Latest news with #REFORPAC
ABC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
US Air Force hosts biggest ever exercise in Pacific territory Guam, with experts saying China the focus
The US Air Force says it is preparing to "fight and win" the "battle of tomorrow" as the US Pacific territory of Guam plays host to the biggest combat exercise the region has ever seen. In a move experts say is undoubtedly "directed at China", the US Air Force's Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC) exercise sees more than 400 aircraft and 12,000 personnel from the US and allies such as Australia, converge on the small US island territory, about 3,000 kilometres north of Darwin. Coinciding with the Talisman Sabre exercises in Australia, the US Air Force says REFORPAC is designed to test how quickly the US and its allies can "mobilise air power across vast distances, under pressure, in a contested environment". On the ground at Guam's Andersen Air Force Base, hundreds of jet fighters and support aircraft have been flying in and out over the past two weeks, conducting various drills. Speaking at the base, Colonel Charles Dan Cooley told the ABC it was an exercise that had never been done "on this scope and scale". "That exercise, for us, is just an opportunity to practice." However, some, including the US Air Force's own social media accounts, suggest there is a far more targeted motive. This week, the US Air Force promoted a social media post that said the exercise proved how it would "fight and win in tomorrow's battlespace (sic)". Although the enemy or conflict was not specified, experts say it is directed at one country. "There's been very little disguising the fact that this exercise is directed at China," Leland Bettis, the director of Guam-based think tank Pacific Centre for Island Security, told the ABC. The exercises in the Pacific come on the back of US Defense Undersecretary Elbridge Colby's comments last week, calling on allies, such as Australia, to make clear if they would commit troops to a conflict with China over Taiwan. Guam has been identified by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as the country's most important strategic base in the region. Mr Bettis said REFORPAC reflected the reality that Guam could be vulnerable in a conflict, so the US was practising how to quickly disperse its forces. "There are significant aviation assets in [nearby US territories] Tinian and in Saipan," he said. "I think what US contingency planners anticipate in the event involving conflict with an adversary in the region is that they would use a distributed and dispersed plan, which would be able to move assets around, anticipating that some assets are not going to be available, and some bases are not going to be available. "So the fact that you have significant assets in Saipan and in Tinian also signalled that they expect that Guam assets will not be available in conflict." Back on the ground at the Andersen Air Force Base, this was backed up by Colonel Matt Johnston, commander from the Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, who is in Guam for exercises. "Our ability to take off in our fighters, which don't carry a lot of gas, go get fuel, accomplish our objectives, probably go back and get some more fuel so that we can come back and land. "So, we're learning a lot of lessons through that." The military build-up comes as the Trump administration continues to realign the US's priorities in the Pacific region, most notably through its multi-billion-dollar cuts to USAID. Mr Bettis said the absence of "soft power", such as USAID-led diplomacy in the region, would pave the way for development supporting a military purpose, instead of direct assistance to nations. "The face of America in our part of the world wears a uniform, and I think you're going to probably see that more and more throughout the region."
Scoop
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Massive US-led military exercise underway in CNMI
, RNZ Pacific Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas correspondent The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) will be front and center of the Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC) 2025 as the US Air Force launched its most expansive military exercise in the region last week. The Commonwealth Bureau of Military Affairs official Edward Camacho said nearly 300 aircraft and over 600 troops will conduct military exercise in about 25 locations on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota and their surrounding airspace during exercise set from 7 July to 8 August. The special assistant for military affairs to the CNMI governor Arnold Palacios said that Saipan military exercises started on 7 July, followed by Tinian and Rota's on 8 and 9 July 8, respectively. The Saipan exercises will be happening until 8 August, with both Tinian and Rota's concluding at the end of July. Relaying a message from the Pacific Air Forces deputy commander, he said the goal of the exercise "is to integrate and experiment with logistics, sustainment, and enabling capability to bring Fifth Generation Fighters, command and control aircraft, and airlift and air refueling into the Western Pacific region at the speed and scale that has not been seen." Palacios welcomed the US military and forces from allied and partner nations as they commence REFORPAC 2025. "The US Armed Forces and our esteemed international partners who are gathering in our region for vital military presence underscores a shared commitment to regional security, stability, and humanitarian cooperation," he said. Palacios said REFORPAC will go a long way in strengthening the alliance between the US and its allies. The Air Force will deploy over 500 Airmen on Saipan with two C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, four Black Hawk medium utility helicopters; approximately 115 Airmen on Tinian and six F-22 Raptor stealth fighter aircraft; and 25 personnel and two C-130 Hercules transport aircraft on Rota. Camacho said the Air Force assured stakeholders they will toe the line when it comes to mitigation processes to ensure the military exercise is not disruptive to the islands' ecosystems and way of life. He said REFORPAC is vital to the United States and the region's security "because it showcases our air power and then it also showcases our ability to work with other countries as far as operational interoperability capabilities and as well as communications and maneuvering." Asked to comment on a request made by four CNMI and Guam groups to have a 45-day extension on the comment period for the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), Camacho said that it is not his decision to make. The Revised DEIS' current 75-day review window for public comments on the Mariana Islands Training and Testing and CNMI Joint Military Training proposals began 6 June 6 and is scheduled to close on 20 August. "I don't have any problem with an extension of the 45 days. Unfortunately, others might, and the others that might have that issue are beyond my level to make that decision."
