Latest news with #securityassistance
Reuters
11-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Senate panel approves $500 million aid for Ukraine in defense bill
WASHINGTON, July 11 (Reuters) - The Senate Armed Services Committee has approved $500 million in security assistance for Ukraine as part of its draft language for its Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which also restricts A-10 aircraft retirements. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is an annual policy bill that authorizes funding levels and provides authorities for the U.S. military. It ensures that American forces have the necessary resources to carry out their missions and is closely watched by weapons makers like Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N), opens new tab and Boeing Co (BA.N), opens new tab. The NDAA, passed by the Senate Armed Services Committee with a vote of 26-1 on July 9, 2025, includes a provision to extend the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative through 2028, increasing authorized funding to $500 million from $300 million in 2025. The initiative aims to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities as it battles Russian forces which invaded in 2022. The bill also prohibits a controversial request made in President Donald Trump's June budget request to retire the Air Force A-10 fleet. The draft requires that the inventory of the A-10 cannot drop below 103 aircraft in FY26, ensuring the continued operation of these close air support planes. The draft of the bill will make its way through the legislative process in the coming months. The lower House of Representatives kept Ukraine support at $300 million in its version. The NDAA supports a total of $925 billion in funding for national defense, with $878.7 billion allocated to the Department of Defense and $35.2 billion to the Department of Energy. The bill also allows for up to $6 billion in general transfer authority for unforeseen higher-priority needs. In addition to Ukraine, the NDAA addresses various global security challenges, including threats from China, Iran, and North Korea. It emphasizes the need for technological advancements in areas such as artificial intelligence, unmanned technology, and hypersonic weapons to maintain U.S. military superiority.
Japan Times
23-06-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Japan aims to double number of military aid recipients this year
Thailand, Sri Lanka, Tonga, East Timor and Papua New Guinea are expected to become the newest recipients of Japanese military aid as Tokyo looks to double the number of countries involved in its official security assistance (OSA) program this fiscal year to eight. The Foreign Ministry is currently in discussions with these countries, as well as with earlier recipients Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, a government source told The Japan Times on Monday. The move, the official added, is part of an incremental push to gradually include more countries in the program 'to help maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region.' It also comes after parliament approved a 60%, or ¥3 billion, year-on-year increase in OSA funding, raising the budget to ¥8 billion ($54.6 million) for fiscal 2025, as Japan seeks to strengthen the security capabilities of 'like-minded' countries amid growing concerns over the regional security environment. The hike in OSA spending was the third straight since the program was launched in 2023 with an initial ¥2 billion budget. The program marked a break with Tokyo's previous policy of avoiding the use of development aid for military purposes. As OSA funds increase, so too will Japan's efforts to boost the number of countries it assists, with those already part of the program expected to receive larger grants going forward, the official added. Asked which types of equipment will be provided this year, the official said this is still being worked out with candidate countries. 'What I can say at this point though is that overall there are growing requests for drones, larger vessels for rescue missions and heavy construction machinery for use in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations,' the official added, without specifying countries. The OSA expansion comes after Fiji recently became the first-ever recipient of equipment provided through the military aid framework. The South Pacific island nation received on May 26 the first of three batches of equipment requested in fiscal 2023, including an underwater camera unit, a rescue boat and a water-rescue training doll. The second batch, which includes a rescue boat, is slated for delivery later this year, as are surveillance drones requested by Malaysia and coastal surveillance radars sought by the Philippines the same year. Next year will see Japan provide the third batch of equipment to Fiji, comprising one rescue and three patrol boats, while Bangladesh is due to receive patrol boats. First announced in December 2022's revised National Security Strategy, OSA has been promoted as an expansion of Japan's foreign aid frameworks, but it is separate from the Foreign Ministry's official development assistance program. It is designed to cover projects 'for the benefit of armed forces and other related organizations.' That said, OSA cannot be used to provide just any military equipment, as the program must also abide by Japan's strict arms export controls. Contracts for OSA projects have so far all gone to Japanese companies, and this is likely to remain the case unless they are unable to provide specific equipment or parts. While the program provides grants for equipment, infrastructure and initial training, maintenance or repair costs must be covered by the partner country. Although not OSA's top priority, there are also hopes that the program could inspire partner nations to eventually purchase Japanese defense products.
Wall Street Journal
19-05-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
The U.S. Is Eyeing a Minerals Deal With Congo. Included: Child Miners.
The U.S. and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are in talks over a possible minerals deal that would see the former providing security assistance to the latter in exchange for some of the country's natural resources. But charities are warning that any investment in the DRC comes with the risk of encouraging forced labor and child mining in the country. Nonprofits such as the Fair Cobalt Alliance and academics have warned that if investment does flow into the DRC from the U.S. as part of an effort to secure minerals, it would likely raise rates of artisanal and small-scale mining, or ASM, in the country.
