran, while adding the U.S. would defend its assets in the region.
In Israel, air raid sirens wailed in Tel Aviv after midnight and an explosion was heard as Iranian missiles targeted the country again.
Iranian officials reported 224 deaths, mostly civilians, in five days, while Israel said 24 civilians had been killed. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said nearly 3,000 Israelis had been evacuated due to damage from Iranian strikes.
Sources told Reuters that Tehran had asked Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to urge Trump to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to an immediate ceasefire. In return, Iran would show flexibility in nuclear negotiations, according to two Iranian and three regional sources.
“If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on X. “Israel must halt its aggression, and absent a total cessation of military aggression against us, our responses will continue.”
Netanyahu told reporters on Monday that Israel was committed to eliminating threats posed by Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, adding, “If this can be achieved in another way—fine. But we gave it a 60-day chance.”
Speaking to Reuters on Friday, the first day of Israel’s assault, Trump said he had given the Iranians 60 days to come to an agreement to halt uranium enrichment and that the time had expired with no deal. Iran says its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes.
Oil prices rallied more than 2% early in Asia on Tuesday after Trump’s evacuation warning, reversing losses on Monday amid reports that Iran was seeking an end to hostilities.
CHINESE URGED TO LEAVE ISRAEL
With security concerns growing and Israeli airspace closed because of the war, the Chinese embassy in Israel urged its citizens to leave the country via land border crossings as soon as possible.
The Iran-Israel air war – the biggest battle ever between the two longtime enemies – escalated on Monday with Israel targeting Iran’s state broadcaster and uranium enrichment facilities.
Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told the BBC that the Natanz plant sustained extensive damage, likely destroying 15,000 centrifuges, while Iran’s Fordow plant remained largely intact.
Talks between the United States and Iran, hosted by Oman, had been scheduled for June 15 but were scrapped, with Tehran saying it could not negotiate while under attack.
Israel launched its air war with a surprise attack that has killed nearly the entire top echelon of Iran’s military commanders and its leading nuclear scientists. It says it now has control of Iranian airspace and intends to escalate the campaign in the coming days.
Trump has consistently said the Israeli assault could end quickly if Iran agreed to U.S. demands that it accept strict curbs on its nuclear programme.
“As I’ve been saying, I think a deal will be signed, or something will happen, but a deal will be signed, and I think Iran is foolish not to sign,” Trump told reporters on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Canada on Monday.
A U.S. official said Trump would not sign a draft statement from G7 leaders calling for a de-escalation of the conflict. The draft statement says Iran must never have a nuclear weapon and that Israel has the right to defend itself.
SYDNEY — Amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), the flagship of the America Strike Group, arrived in Sydney, today, June 14, for a scheduled port visit. The ship carries embarked Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and is currently conducting routine operations in the South Pacific.
Speculation is swirling around the future of the A$368 billion AUKUS agreement, following Washington’s decision to review the nuclear submarine deal to ensure it meets President Donald Trump’s “America first” agenda.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was planning to use talks with Trump at the G7 to demand the US continue to back the deal – but the meeting has been cancelled.
With the Pentagon taking another look at AUKUS, we ask five experts whether the government should rethink Australia’s own commitment to the pact.
Jennifer Parker
Expert Associate, National Security College, Australian National University
Absolutely not. Another review would consume time and capacity better spent delivering AUKUS on its tight timelines.
To understand why, we must put the decision in context.
The leaked details of the US Department of Defense review does not alter the position of any of the three AUKUS partners. Much of the commentary has missed the broader picture: Washington is undertaking its regular review of defence strategy.
It makes sense the Pentagon would also assess AUKUS – a central element of its Indo-Pacific posture.
While some have fixated on Colby’s supposed scepticism, the reality is different. In March, Colby told the US Senate Armed Services Committee the US should do everything in its power to make AUKUS work.
Why now? Because the strategy review is being accelerated under the new administration. As for the leak, it is plausible it was designed to apply pressure to Australia over its defence spending commitments.
The more important question is: what is the likely outcome? While nothing is certain, AUKUS enjoys strong bipartisan support in the US, as it does in Australia. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called it a “blueprint” for cooperation, echoed by other senior officials.
Crucially, the real driver of this so-called “America First” review is what the US gets out of AUKUS. The answer is quite a lot. It secures access to Southeast and Northeast Asia from a location beyond the range of most Chinese missiles, adds a fourth maintenance site for Virginia-class submarines, and delivers an ally with an independent nuclear-powered submarine industrial base.
Beyond AUKUS, Australia has expanded its support for Marine and bomber rotations and other posture initiatives. Australia is central to US strategy in the Indo-Pacific. They need us as much as we need them. All signs point to a constructive outcome from this short, sharp review.
While AUKUS carries risks and Australia must remain clear-eyed, alarmism is unhelpful. Much of the public debate has taken that tone. Nothing fundamental has changed since the optimal pathway was announced in 2023. The risks we face now were known then.
There is no basis for an Australian review at this point. It would only distract from delivering this ambitious program. If core assumptions materially change, then a review may be warranted. But until then, such talk is a distraction.
Albert Palazzo
Adjunct Professor in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at UNSW Canberra, UNSW Sydney
The AUKUS review should be welcomed by all Australians as an opportunity for the Albanese government to scrap the agreement and wean itself off US dependency.
The review is a chance for our political leaders to exercise their most important responsibility: asserting the nation’s sovereignty and equipping Australia to provide for its national security on its own.
Since AUKUS already contains clauses the US could use to cancel the pact, a termination now would benefit Australia. It would save the nation huge sums of money, and force the government to formulate a more useful and appropriate security policy.
Elbridge Colby has previously questioned the logic of “giving away” America’s “crown jewels”, namely its nuclear-powered submarines, and argued the US will need all its boats against China.
Elbridge Colby is in charge of the AUKUS review.
More alarmingly, in his book The Strategy of Denial, Colby concludes the ideal way for the US to deny China regional hegemony is to use its allies to minimise its own “risks, commitment and expense”. Additionally, he says the US needs to retain the opportunity to walk away from a China conflict if that proves to be in America’s best interest.
Colby’s track record suggests he will recommend Australia make a larger military contribution to the alliance — as his boss Pete Hegseth demanded at the Shangri-La Dialogue. This is even as the US reserves its right to desert us at a time of its own choosing, as the United Kingdom did during the second world war with the Singapore Strategy.
At one time, the existing defence policy of reliance on the US made a degree of sense. But that is no longer the case. Instead, Australia’s leaders have an opportunity to recalibrate defence policy from one of dependency to one of self-defence.
As I outline in my forthcoming book, The Big Fix, Australia should adopt the philosophy of “strategic defensive”. This is a method of waging war in which the defender only needs to prevent an aggressor from achieving its objectives.