RNZ News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Massive US-led military exercise underway in CNMI
The DC Air National Guard squadron's F-16s arrived at Hickam for a quick pitstop before heading out in support of the REFORPAC exercise. Photo: Facebook / U.S. Pacific Air Forces The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) will be front and center of the Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC) 2025 as the US Air Force launched its most expansive military exercise in the region last week. The Commonwealth Bureau of Military Affairs official Edward Camacho said nearly 300 aircraft and over 600 troops will conduct military exercise in about 25 locations on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota and their surrounding airspace during exercise set from 7 July to 8 August. The special assistant for military affairs to the CNMI governor Arnold Palacios said that Saipan military exercises started on 7 July, followed by Tinian and Rota's on 8 and 9 July 8, respectively. The Saipan exercises will be happening until 8 August, with both Tinian and Rota's concluding at the end of July. Relaying a message from the Pacific Air Forces deputy commander, he said the goal of the exercise "is to integrate and experiment with logistics, sustainment, and enabling capability to bring Fifth Generation Fighters, command and control aircraft, and airlift and air refueling into the Western Pacific region at the speed and scale that has not been seen." US Pacific Air Forces, multinational, and joint partners will conduct exercise Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC) 10 July - 8 August 2025, across several locations throughout the Pacific as part of the Department of the Air Force's Department-Level Exercise (DLE) series. Photo: Palacios welcomed the US military and forces from allied and partner nations as they commence REFORPAC 2025. "The US Armed Forces and our esteemed international partners who are gathering in our region for vital military presence underscores a shared commitment to regional security, stability, and humanitarian cooperation," he said. Palacios said REFORPAC will go a long way in strengthening the alliance between the US and its allies. A C-17 Globemaster III touched down at Misawa Air Base in support of Exercise REFORPAC 2025, offloading a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter, cargo, and personnel to enable combat search and rescue operations. Photo: Facebook / Misawa Air Base The Air Force will deploy over 500 Airmen on Saipan with two C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, four Black Hawk medium utility helicopters; approximately 115 Airmen on Tinian and six F-22 Raptor stealth fighter aircraft; and 25 personnel and two C-130 Hercules transport aircraft on Rota. Camacho said the Air Force assured stakeholders they will toe the line when it comes to mitigation processes to ensure the military exercise is not disruptive to the islands' ecosystems and way of life. He said REFORPAC is vital to the United States and the region's security "because it showcases our air power and then it also showcases our ability to work with other countries as far as operational interoperability capabilities and as well as communications and maneuvering." Asked to comment on a request made by four CNMI and Guam groups to have a 45-day extension on the comment period for the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), Camacho said that it is not his decision to make. The Revised DEIS' current 75-day review window for public comments on the Mariana Islands Training and Testing and CNMI Joint Military Training proposals began 6 June 6 and is scheduled to close on 20 August. "I don't have any problem with an extension of the 45 days. Unfortunately, others might, and the others that might have that issue are beyond my level to make that decision."
Nikkei Asia
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Nikkei Asia
Japan joins huge US-led Resolute Force Pacific air exercise
Japanese Air Self-Defense Force F-15 and F-35A jets will participate in the REFORPAC exercise. (Photo by Konosuke Urata) SHINNOSUKE NAGATOMI TOKYO -- Japan's Air Self-Defense Force is participating in a major training exercise conducted by the U.S. Air Force around Japan, in what observers say is a show of unity intended to boost deterrence against China. Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC), running until Aug. 4, will take place in multiple locations in the Pacific including Hawaii, Guam, Japan and international airspace, according to U.S. Pacific Air Forces.
