Articles from The Guardian - US military

Decision taken over perceived failure to tackle militants further strains Washington relations

The US has confirmed it will cut $300m in aid to Pakistan over its perceived failure to tackle militant groups, ratcheting up the tension in a deeply strained relationship ahead of a visit to Islamabad by the secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, on Wednesday.

American F-35s to be used for test flights but first landing is likely to be by a British pilot

The captain of HMS Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s new aircraft carrier, warned journalists before its maiden voyage across the Atlantic not to write anything negative or he would bomb them.

It was a joke, but it would have been an empty threat. He could not bomb anyone even if he wanted to. The Queen Elizabeth is an aircraft carrier without any aircraft.

Report finds spending on defence by Beijing exceeded $190bn in 2017 as China seeks to expand its global influence

China’s military has expanded its bomber operations in recent years while “likely training for strikes” against the United States and its allies, a Pentagon report released on Thursday has said.

The assessment was contained in an annual report that highlighted China’s efforts to increase its global influence, with defence spending that the Pentagon estimates exceeded $190bn in 2017.

The western presence in one of the most militarised countries in Africa has sparked frustration and fear in locals

The demonstration was planned for 4pm on 15 April, a warm Sunday afternoon in the somnolent Nigeriencapital. The protesters had two main complaints: rising taxes and the fact that, in recent years, some of the world’s most powerful armies had descended on their country.

But before the civil society leaders could even get to the march, they were arrested.