This would eliminate the risks and enormous cost of AUKUS while securing the nation’s future. A strategic defensive approach is well within Australia’s capabilities to implement on its own.
While it would be an ironic act of dependency if the US was to save Australia from itself by either cancelling AUKUS or by making it too unpalatable to swallow, the chance to reconsider should not be missed.
AUKUS remains an affront to Australian sovereignty.
Ian Langford
Executive Director, Security & Defence PLuS and Professor, UNSW Sydney
Australia should not walk away from AUKUS in light of the Pentagon’s newly announced review. However, it should seize the moment to increase defence spending to meet short-term challenges not addressed by the submarine deal.
Despite the noise, AUKUS remains Australia’s most straightforward path to acquiring nuclear-powered submarines, deepening strategic interoperability with the United States and United Kingdom, and embedding itself in the advanced defence technology ecosystems of its closest allies.
But clinging to AUKUS without confronting the deeper risks it now exposes would be a strategic mistake. From an Australian perspective, the submarine pathway is on a slow fuse: first deliveries are not expected until the early 2030s.
Meanwhile, the risk of major power conflict in the Indo-Pacific is accelerating, with a potential flashpoint involving China and the US as early as 2027. Naval brinkmanship in the Taiwan Strait and the South and East China Seas is already routine.
Submarines that arrive too late do little to shape the strategic balance in the next five years. Canberra must therefore confront a hard truth: AUKUS may enhance Australia’s deterrence posture in the 2030s, but it does little to prepare the ADF for a near-term fight.
That fight, should it come, will demand capabilities the ADF currently lacks in sufficient quantity: long-range missiles, deployable air defence, survivable command and control, and more surface combatants.
Yet under current spending plans, Australia is trying to fund both the AUKUS build and short-term deterrence within a constrained budget. It will not work. Even after recent increases, defence spending remains around 2% of GDP. This is well below the level needed to fund both long-term deterrence and immediate readiness.
Without a step change – closer to 2.5–3% of GDP – or a major reprioritisation of big-ticket programs, the ADF faces a dangerous capability gap through the second half of this decade.
Australia should hold firm on AUKUS. The strategic upside is real, and the alliance commitments it reinforces are indispensable. But we should not pretend it is cost-free.
Unless the defence budget is significantly expanded, AUKUS risks hollowing out the rest of the Defence Force. The result would be a future submarine fleet paired with an underpowered ADF, unready to meet the threats of today.
In reaffirming AUKUS, Australia must confront the complex reality that it won’t address the threats of this decade, and should plan accordingly.
Maria Rost Rublee
Professor, International Relations Social and Political Sciences, The University of Melbourne
Let’s be honest – Australia is not going to withdraw from AUKUS.
The United States is our most important military and diplomatic partner; in the words of the 2024 National Defence Strategy, “our alliance with the US remains fundamental to Australia’s national security”.
Unilaterally extracting ourselves from AUKUS would significantly damage our relationship with the US. Given the bipartisan and public support for the alliance within Australia, it simply won’t happen.
As we navigate the complexities of AUKUS under Trump 2.0, we should remember that as a defence industrial agreement, AUKUS creates numerous benefits for Australia. In both Pillar I (nuclear submarines) and Pillar II (advanced defence capabilities), Australia is developing deep partnerships, collaboration and even integration with both the US and the UK in shipbuilding, advanced technology, and stronger supply chains.
In addition, a rarely discussed benefit of AUKUS is the total life-cycle climate impacts, given nuclear submarines are superior to diesel alternatives. Diesel is a non-renewable energy source with significant global warming potential, while nuclear power is generally acknowledged to be low-carbon.
However, AUKUS does offer very significant risks for Australia. Flexibility is baked into the arrangement for the three partner nations – leading to the very situation we are in today. There are significant concerns Washington may not sell nuclear Virginia-class submarines to Australia in the 2030s, as agreed.
We have known for years the US is not producing enough nuclear attack submarines for its own domestic use, but we seem to have hoped this would change or the US would sell us the subs anyway.
The current US review of AUKUS makes it clear Australia needs to think seriously about other options for submarines. Without the Virginia-class, we will be without any subs at all, at least until the SSN-AUKUS submarines are delivered by the mid-2040s.
Our current ageing Collins-class subs, already beset with operational problems, will not be fit for purpose much past mid-2030. At this point, the most likely viable option is off-the-shelf conventional submarines from Japan or South Korea.
The fact is, while Australia is unlikely to withdraw from AUKUS, the US may force the issue by refusing to sell us its nuclear-powered submarines. Refusing to acknowledge this does not change the risks.
President Donald Trumps wants US allies to lift their defence spending. Rawpixel/Shutterstock
David Andrews
Senior Manager, Policy & Engagement, Australian National University
I want AUKUS to succeed. It offers a unique opportunity to substantially upgrade Australia’s maritime capabilities with access to world-leading submarine technology and a suite of advanced and emerging technologies.
However, we cannot realistically pursue “AUKUS at any cost”. There must be an upper limit to how much time, effort and resources are committed before the costs – financial, political and strategic – outweigh the potential long-term benefits.
Of course, the government must not be hasty. Any decision should wait until the completion of the US review. Likewise, AUKUS should not be abandoned merely because it is being reviewed.
Reviews are not inherently negative processes. A review after four years of a project of this size and significance is not a particularly surprising development. As seen in the UK, reviews can refocus efforts and commit greater resources, if needed.
However, it doesn’t look like that’s what the US review is setting out to do. Rather, it’s focused on ensuring AUKUS is aligned with the America First agenda. That indicates an altogether different set of considerations.
People often describe Trump as a “dealmaker” or “transactional”, but these are misleading euphemisms. This review, and recent language from senior US officials, gives the impression of a shakedown – of coercion, not partnership.
The need to “win” and extract money from alliances is antithetical to their purpose. It misunderstands their nature and the fundamental importance of trust between partners. AUKUS is not an ATM.
Past behaviour suggests no deal Trump makes will last without further demands being imposed. No amount of money is likely to be satisfactory. Even if Australia’s defence spending was lifted to 3.5% of GDP, the question would be “why isn’t it 5%?” For AUKUS, there is no such thing as an offer he cannot refuse.
I do not say this lightly, but if the outcome of this process is a series of gratuitous or untenable demands by the US, the Albanese government should strongly consider walking away from AUKUS.
The consequences would be significant, so the threshold of such a decision would need to be similarly calibrated. But no single project should be put above the integrity of our wider defence enterprise and the sovereign decision-making of our government.
David Andrews has not personally received funding from any relevant external bodies, but he has previously worked on projects funded by the Australian Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Home Affairs, and Defence. David is a member of the Australian Labor Party and Australian Institute of International Affairs, and previously worked for the Australian Department of Defence.
