[🇺🇸] USA News/Views

[Saif]

Source : https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/views/news/when-will-the-us-gain-independence-israel-3630511

When will the US gain 'independence' from Israel?

US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin during a meeting in New York City, US on September 20, 2023. FILE PHOTO: REUTERS

In a video recorded in 2001, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly said, "The main thing, first of all, is to hit them [Palestinians]. Not just one blow, but blows that are so painful that the price will be too heavy to be borne." Dismissing the possibility that the United States would be an obstacle to the perpetration of such gruesome crimes, he added, "I know what America is. America is a thing you can move very easily, move it in the right direction. They won't get in the way."

When the above statement was first reported in various media outlets in 2010, Netanyahu's claim of Israeli influence over the US was met with disbelief and, in some quarters, with ridicule. Many thought it was inconceivable. How could Israel exercise such control over a country like the US?

More than a decade on, if we unpack the intricacies of US-Israel relations, we may not characterise Netanyahu's statements as hyperbolic or counterintuitive. Those who have eyes to see and ears to hear understand that the US-Israel relationship is asymmetrical and lopsided in favour of the latter's interests. Successive US governments have been acting against the stated values and principles of their country in order to offer unconditional support for inhuman Israeli policies against Palestinians. US governments—both Democratic and Republican—have been routinely ignoring their own human rights stance by using the veto power at the UN Security Council to protect the Israeli state from criticism of its gross violations of human rights and international laws.

The US's acquiescent submission to Israeli authorities has become more conspicuous, and the magnitude of its catastrophic consequences more evident, since early October 2023 when Israel launched its ongoing genocide against Palestinians. At the expense of its domestic and international interests as well as its global standing, the US has been providing Israel with economic incentives and military munitions, which the latter has been using to slaughter innocent Palestinian children, women, and men and to demolish educational institutions and other critical facilities—all designed to trigger a mass exodus of the surviving Palestinians from their land.

There are instances when the US government treated its own citizens' lives as less valuable than the interests of Israel.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link below.​

 

[Old School]

In-depth, it is all about gaining independence from capitalism. Every country can become truly independent when decoupling itself from global capitalism. The USA is not bound to Israel per se, but it is bound to global capitalism, where Israel-linked people play the central role. Capitalism is the ultimate vehicle of imperialism, and that leads to the slavery of people who become dependent on the capitalist system to feed them. As long as the global capitalist system remains strong, there is no possibility of the USA decoupling itself from Israel. The writer of this article, Mr. Hasan, sees the symptoms but fails to diagnose the actual cause.

 

[Saif]

US slaps sanctions on leaders of Russia software firm Kaspersky

The United States unveiled sanctions Friday against 12 top leaders of the Russia-based cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab, a day after banning the sale of its popular antivirus software on national security grounds.

www.newagebd.net

US slaps sanctions on leaders of Russia software firm Kaspersky
Agence France-Presse. Washington, United States 22 June, 2024, 04:44

The United States unveiled sanctions Friday against 12 top leaders of the Russia-based cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab, a day after banning the sale of its popular antivirus software on national security grounds.

The widespread sanctions target many of Kaspersky Lab's most senior leaders, including its chief operating officer, while sparing the chief executive and the company itself, the Treasury Department said in a statement announcing the designation.

'Today's action against the leadership of Kaspersky Lab underscores our commitment to ensure the integrity of our cyber domain and to protect our citizens against malicious cyber threats,' said the US Treasury's under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, Brian Nelson.

'The United States will take action where necessary to hold accountable those who would seek to facilitate or otherwise enable these activities,' he added.

The Treasury sanctions come a day after the Commerce Department said it was banning the Moscow-headquartered cybersecurity firm from providing its popular antivirus products in the United States.

That announcement came after a lengthy investigation which, the Commerce Department said, found that Kaspersky's 'continued operations in the United States presented a national security risk due to the Russian government's offensive cyber capabilities and capacity to influence or direct Kaspersky's operations.'

