Latest news with #PacificDeterrenceInitiative
Arab News
22-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
US and Europe must reshape their bonds at this time of crisis
For almost two decades, since Barack Obama's presidency, we have been reading about America's 'pivot to Asia.' This is a shift in Washington's focus from Europe and the Middle East to Asia, with the declared objective of countering China's growing influence. On the ground, it has not quite been visible. But this is changing. The US is on the path of shifting strategic resources from Europe to Asia. This is part of the agenda for next month's NATO Summit. This real change puts Europe and the transatlantic alliance on a new dynamic. How will European nations adapt to this change? The US is now actively planning the reallocation of its military resources from Europe to the Indo-Pacific. Its objective is to counter China's growing military capabilities. This potential reduction of US troops in Europe will be discussed with its NATO allies. The US Department of Defense has enacted this shift and is increasing defense spending in the Indo-Pacific. It has significantly increased its budget allocations: in fiscal year 2023, Congress appropriated about $11.5 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, surpassing the initial request of $6.1 billion. In comparison, the European Deterrence Initiative received a budget allocation of about $3.7 billion for the same fiscal year, excluding funds for Ukraine. The Pacific funding aims to enhance missile defense systems, radars and space sensors and increase military exercises and training in the region. Media reports have mentioned the modernization of bases in Guam, Okinawa and the Philippines. Moreover, the US is reinforcing strategic alliances such as AUKUS and the Quad, focusing on advanced capabilities and joint military exercises. A major upgrade to the US-Japan security alliance is also underway, enhancing command structures and crisis response coordination. If we read between the lines of European officials, we notice a feeling of abandonment by the US or even, for some, betrayal Khaled Abou Zahr Needless to say, this major shift is taking place at a difficult time for Europe, as war still rages in Ukraine. If we read between the lines of European officials, we notice a feeling of abandonment by the US or even, for some, betrayal. This is an extremely exaggerated reaction and potentially dangerous for Europe and the US. The situation resembles a father telling his pampered son that it is time for him to stand on his own feet. The main risk is the son seeing this as a rejection instead of a constructive action. The immediate reaction is often to prove something to his father, rather than to himself, showing that he can act responsibly. And what typically follows is a reckless and catastrophic misstep. In this case, there is a real risk that, in trying to prove to the US that it can handle its own defense, Europe may rush into an escalation, rather than taking the time to build credible deterrence against Russia. Such a path threatens not only European stability but also the US' strategic repositioning in Asia, which remains a vital line of defense for Europe. This is what we are now seeing on the Ukrainian front: murmurs of escalation, for which NATO and Europe are dangerously unprepared. Despite the mention of sending European troops in case of a lasting peace agreement — as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicated — or the possibility of deploying postconflict 'reassurance forces,' as French President Emmanuel Macron stated, these declarations also seem to hold the possibility of sending troops should the conflict continue. While supporting Ukraine will remain a European priority in this scenario, such a decision would be a grave mistake at this stage. What emerges from this current process among European leaders is the wish to prove the US wrong, instead of taking the time to establish a real deterrence. Achieving a unified 3.5 percent defense spending level across Europe continues to be a major challenge. This should be a priority Khaled Abou Zahr This is why it is important for the US and Europe — and for the future stability of the transatlantic alliance — to reshape their bonds and strategic objectives, especially during this time of crisis. To start with, it is positive to see European countries convinced of the need to increase their military spending, with some even taking their defense spending beyond the mooted target of 3.5 percent of gross domestic product. This is the case for Poland, which spent 4.1 percent last year. Lithuania and Denmark have also moved closer, surpassing 3 percent this year. However, many others, especially in Southern Europe, struggle to meet even the current NATO target of 2 percent of GDP. In March, the European Commission launched its 'Readiness 2030' initiative to mobilize funding by 2029. Despite some progress, significant gaps remain and achieving a unified 3.5 percent defense spending level across Europe continues to be a major challenge. This should be a priority to support the ongoing transition. It is also important to make sure there are no gaps in terms of defense and security capabilities. In light of the current situation in Ukraine, Europe will need to expand its military industrial capacity. The current production levels are insufficient to replenish stockpiles, maintain readiness and respond to any sudden conflict scenarios. This is the only way to establish Europe's strategic autonomy within NATO. And it is something Russia has already put in place. The Europeans should also be aware of what is happening in the Indo-Pacific and have a strategy and an objective to engage with allies there. Japan, South Korea, Australia and India are all European allies, so this region should be within its focus. Europe and the US must remain loyal to the transatlantic alliance despite the new challenges. But it is time to turn the page and Europe must gradually build and assert its deterrence capabilities. This requires Europe to avoid overreacting, while taking greater responsibility for its security and engaging more actively, including in the Indo-Pacific.