Albert Palazzo is not a member of a political party but does occasional volunteer work for The Greens. In 2019, he retired from the Department of Defence. He was the long-serving Director of War Studies for the Australian Army.
Ian Langford is affiliated with Security & Defence PLuS, a collaboration between the University of New South Wales, Arizona State University and Kings College, London.
Maria Rost Rublee has received grant funding from the Australian Department of Defence and the US Institute of Peace. She is affiliated with Women in International Security-Australia and Women in Nuclear-Australia.
Jennifer Parker 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.
Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
Washington – On Monday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) introduced a resolution to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States Army, honoring its storied history from the American Revolution to the Global War on Terror.
The resolution also honors the bravery and patriotism of soldiers and veterans from Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, the former of which recently joined Senator Marshall at the Army’s 250th birthday parade on Saturday, June 14, in Washington, D.C.
“It was a pleasure and honor to host 450 troops from Kansas’ own Fort Riley, honoring the ‘Big Red One,’ especially as they passed the storied 1st Division Monument, which holds special meaning as we celebrate the Army’s 250th birthday and honor all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice,” said Senator Marshall. “These young men and women are the best of the best, the first division that the President calls to defend our freedoms. This event was an important demonstration of patriotism that American citizens need to see, and it is a breath of fresh air to finally have a President who is going above and beyond to honor our nation’s heroes.”
Senator Marshall comes from a long line of Americans who served in the US Army, including his son, brother, father, and grandfather. Specifically, Senator Marshall was honorably discharged from the National Guard with the rank of Captain in 1991.
Click here to read the full text of the resolution.
Background:
Kansas is home to critical military installations, including Fort Riley, home of the First Infantry Division – the oldest continuously serving division in the U.S. Army – and Fort Leavenworth, home of the U.S. Army’s Combined Arms Center (CAC) and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
Fort Leavenworth, established in 1827, is the oldest continuously operating military installation west of the Mississippi River and the oldest permanent settlement in Kansas. Known historically as the “intellectual center of the Army,” all modern 5-star Army generals have passed through and studied at Fort Leavenworth, including George Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Henry Arnold, Dwight Eisenhower, and Omar Bradley.
The 1st Infantry Division, currently garrisoned at Fort Riley, is the oldest continuously serving division in the Army and was constituted on May 24, 1917. The Division has consistently been the first division to deploy into the wars of the United States, sending the first troops into World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, and Desert Shield and Desert Storm. During World War II, the 1st Infantry Division was the first to reach England, the first to fight the enemy in North Africa and Sicily, the first on the beaches in Normandy during D-Day, and the first to capture a major German city.
Senator Marshall recently attended the 250th birthday parade celebration of the U.S. Army, alongside 450 troops from Fort Riley’s ‘Big Red One.’
Senator Marshall worked for seven years on the FIRST Act, legislation that added 631 names of Big Red One Soldiers to the First Infantry Division Monument.
Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
Washington – On Monday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) published an op-ed in The Washington Times, marking the celebration of the 250th Birthday of the United States Army, and reflecting on how these celebrations can restore pride in America again.
Read the full op-ed HERE or below:
The Army’s 250th Birthday: A Personal and National Triumph
Senator Roger Marshall
The Washington Times
June 16, 2024
Standing in a quiet room at Gettysburg last month, I read about Lincoln’s Address—many headlines from 1863 called it “silly,” others “a perfected gem.” That’s the America I love: where we speak freely, protest boldly, and debate fiercely. Yet, as I scanned coverage of the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday celebration on June 14, 2025, one truth was missing: 1.3 million soldiers gave their lives to protect those freedoms. The grand parade and festival on the National Mall weren’t just a showcase of strength; it was a rebirth of patriotism, a moment that hit me personally and resonated for our nation.
My family’s story is woven into the Army’s 250 years. Every generation has served. Three ancestors fell in the Civil War’s brutal fields. A great-uncle, along with many other brave soldiers, suffocated from nerve gas in the Argonne Forest during World War I, the “war to end all wars.” Two other great-uncles stormed Normandy’s beaches; later in the Second World War, my wife lost an uncle. My dad served, my brother served, I served, and my son serves today. I’ve always believed every American should serve, not just for duty, but to feel the weight of sacrifice. At this great celebration, watching my grandsons’ eyes light up as tanks rumbled by on the Mall, I saw history spark their young hearts. This celebration wasn’t just about the past; it was about inspiring the future.
I’ve lived through patriotism’s highs and lows. The Korean War, before my time, sparked questions about America’s global role. Vietnam, which I watched as a kid, left us confused—protests clashed with America First pride. The Gulf Wars came, and as 9/11’s memory faded, we debated how far was too far. Over the last four years, an open border signaled a nation adrift, with our military and law enforcement wondering if their commander-in-chief had their backs. Patriotism seemed shattered. But June 14 was a new day. The first-ever Army birthday celebration on the National Mall, with 6,600 soldiers marching, felt like a reset—a bold reclaiming of national pride.
My daughter and niece, there with their young kids, saw it too. They said the parade taught their children military history, American pride, and gratitude for freedoms won through sacrifice. Veterans at home, glued to their TVs, felt seen—many watched every moment, marveling at “cool weapons,” tanks, and drones. Nearby us was a mom whose son re-enlisted, sworn in by President Trump. Tears streamed down her face as she waved her flag, her Army shirt emblazoned with her son’s regiment. “This is for all who served,” she said. I wish every veteran could’ve been flown to D.C. to feel that joy.
The celebration’s significance ran deeper. It honored a legacy: the Army, born a year before the Declaration of Independence, secured our freedom in the Revolutionary War and defended us through the Civil War, World Wars, and modern conflicts. It showcased unity, with events like the wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier echoing the Army’s motto, “This We’ll Defend.” It highlighted innovation—radar, the internet, wireless tech—all rooted in Army ingenuity that shaped global progress. It inspired, with the “Be All You Can Be” campaign driving recruitment to 85% of 2025’s target, promising the strongest class in years. And as a prelude to America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, it set the stage for national reflection.
While too much of the media focused on other issues, no one can doubt that this celebration restored pride, boosted military morale, and sent a message to the world. As my grandson exclaimed, “America’s Army is undefeated,” rolling through 250 years of victories. To those burning flags or kneeling during the anthem, it’s a gut punch—a pain that breaks the hearts of those who served. I wish they’d served, felt the cost of freedom, had held a dying soldier in their arms as they said their last words, or joined a Chaplain as they delivered the news of a lost loved one to a young wife and children. As riots flare, let’s remember: millions died so we can stand, debate, and rebuild.
Regardless, when the President calls, the Army is rolling along!
Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, issued the following statement in advance of the June 17th closed hearing with Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, John Ratcliffe, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and Lieutenant General William J. Hartman, Acting Director of the National Security Agency:
“U.S. national security depends on the professionalism, objectivity, and integrity of a well-resourced intelligence community. As I’ve observed before, fighting conflict is far costlier than deterring it. And the costs of strategic surprise – the failure of intelligence – can be catastrophic. That’s why the defense subcommittee takes very seriously its responsibility to equip the IC for an array of sensitive and evolving missions.
“In return, we expect the nation’s seniormost intelligence officials to provide candid observations on the challenges facing both the IC and the decisionmakers their work informs. I look forward, in particular, to thorough assessments of U.S. interests in ongoing conflicts:
“I will expect Director Gabbard, Director Ratcliffe, and General Hartman to address the current state of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the potential consequences of an outcome that strengthens Vladimir Putin, and the potential damage to U.S. alliances and partnerships of withholding further support to Ukraine.
“Likewise, I will expect them to assess Israel’s ongoing response to Iran’s decades-long war against America, Israel, and our Arab partners, and the stakes of allowing Iran to continue its nuclear enrichment operations and support for terrorist proxies.
“Even more broadly, I will expect the leaders of the IC to demonstrate their grasp of the undeniable alignment and coordination of America’s adversaries. I expect them to outline how Chinese economic support for Iran and Iranian material support for Russia’s war informs the global assessments they offer to the Commander-in-Chief.
“Allies and partners from Europe to Japan are looking to the United States to meet this coordinated aggression with a coordinated response. Retreating from this mantle of leadership will not strengthen or advance American interests.”
Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, issued the following statement in advance of the June 17th closed hearing with Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, John Ratcliffe, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and Lieutenant General William J. Hartman, Acting Director of the National Security Agency:
“U.S. national security depends on the professionalism, objectivity, and integrity of a well-resourced intelligence community. As I’ve observed before, fighting conflict is far costlier than deterring it. And the costs of strategic surprise – the failure of intelligence – can be catastrophic. That’s why the defense subcommittee takes very seriously its responsibility to equip the IC for an array of sensitive and evolving missions.
“In return, we expect the nation’s seniormost intelligence officials to provide candid observations on the challenges facing both the IC and the decisionmakers their work informs. I look forward, in particular, to thorough assessments of U.S. interests in ongoing conflicts:
“I will expect Director Gabbard, Director Ratcliffe, and General Hartman to address the current state of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the potential consequences of an outcome that strengthens Vladimir Putin, and the potential damage to U.S. alliances and partnerships of withholding further support to Ukraine.
“Likewise, I will expect them to assess Israel’s ongoing response to Iran’s decades-long war against America, Israel, and our Arab partners, and the stakes of allowing Iran to continue its nuclear enrichment operations and support for terrorist proxies.
“Even more broadly, I will expect the leaders of the IC to demonstrate their grasp of the undeniable alignment and coordination of America’s adversaries. I expect them to outline how Chinese economic support for Iran and Iranian material support for Russia’s war informs the global assessments they offer to the Commander-in-Chief.
“Allies and partners from Europe to Japan are looking to the United States to meet this coordinated aggression with a coordinated response. Retreating from this mantle of leadership will not strengthen or advance American interests.”
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
Padilla, Van Hollen, Kaine Introduce Legislation to Sanction Salvadoran Officials for Human Rights Abuses, Collusion with Trump Administration in Violation of Constitutional Rights
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced new legislation in a continuation of their efforts to hold El Salvador accountable for its human rights abuses and its collusion with the Trump Administration to imprison people from the United States without due process. The Senators’ legislation would apply sanctions on Salvadoran officials and others who have engaged in international human rights violations or worked to deprive individuals residing in the United States of their rights under the U.S. Constitution.
The legislation would additionally explicitly sanction Salvadoran President Bukele and Vice President Ulloa, as well as El Salvador’s Ministers of Foreign Relations, Defense, and Justice and Public Security, among others. In addition to its actions alongside the Trump Administration to imprison people from the United States, Bukele and his government have continued to jail and persecute innocent Salvadoran citizens, including journalists and human rights advocates such as Ruth López.
“President Bukele and his regime are continuing to commit abhorrent human rights atrocities and eradicate due process,” said Senator Padilla. “We must hold Bukele and all responsible parties accountable for the suspension of constitutional rights and continued collusion with the Trump Administration to imprison people from the United States without due process. Imposing economic sanctions and visa restrictions on Bukele and his corrupt government is a necessary step to push El Salvador to finally uphold international human rights law and respect fundamental civil liberties.”
“President Bukele and the Government of El Salvador are colluding with the Trump Administration, taking American taxpayer dollars to imprison people as part of a scheme to violate their constitutional rights. We must hold Bukele and his cronies accountable for these wrongful actions as well as for the gross violations of human rights they are committing in El Salvador. This legislation would do just that by placing sanctions on Bukele and those in his government who are responsible for these abuses. We must send a clear signal that these injustices are unacceptable and must end,” said Senator Van Hollen.
“Under President Bukele, tens of thousands of Salvadorans and even U.S. residents remain jammed in megaprisons without due process. President Bukele may think he has a friend in President Trump, but he should know that Americans will not tolerate his efforts to undermine the rule of law and democratic institutions—whether in El Salvador or here in the United States,” said Senator Kaine. “That’s why I’m introducing this legislation with my colleagues to sanction foreign nationals complicit in Bukele’s behavior and the Trump Administration’s illegal actions to deny due process to people living in the United States.”
The Senators’ legislation is supported by the Latin America Working Group, the Washington Office on Latin America, Human Rights Watch, and Immigration Hub.
Additional Background:
Sanctions: Imposes property-blocking and visa sanctions on President Bukele, key members of his cabinet, and other foreign persons working on behalf of the Salvadoran government that have:
engaged in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, including in connection with the ongoing “state of exception” in El Salvador;
engaged in the scheme, including by accepting U.S. taxpayer dollars, to deprive individuals residing in the United States of their Constitutional rights; or
provided material support to any person that has engaged in the above activities.
Termination/Snapback of Sanctions: Sanctions cannot be terminated until at least four years after the bill is enacted and unless the President certifies to Congress that the Government of El Salvador is no longer engaged in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights and no longer engaged in the scheme, including by accepting U.S. taxpayer dollars, to deprive individuals residing in the United States of their Constitutional rights. If the President determines that either of those conditions resume, then sanctions shall be reimposed.
Reporting Requirements: Requires reports to Congress that provide transparency on Salvadoran officials subject to a variety of sanctions authorities, U.S. government assistance to El Salvador, bilateral written agreements between the United States and El Salvador, and compliance with U.S. laws including the Leahy Laws and the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. Also requires a report on the actions of Salvadoran officials, including President Bukele, to use cryptocurrency as a mechanism for gross corruption, graft, and sanctions evasion.