The move is the first such action taken since an executive order issued during Donald Trump's presidency gave the Commerce Department the power to investigate whether certain companies pose a national security risk.

Kaspersky, in a statement to AFP, said the Treasury's sanctions were 'unjustified and baseless,' adding that they were based on geopolitical concerns rather than a 'comprehensive evaluation' of the integrity of its products and operations.

'Neither Kaspersky nor its management team has any ties to any government,' it continued, calling the Treasury's allegations 'pure speculation, which lacks concrete evidence of a threat posed to US national security.'

Moscow hit out at the decision to ban the sale of Kaspersky's antivirus software.

'Kaspersky Lab is a company which is very, very competitive on the international level,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday.

'This is a favorite method of unfair competition from the part of the United States. They resort to such tactics every time.'

Unacceptable risk

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Friday that the company was subject to the 'jurisdiction, control, or direction of the Russian government, which could exploit the privileged access to obtain sensitive data.'

This poses 'an unacceptable risk to US national security or the safety and security of US persons,' he added in a statement.

While Kaspersky is headquartered in Moscow, it has offices in 31 countries around the world, serving more than 400 million users and 270,000 corporate clients in more than 200 countries, according to the Commerce Department.

The latest sanctions target many senior leaders at Kaspersky, including long-serving chief operating officer Andrei Tikhonov and chief legal officer Igor Chekunov, the Treasury Department said.

Other individuals sanctioned include the firm's deputy CEO Daniil Borshchev, chief business development officer and board member Andrei Efremov, and its head of corporate communications, Denis Zenkin.​

 

[Saif]

Presidential debates and win-loss matrix

In an era of showmanship, debates between contenders of the world's most powerful position cannot be dismissed as a verbal contest. It is much more than that. The Thursday's debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump has been held much too early. Their candidatures are yet

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Presidential debates and win-loss matrix
NEIL RAY
Published :
Jun 30, 2024 21:47
Updated :
Jun 30, 2024 21:47

In an era of showmanship, debates between contenders of the world's most powerful position cannot be dismissed as a verbal contest. It is much more than that. The Thursday's debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump has been held much too early. Their candidatures are yet to be finalised. It has been held on the presumption that the two will get the nomination at their respective party conventions.

This time the presidential debate also breaks with the tradition set since 1988 of three such face-offs between presidential nominees overseen by the non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates with both sides complaining against it. The Trump camp brings charges of its biasness against the Republicans and close advisers to Biden considers commission procedures 'outmoded and fussy'. Only two such debates were agreed upon. The next debate is scheduled to be held on September 9 next.

The Thursday's debate was comprehensively clinched by Donald Trump as Biden fumbled, raising the question if the 81-year-old is too old for the Oval office. Against Trump's sharpness, Biden was slow and out of sorts. There have been calls from his Democratic Party for fielding a younger candidate after the poor show by Biden. When Biden had opportunities to pounce on Trump for the latter's Capitol Hill misadventure and felony convictions and other court trials, he had difficulty finding the right words and looked confused.

This debate alone cannot guarantee Trump's win in the presidential race but it will certainly give him and his Republican Party some mileage. Biden will have another shot to amend for his lapses on September 9 when the American Television Network (ABC) will host the second and final round of debate. The problem with the United States of America is that no political party other than the bipartisan rivalry between the Republican and Democratic Party has been able to challenge them. So, the American voters have to choose between either an erratic personality accused of undermining democratic procedures and an octogenarian frail person for their president.

This election, therefore, has the potential of decisively transform the world order if Trump, in particular, emerges victorious. He has indicated that he will not continue to help Ukraine in its war against Russia. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) may not remain the same with Trump coming to power. This may prompt reorganisation of the NATO with far-reaching consequences---both negative and positive. For Ukraine it is likely to be completely disastrous but the world may avoid the rising tension between Russia-China-North Korea axis and Western alignment.