Otago Daily Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
US in talks to launch more satellites from NZ
By Phil Pennington of RNZ The US military is holding talks with New Zealand about launching more satellites from this country. The US Space Force is moving to deploy hundreds more satellites that will - among other things - support America's nuclear command-control-and-communications (NC3) system. It is not known what types of satellite it might wish to launch from New Zealand, but the Pentagon has signalled for several years its interest in diversifying launches into clear southern hemisphere skies, and elsewhere outside the US. Congress ordered a report two years ago on the benefits of using partner countries' spaceports for rapid launch in a war or other crisis. Efforts to get the report through the US embassy have failed. There are now new talks, with US Space Force General Brigadier Kristin Panzenhagen at the forefront. "We are looking at international partnerships as potential ways to get our satellites to orbit," she said in an interview with the Mitchell Institute thinktank. Talks were in their very early stages. "So we've been talking to some of our allies and partners about their launch capability, whether it's existing capability - so for example, you know, Japan has existing capability, Rocket Lab is launching out of New Zealand, Ariane Space out of French Guyana." The US wanted to "see what we may be able to do for enhancing each other's resiliency". She said Sweden and Britain were also in the talks. The UK has no working spaceports, but is trying to build six of them. The Pentagon has repeatedly told lawmakers - in pleas for more space funding - that it was in a race against China to achieve space superiority by 2027. The US could end up helping design new spaceports offshore, so its launches would not face technical barriers, Panzenhagen added. The 2023 report to Congress aimed to assess launch capability and "the shared costs and technology between the United States and allies, including if investments from the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and the European Deterrence Initiative could be considered for allied spaceports". As the US pivots away from Europe and more towards the Indo-Pacific, it is pouring billions more into the Pacific Deterrence Initiative for the likes of missiles in Guam, drone experiments, and "military construction", documents showed. Launches out of Mahia for the Pentagon and US space spy agency NRO have been mostly for experimental missions so far. But the US relies on its two spaceports at home - at Cape Canaveral in Florida, and at Vandenberg base in California - for actual missions, including 'cannot fail' operations. Retired Space Force colonel Charles Galbreath, now a senior fellow at the Mitchell institute, interviewed the general on YouTube last week, and spelled out why accelerating launches mattered so much. "Launch, and the assured access to space that it represents, is foundational to space superiority and leveraging the unique benefits of the space domain. "If you can't get to space, you can't control it," Galbreath said. Diversification and speed Space Force is not only diversifying, but speeding up. In its latest exercise, a launch that once took two years was down to just 10 weeks, Galbreath heard. International diversification is being paired with bringing more companies on board, often smaller ones, rather than the usual massive 'primes' like Lockheed. For instance, Rocket Lab US has just been elevated into a fast-lane of its National Security Space Launch (NSSL) programme. New Zealand is also linked in through its space research within the Five Eyes intelligence group, including a role in current tests of satellite comms to ships. This comes under the umbrella of what US media calls the "Pentagon's global meta-network" - or CJADC2 - or combined joint all-domain command and control - essentially, a satellite-linked network for faster shooting. The New Zealand Defence Force has recently been going to more US-led CJADC2 exercises or taking a bigger role, including in ones that build "kill chains" and "kill webs". The head of US nuclear forces Admiral Charles Richard underlined the link between JADC2 (now called CJADC2) when he spoke to Congress in 2022. "A subset of what JADC2 is doing is for nuclear command and control," Richard said. "The two systems have to be overlapped to a great extent so that we can have integration." Both CJADC2 and nuclear command-control-and-comms expect to benefit from the launch of hundreds of satellites into low-orbit, to get away from reliance on a handful of large, hugely expensive and vulnerable large satellites in higher orbit, according to official US documents. A big CJADC2-linked exercise in Australia in August - Talisman Sabre - aims to advance how 19 countries including New Zealand share communications through a single system, which occurred for the first time last year. Defence and Space Minister Judith Collins talked up the commercial opportunities for New Zealand firms to help out the Pentagon last year. But last week's survey of the space industry that Collins released - which covered its potential to double by 2030 to be worth $5 billion a year - barely mentioned defence. Collins said: "I have not engaged directly with the Space Force on launching from New Zealand." Company leaders in the defence industry praised her appearance at an industry event last Friday. "Judith Collins is a rock star," said one online. "Capable of doing the work publicly and behind closed doors," said another. RNZ asked if it could attend the event to hear her speak, but was declined. Launches are checked and approved by national security officials and National Security and Intelligence Minister Christopher Luxon. But Luxon diverted questions about NC3 to the Defence Ministry. Collins has been approached for comment. The US Embassy said it had "nothing further to provide".
Business Wire
06-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Conti Federal Named to $990 Indo-Pacific Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity Multiple Award Construction Contract for Projects in the NAVFAC Pacific Area of Operations
HONOLULU--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Conti Federal Services, a leading construction and engineering firm specializing in military construction and critical infrastructure for the U.S. federal government, has been named an awardee of a $990M Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Multiple Award Construction Contract (MACC) by NAVFAC Pacific. 'Expanding our footprint under the Indo-Pacific MACC reinforces our long-standing commitment to supporting NAVFAC's global mission,' said Jason Roberts, Regional Business Development Director – Pacific. Share The $990M IDIQ MACC includes Design-Build (DB) and Design-Bid-Build (DBB) construction services for new facilities, renovations, repairs, and infrastructure upgrades. Project scopes encompass airfield paving, waterfront construction, and a variety of base infrastructure improvements. These efforts support the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, including Exercise Related Construction (ERC), Unspecified Minor Military Construction (UMMC), U.S. Code Title 10 Security Cooperation, and other repair projects across the NAVFAC Pacific area of operations. Anticipated project locations include the Caroline Islands, Philippines, Northern Territory of Australia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Fiji, and the Maldives. 'Expanding our footprint under the Indo-Pacific MACC reinforces our long-standing commitment to supporting NAVFAC's global mission,' said Jason Roberts, Regional Business Development Director – Pacific. 'We're proud to bring our proven capabilities to get the job Done Once, Done Right and agile teams to deliver critical infrastructure across the region with excellence and reliability." Conti Federal brings experience in the Indo-Pacific region, with recent projects including a building renovation at Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan, and a fuel system repair at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. With offices and projects spanning multiple continents, the company is well-positioned to support the U.S. federal government's global infrastructure needs. To view the company's locations, visit About Conti Federal Services Conti Federal Services is a leading global construction and engineering company with roots dating back to 1906. The company has delivered some of the most demanding projects for the U.S. federal government, specializing in military and secure construction, critical infrastructure, environmental remediation, and disaster response and recovery. Conti Federal is dedicated to ensuring clients meet mission success while committing to its core values of safety, integrity, and compliance. To learn more, visit