Blocking International Financial Assistance: Instructs the United States to use its voice and vote in international financial institutions to oppose financial assistance to the Government of El Salvador until the appropriate Presidential certification is transmitted to Congress.
Prohibiting U.S. Funds for El Salvador: Prohibits any U.S. funding for the Government of El Salvador until the appropriate Presidential certification is transmitted to Congress.
“Senators Van Hollen, Kaine, and Padilla’s bill to impose sanctions on the regime of President Nayib Bukele is timely and importantly puts a spotlight on the gross violation of human rights that have occurred under President Bukele’s state of exception. Since March 2022, 85,000 people have been detained, constitutional guarantees have been suspended, and over 350 people have died while under state custody. Systemic torture and persecution are state policies. Significantly, the bill also addresses the pervasive corruption that has occurred since President Bukele took office and prevents the IMF and other international financial institutions not to lend support. Not one penny of our tax dollars should support this regime until there is an end to the human rights violations, and the rule of law, judicial independence, and government transparency are restored. All Members of Congress should get behind this bill,” said Vicki Gass, Executive Director, Latin America Working Group.
“Targeted individual sanctions for gross human rights violations are a critical diplomatic tool the U.S. can use to push for change and hold authoritarian actors accountable; as El Salvador’s political and human rights crisis deepens, strong international action like this becomes essential,” said Ana María Méndez-Dardón, Director for Central America at the Washington Office on Latin America.
“We are heartened to see Senators confronting the human rights abuses of government officials in El Salvador. This bill an important reminder that uncritical US government support to President Bukele will not last forever and a recognition that nobody should be deported to Salvadoran prisons,” said Juan Pappier, Deputy Director of the Americas division, Human Rights Watch.
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
Padilla, Van Hollen, Kaine Introduce Legislation to Sanction Salvadoran Officials for Human Rights Abuses, Collusion with Trump Administration in Violation of Constitutional Rights
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced new legislation in a continuation of their efforts to hold El Salvador accountable for its human rights abuses and its collusion with the Trump Administration to imprison people from the United States without due process. The Senators’ legislation would apply sanctions on Salvadoran officials and others who have engaged in international human rights violations or worked to deprive individuals residing in the United States of their rights under the U.S. Constitution.
The legislation would additionally explicitly sanction Salvadoran President Bukele and Vice President Ulloa, as well as El Salvador’s Ministers of Foreign Relations, Defense, and Justice and Public Security, among others. In addition to its actions alongside the Trump Administration to imprison people from the United States, Bukele and his government have continued to jail and persecute innocent Salvadoran citizens, including journalists and human rights advocates such as Ruth López.
“President Bukele and his regime are continuing to commit abhorrent human rights atrocities and eradicate due process,” said Senator Padilla. “We must hold Bukele and all responsible parties accountable for the suspension of constitutional rights and continued collusion with the Trump Administration to imprison people from the United States without due process. Imposing economic sanctions and visa restrictions on Bukele and his corrupt government is a necessary step to push El Salvador to finally uphold international human rights law and respect fundamental civil liberties.”
“President Bukele and the Government of El Salvador are colluding with the Trump Administration, taking American taxpayer dollars to imprison people as part of a scheme to violate their constitutional rights. We must hold Bukele and his cronies accountable for these wrongful actions as well as for the gross violations of human rights they are committing in El Salvador. This legislation would do just that by placing sanctions on Bukele and those in his government who are responsible for these abuses. We must send a clear signal that these injustices are unacceptable and must end,” said Senator Van Hollen.
“Under President Bukele, tens of thousands of Salvadorans and even U.S. residents remain jammed in megaprisons without due process. President Bukele may think he has a friend in President Trump, but he should know that Americans will not tolerate his efforts to undermine the rule of law and democratic institutions—whether in El Salvador or here in the United States,” said Senator Kaine. “That’s why I’m introducing this legislation with my colleagues to sanction foreign nationals complicit in Bukele’s behavior and the Trump Administration’s illegal actions to deny due process to people living in the United States.”
The Senators’ legislation is supported by the Latin America Working Group, the Washington Office on Latin America, Human Rights Watch, and Immigration Hub.
Additional Background:
Sanctions: Imposes property-blocking and visa sanctions on President Bukele, key members of his cabinet, and other foreign persons working on behalf of the Salvadoran government that have:
engaged in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, including in connection with the ongoing “state of exception” in El Salvador;
engaged in the scheme, including by accepting U.S. taxpayer dollars, to deprive individuals residing in the United States of their Constitutional rights; or
provided material support to any person that has engaged in the above activities.
Termination/Snapback of Sanctions: Sanctions cannot be terminated until at least four years after the bill is enacted and unless the President certifies to Congress that the Government of El Salvador is no longer engaged in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights and no longer engaged in the scheme, including by accepting U.S. taxpayer dollars, to deprive individuals residing in the United States of their Constitutional rights. If the President determines that either of those conditions resume, then sanctions shall be reimposed.
Reporting Requirements: Requires reports to Congress that provide transparency on Salvadoran officials subject to a variety of sanctions authorities, U.S. government assistance to El Salvador, bilateral written agreements between the United States and El Salvador, and compliance with U.S. laws including the Leahy Laws and the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. Also requires a report on the actions of Salvadoran officials, including President Bukele, to use cryptocurrency as a mechanism for gross corruption, graft, and sanctions evasion.
Blocking International Financial Assistance: Instructs the United States to use its voice and vote in international financial institutions to oppose financial assistance to the Government of El Salvador until the appropriate Presidential certification is transmitted to Congress.
Prohibiting U.S. Funds for El Salvador: Prohibits any U.S. funding for the Government of El Salvador until the appropriate Presidential certification is transmitted to Congress.
“Senators Van Hollen, Kaine, and Padilla’s bill to impose sanctions on the regime of President Nayib Bukele is timely and importantly puts a spotlight on the gross violation of human rights that have occurred under President Bukele’s state of exception. Since March 2022, 85,000 people have been detained, constitutional guarantees have been suspended, and over 350 people have died while under state custody. Systemic torture and persecution are state policies. Significantly, the bill also addresses the pervasive corruption that has occurred since President Bukele took office and prevents the IMF and other international financial institutions not to lend support. Not one penny of our tax dollars should support this regime until there is an end to the human rights violations, and the rule of law, judicial independence, and government transparency are restored. All Members of Congress should get behind this bill,” said Vicki Gass, Executive Director, Latin America Working Group.
“Targeted individual sanctions for gross human rights violations are a critical diplomatic tool the U.S. can use to push for change and hold authoritarian actors accountable; as El Salvador’s political and human rights crisis deepens, strong international action like this becomes essential,” said Ana María Méndez-Dardón, Director for Central America at the Washington Office on Latin America.
“We are heartened to see Senators confronting the human rights abuses of government officials in El Salvador. This bill an important reminder that uncritical US government support to President Bukele will not last forever and a recognition that nobody should be deported to Salvadoran prisons,” said Juan Pappier, Deputy Director of the Americas division, Human Rights Watch.
Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)
Issued by: on
SUVA, Fiji (June 12, 2025) U.S. Army veterinarians, assigned to 72nd Medical Detachment Veterinary Service Support, assist in training of Fiji farmers at the National Small Ruminant Field Day hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture & Waterways, as part of Pacific Partnership 2025, in Suva, Fiji, June 12, 2025. Training involved Fiji farmers and farmers from neighboring islands with topics including husbandry, herd management, and general veterinary care for sheep and goats. Now in its 21st iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Courtesy Asset)
Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)
Issued by: on
SINGAPORE (June 12, 2025) Capt. John-Paul Tamez, left, Deputy Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73 (COMLOG WESTPAC/CTF 73), presents the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal to Lt. Michael Sanza, assigned to COMLOG WESTPAC/CTF 73, during an awards ceremony on Sembawang Naval Installation, June 12, 2025. COMLOG WESTPAC supports deployed surface units and aircraft carriers, along with regional Allies and partners, to facilitate patrols in the South China Sea, participation in naval exercises and responses to natural disasters. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jordan Jennings)
Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
BATON ROUGE – On Saturday, in Baton Rouge, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) honored twenty-two Louisiana students who accepted appointments this year to the U.S. Military, Naval, and Air Force Academies.
“We celebrate these students’ commitment to our country, their willingness to defend our nation, and their parents’ investment in their lives,” said Dr. Cassidy. “We’re grateful for their future service.”
Of the twenty-two students, three are headed to the U.S. Military Academy, eleven to the U.S. Naval Academy, and eight to the U.S. Air Force Academy. They will depart for the Academies this month, where they will enter basic training programs before starting their fall semesters as cadets and midshipmen. Upon graduation, they will serve as commissioned officers in the U.S. military.
At the event, retired Air Force Brigadier General Paul Tibbets, IV gave a keynote address, where he drew upon stories from his service and that of his grandfather to inspire the students.
“I’m so proud of our young people today,” said General Tibbets. “One of my heroes, President Reagan, said many years ago that it’s up to each generation to step up and serve this country and defend this nation. Since we became a Republic, we’ve been doing that. But we rely on these young people of today and of tomorrow to make that leap. Today, we got to celebrate that with numerous Academy appointees that will now be our future leaders in the various services of our Armed Forces. I couldn’t be more proud to recognize them, to honor them, and to let them know that what they’re doing matters. This Republic, this United States of America, depends on them to continue to preserve our liberty and our freedoms for future generations.”
For high school students who are interested in attending the U.S. Military, Naval, Air Force or Merchant Marine Academies, they must receive a nomination, and most nominations come from Members of Congress. Students who will be high school seniors in the fall should visit Senator Cassidy’s nomination website, where they can fill out a preliminary nomination application. They will later be sent a full application. Additionally, any high school student can attend a Service Academy Day event to learn more about the Academies. They will all occur in September, and more information on those events can be acquired by emailing the Senator’s Service Academy Coordinator at shawn_hanscom@cassidy.senate.gov.
Challenging classrooms are producing fresh ideas as the new school year gets underway for the four teachers we will follow throughout 2025.
Lilly Maynard
Year 5–6 teacher, Ulverstone Primary School, Tasmania
Year 5–6 teacher Ulverstone Primary School, Tasmania
For Lilly Maynard, now in her second year as a graduate teacher at Ulverstone Primary School on Tasmania’s northwest coast, additional funding would be transformative.
Teaching a Year 5 to 6 class, Maynard says the school’s resources, particularly in technology, fall short of meeting student needs.
“We have one device for every two to three students,” she says. “I’d love to see one-to-one devices because, by the time they reach Year 5 or 6, many students still don’t know basic technology skills like saving a document or changing fonts.”
To bridge this gap, Maynard and other Year 5 and 6 teachers are rolling out a new technology unit in 2025 to cover foundational skills for Microsoft Word, Teams and Canva.
Funding impacts more than technology. She reflects on the benefits of having extra teacher aides in the classroom.
“Last year, I had a Year 6 student who struggled academically. With the limited aide time we had, we focused on intensive small-group work, going back to sentence structure and the elements of narrative writing,” she says.
“Having more support would mean not only helping those who are struggling but also extending students who are ready to be challenged.”
A legacy of safety
Maynard was inspired to teach by her kindergarten teacher, whom she describes as creating a caring and safe presence for students: “I’ve always wanted to be that person for others.”
This aspiration now shapes her classroom priorities, in which building resilience and fostering a safe learning environment are central. “We do a lot of social and emotional learning activities, teaching students how to handle conflicts or deal with challenges,” she says. “It’s amazing to watch them start resolving small issues on their own.”
A one-year part-time paid teaching internship, which she completed in the last year of her university studies, helped her segue into teaching.
Learning on Sea Country
Maynard’s school’s connection to its local environment is a highlight. Late last year, about one third of Ulverstone’s 380 students participated in the education department’s Sea Country program, which integrates Palawa perspectives into learning.
“We did pre-teaching activities about what Sea Country means and, on the excursion, it was incredible to see students reflecting on the land’s historical and cultural significance.”
This year, Maynard aims to continue refining her skills and exploring innovative assessment techniques. “I want to build on my trials of formative assessments like exit tickets I had success with last year.”
“My goal as a teacher is to nurture curiosity, foster creativity, and instil a lifelong love of learning.”
With additional funding, Maynard says these aspirations could become a reality for every student in her class.12 May 2025
Challenging classrooms are producing fresh ideas as the new school year gets underway for the four teachers we will follow throughout 2025.
Bry Knife
English teacher, Mabel Park State High School, Logan, QLD
Homeschool to high school
Bry Knife’s teaching career reflects education’s evolving landscape, where personal experience and advocacy play vital roles in meeting the diverse needs of today’s classrooms.
Knife’s school days were outside of the mainstream experience. The child of a missionary and pastor, Knife was home-schooled in Ethiopia from Years 3 to 10.
“Because I didn’t have a traditional education, I feel I can relate to the diversity of students at my school,” says Knife.
Studying at his own speed through homeschooling taught them that “everyone works at their own pace”. For Knife, that means embracing organisational strategies such as using a bullet journal and medication to manage ADHD.
Knife identifies as a non-binary, trans-masculine teacher. He prefers to use a combination of pronouns – he/him and they/them – to reflect his identity and experience of gender.
At university, Knife found themself “figuring out that I was queer in a very conservative space”. He completed an accelerated liberal arts bachelor’s and teaching master’s degrees in four-and-a-half years. After graduating, Knife was guaranteed permanency through the Teacher Education Centre of Excellence Program.
Embracing diversity
This year marks Knife’s fifth as a teacher. He joined Mabel Park High just over two years ago. The school has almost 1800 students and can be “complex”, says Knife, particularly with behaviour management issues. In 2025, Knife expects to continue teaching English to students in Years 7 to 12.
“My identity wasn’t as supported early in my teaching career,” Knife says. “Now, I’m much more myself. I’m supported and even celebrated, such as on Wear It Purple Day. I can project a steadiness to my students, who won’t feel safe or comfortable if the adult in the room is anxious and jittery.”
Knife credits the Queensland Teachers’ Union with the support provided to facilitate their transfer. Knife now holds multiple union roles, including QTU activist and Pride Committee member, and has helped advocate for solutions to address the teacher shortage.
“Offering permanency is no longer an incentive because the shortage makes that easy to get,” Knife says.
Bridging gaps
Proper funding for resources remains a major challenge, particularly as Mabel Park High works to “close the digital divide”.
“There are Year 7 students at my school who don’t know how to use computers, research on the internet, or type up an assessment. As we roll out a bring-your-own device program, we’re finding that many parents can’t afford computers and don’t have one at home. More funding would bridge that gap,” he says.
Lottie Smith
Year 7–10 teacher, Centre of Deaf Education, Adelaide, SA
Lottie Smith still feels pride over a student’s achievement in her first year of teaching.
The Year 8 student, who is deaf and has an intellectual disability, won the speech contest on the theme “black, loud and proud” during Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reconciliation Week.
Smith, who teaches a Year 7 to 10 class at Avenues College in Adelaide, thought of the student as soon as she heard about the contest.
“I sat with him and broke down the question, and we worked out a speech in sign language and practised it,” she says.
“On the day, I stood in front of him holding big cue cards. He used sign language, and an interpreter voiced his words.”
Smith grows emotional recalling the moment: “He did this in front of the Aboriginal Youth Commissioner, a panel of Elders, and young people. His competitors, the other contestants, used a microphone.”
Support that’s needed
The achievement highlights Smith’s dedication and one-on-one coaching. She teaches four other students who are deaf or hard of hearing and have complex additional needs such as autism or intellectual disabilities. Smith works with the support of one Student Learning Support Officer (SLSO).
“Extra funding would mean more support staff,” she says. “One-on-one support is critical for meeting the needs of our complex student cohort.”
Smith also believes in upskilling SLSOs, who often work closely with the students with the highest needs. “SLSOs have limited access to professional training, and that needs to change,” she says.
Out-of-pocket costs
Smith is grateful for a partial subsidy she received to pursue Certificates II and III in Auslan, a prerequisite for her master’s degree in teaching hearing-impaired students. However, the financial burden of further qualifications has been significant.
“The government offers a scholarship for one unit per semester of the Auslan course, which means doing it part-time,” she says. “But I studied my master’s full-time alongside Auslan, so I was automatically out-of-pocket by a few thousand dollars, but only just found out I could have applied for a scholarship.”
The lack of funding support is unfair and unethical, says Smith.
“I went out of my way to gain these qualifications, adding to my HECS debt for a hard-to-fill role,” she says.
Last year Smith was awarded SA Early Career Educator of the Year 2024 on World Teachers Day in recognition of her work with Australian Association of Teachers of the Deaf (SA).
Smith says developing her students’ Auslan and English language skills drives her.
“I look forward to continuing celebrating my students’ small wins that contribute to their confidence, skills and independence.”
Amelia Evans
Physical education and science teacher, University of Canberra High School Kaleen, ACT
The opportunity to take on leadership roles and make a positive community impact drew ACT teacher Amelia Evans into teaching.
Recalling her school days, the sixth-generation teacher says: “I didn’t always love school, but I enjoyed the positive relationships I had with my PE teachers, making school a bit more fun every day.”
After Year 12, Evans completed a year in the Royal Australian Navy, “squirrelling away my pay” before starting her teaching degree.
Despite juggling multiple jobs, she finished her degree in three years instead of four, without a scholarship.
Inclusive PE
Now in her third year of high-school physical education teaching at the University of Canberra High School Kaleen, Evans faces ongoing challenges.
“In each class, I have 30 young people with diverse abilities and needs, but we’re all working towards the same goal: ensuring everyone can succeed,” she says.
For example, last year, she adapted PE lessons so a blind student who loves to run could participate.
“We’d go out onto the oval and play ‘tips’. I got a whole class set of little bells for the other students to wear, so she knows they’re about to try to tag her.”
Funding wish list
Evans says more funding would improve equipment, facilities, and accessibility for schools like hers.
“Some of the gear only lasts a term. Things get thrown on the roof, then you put a fragile badminton racket in the hands of a 13-year-old who’s never used one before – one will break every couple of lessons.”
Boosting funding would also mean “extra hands to create tasks to help students who need differentiated learning”.
Limited facilities remain a problem, too.
“Our school ovals aren’t good enough for PE, so we use the public ovals 500 metres away, which takes more of our teaching time,” she says.
Wet weather brings further challenges, with up to six PE classes crammed into a gym designed for two.
Despite these hurdles, Evans’ dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. She was nominated for an ACT teaching award last year for co-founding a Year 8 and 9 girls’ empowerment group. About 20 students attend twice-weekly sessions, which include lunch, music, and resilience-building activities.
“A parent has twice run workshops on saying ‘no’ – what to do if you’re approached in the street – and how to walk and look tougher than you feel,” Evans says.
Last year, she co-ordinated the transition of Year 6 students into high school. Additionally, she is studying a Certificate IV in mental health at her own expense to upskill in wellbeing support.
“It will help me have an input in decision-making for the benefit of all students and staff. I want to help lead my school in a positive direction,” Evans says.
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
June 13, 2025
Phase I of the city’s sewer trunkline project was supported by $3.5 million in federal funding Durbin secured through an earmark in the FY23 government funding bill
CAHOKIA HEIGHTS – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined state and local officials and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a news conference to celebrate the completion of Phase I of the city’s sewer trunkline project, which was supported by $3.5 million in federal funding Durbin secured through Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS)—more commonly known as an earmark—in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) government funding bill, as well as the announcement earlier this year of $10 million in federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) funding for St. Clair County.
“For far too long, the residents of Cahokia Heights have endured the devastating impact of failing storm and sanitary water infrastructure, facing not only property damage, but also threats to their health and safety,” said Durbin. “The sanitary sewer trunkline project will address the immediate needs of the community while laying the foundation for more secure infrastructure and economic investment for generations to come. While there is still more work to be done, Phase I’s completion and the announcement of Community Development Block Grant Disaster Relief Funding is representative of what federal, state, and local collaboration and cooperation can bring to communities like Cahokia Heights.”
“This is a transformative moment for our community,” said Mayor Curtis McCall Sr. “Thanks to this funding, we are now able to move forward with meaningful, permanent solutions to problems that have affected our residents for far too long.”
“Our continued partnership with Cahokia Heights reflects a deep, shared commitment to advancing critical initiatives that benefit the community. By working closely together, we are able to combine federal resources and local expertise to ensure effective, sustainable outcomes. We remain dedicated to supporting this collaboration and look forward to building on the strong foundation we’ve established, driving progress that truly makes a difference,” said COL Andy J. Pannier, Commander St. Louis District, United States Army Corps of Engineers.
“These needed infrastructure dollars will go a long way to improve the lives of many St. Clair County residents. These problems have long existed and we appreciate the work of Senators Durbin and Duckworth and Representative Budzinski,” said Mark Kern, St. Clair County Chairman.
Durbin increased the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) authorized funding limit for the Metro East in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022 and secured language in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 government funding bill supporting the Corps’ expansion of its ongoing study focusing on the Canal 1 Watershed to a broader area of Cahokia Heights and East St. Louis. After severe storms devastated St. Clair County in July 2022, Durbin led the Illinois Congressional Delegation in a letter to President Biden, supporting Governor Pritzker’s request for federal assistance. President Biden declared a Presidential Disaster Declaration, unlocking St. Clair County’s eligibility for the CDBG-DR funds now being distributed for the sewer project.
Durbin also led a December 2023 letter with Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL13) to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) urging the agency to conduct a public health assessment on the impact of decades of flooding in Cahokia Heights.
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
June 14, 2025
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) and the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in demanding that President Trump immediately withdraw all military forces from Los Angeles and cease all threats to deploy the National Guard or active-duty service members to American cities.
The letter comes after Trump’s unprecedented move to federalize and deploy the California National Guard without the consent of the California Governor and mobilize U.S. Marine Corps elements, deploying approximately 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 active-duty Marines to Los Angeles amid unrest created by the President’s indiscriminate and intentionally inflammatory immigration enforcement raids across the region. The first 200 Marines arrived at the Los Angeles Federal Building yesterday, marking the first time in more than 30 years that the Marines have been deployed in the United States.
Trump deployed these military personnel without the request or support of Governor Newsom, manufacturing a crisis and repeatedly escalating the conflict in order to create a spectacle. The federalizing of California’s National Guard marked the first time the Guard had been deployed without a Governor’s consent since 1965.
“We write to express deep concern over your decision to deploy the National Guard and United States Marine Corps to Los Angeles without consultation or coordination with the Governor and local leaders,” wrote the Senators. “This unilateral action represents an alarming abuse of executive authority, continues to inflame the situation on the ground, and undermines the constitutional balance of power between the federal government and the states. We urge you to immediately withdraw all military personnel that have been deployed to Los Angeles unless their presence is explicitly requested by the Governor and local leaders.”
The Senators slammed the deployment of military personnel as an abuse of power that undermines state and local leadership, interferes with critical law enforcement operations, and wastes military resources and taxpayer dollars. They also expressed concern for the dangerous precedent Trump’s misguided deployment of military forces could set for mobilizing military personnel to other cities across the country.
“For the federal government to deploy military forces into American cities without consulting the Governor and local leaders is a dangerous misuse of federal power that has actively disrupted local law enforcement efforts to maintain peace and order,” continued the Senators. “Deploying military personnel should always be a last resort – not a first step – and should only occur when local law enforcement makes a specific request for such federal resources. The decision to use military personnel to create a spectacle has escalated tensions on the ground and created confusion among local law enforcement. Significantly, it also pulls military assets away from other critical missions and is a waste of taxpayer dollars.”
“We urge you to immediately withdraw all military personnel that have been deployed to Los Angeles in recent days and to cease any further threats of deploying National Guard or active-duty military personnel into American cities absent a request from the Governor,” concluded the Senators. “Respect for our Constitution and for our civilian law enforcement demands nothing less.”
In addition to Senator Durbin, Duckworth, and Padilla, the letter to President Trump was signed by the entire Senate Democratic Caucus, including Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN.), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
Full text of the letter is availablehereand below:
June 14, 2025
Dear President Trump,
We write to express deep concern over your decision to deploy the National Guard and United States Marine Corps to Los Angeles without consultation or coordination with the Governor and local leaders. This unilateral action represents an alarming abuse of executive authority, continues to inflame the situation on the ground, and undermines the constitutional balance of power between the federal government and the states. We urge you to immediately withdraw all military personnel that have been deployed to Los Angeles unless their presence is explicitly requested by the Governor and local leaders.
For the federal government to deploy military forces into American cities without consulting the Governor and local leaders is a dangerous misuse of federal power that has actively disrupted local law enforcement efforts to maintain peace and order. Deploying military personnel should always be a last resort – not a first step – and should only occur when local law enforcement makes a specific request forsuch federal resources. The decision to use military personnel to create a spectacle has escalated tensions on the ground and created confusion among local law enforcement. Significantly, it also pulls military assets away from other critical missions and is a waste of taxpayer dollars.
We are particularly concerned by the precedent that this ill-conceived deployment of military personnel to Los Angeles sets for other cities and states. Governors are the Commanders in Chief of their National Guards when operating within state borders. As Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said last year when serving as Governor of South Dakota, “If Joe Biden federalizes the National Guard, that would be a direct attack on states’ rights.”
We urge you to immediately withdraw all military personnel that have been deployed to Los Angeles in recent days and to cease any further threats of deploying National Guard or active-duty military personnel into American cities absent a request from the Governor. Respect for our Constitution and for our civilian law enforcement demands nothing less.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman French Hill (AR-02)
Rep. Hill Announces New District Representative in Little Rock
Little Rock. AR, June 16, 2025
LITTLE ROCK, AR – Rep. French Hill (AR-02) today announced that Cal Jarrett has joined his staff in Little Rock in the role of District Representative as part of the Green & Gold Congressional Aide Program.
Jarrett brings distinguished military experience to the position, having served six years in the United States Navy as an Operations Specialist Second Class (E-5) before being honorably discharged in November 2024. Cal joins three other veterans in Rep. Hill’s district office and will provide constituent services and legislative support.
“Cal’s distinguished naval service and operational expertise make him an exceptional addition to my team,” said Rep. Hill. “I look forward to working with him to support Arkansas families and assist our veterans who have dedicated themselves to serving our nation.”
The Green & Gold Congressional Aide Program is sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives and designed to provide meaningful career opportunities for military veterans and their spouses who seek to continue in public service following their time in the military.