Trump declared several times in the past that he would be able to stop the war between Russia and Ukraine. If his mediation helps bring about a permanent ceasefire between these two warring nations with debilitation of the NATO following US nominal participation or withdrawal, Ukraine may still survive and the world stands a very good chance of resting in peace. Wins in elections for far right political parties in Europe may complete the process. Trump may be a threat to what many of his compatriots consider US values, principles and strong points but his rallying cry "Make America Great Again", used first by Ronald Reagan, reverberates across that country.

De-escalation of military confrontation between rivals possessing intercontinental ballistic missiles courtesy of attention to home affairs by Biden's predecessor can thus avoid a possible world war. However, in case of Gaza conflict, Trump may be more unforgiving than Biden. Also, the unpredictability of his nature will always keep his countrymen and the rest of the world community guessing about his next move. Yet his second term of presidency, if he is elected, is more likely to be either tumultuous or stable depending on his success in advancing American economic and business interests vis-a-vis that of China. Particularly so, when the latter is growing militarily powerful and rehearsing for annexation of Taiwan and claiming its sole right to the South China Sea.​

 

[Saif]

Prospects of fascism in US

WITH the advent of a leader like Donald Trump, we have been watching for the last few decades that the United States is slowly becoming a fascist state. There is a quotation circulating since the last century and it goes like this: ‘When Fascism Comes to America, It Will Be Wrapped in the Flag.’...

www.newagebd.net

Prospects of fascism in US
Ali Manwar 03 July, 2024, 00:00

Virginia attorney general Jason Miyares joins Republican presidential candidate, former US president Donald Trump onstage during a rally at Greenbrier Farms on June 28 in Chesapeake, Virginia. | Agence France-Presse/Getty Images/Anna Moneymaker

WITH the advent of a leader like Donald Trump, we have been watching for the last few decades that the United States is slowly becoming a fascist state. There is a quotation circulating since the last century and it goes like this: 'When Fascism Comes to America, It Will Be Wrapped in the Flag.' Although it is more important than who said it, another cliché that has become popular in the 21st century is attributed to lexicographer Samuel Johnson, who coined the adage 'Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.'

On February 28, the Associated Press reported that former president Donald Trump faced four criminal indictments in four cities as he vied to reclaim the White House. The cases, totalling 91 felony counts, were winding through the courts at various speeds. Some might not reach trial this year while one was set to begin in a matter of weeks.

This would have ended a political leader's career in a civilised society. On May 30, only a month ago, Donald Trump (ex-POTUS) was awarded guilty verdicts by 12 jurors on all 34 felony counts for falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels near the end of the 2016 presidential campaign. This ominous event not only increased his popularity among the US voters, but contributions to his campaign funds have seen a surge of donations by millions of dollars.

Notwithstanding Trump's criminality, immorality, deception, and stupendous illiteracy, US voters like him and want to see him in the White House again. As we approach the election date of November 5, it looks like a possibility unless 'we, the people' of this country, wake up to the reality. This refers to the United States constitution, which begins with the Preamble — We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Trump's return to the White House as the leader of the western world would bring unprecedented potential devastation to humanity. His proposed policies, if implemented, could lead to catastrophic outcomes, surpassing even the horrors of Hitler's regime. Here are a few things we know he wanted to do during his four years in the office. I am not a fortuneteller, but these are the probable scenarios that Trump himself expressed on various occasions.

First, Trump would like to establish a decisive, close relationship with Russia and Putin and, by implication, introduce some of Putin's favorite policy decisions — Ukraine will be conquered because NATO and US support for Ukraine will be withdrawn. This may also lead Putin to push ahead towards western Europe, if not further. This would be the most visible and immediate impact on the global scale.

We cannot imagine the economic impact of the US-Russia-China hegemony on the rest of the world's population. For the highly populated countries of Asia, two options would open up: join the hegemony as a colonial state or fight for your existence as an independent state, including India. Other states like Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar and the Philippines may eventually become the first countries to experience severe economic downturns and famines.

Second, Trump's policies could plunge the world into a post-apocalyptic nightmare akin to the Middle Ages. His withdrawal from all ecological global treaties to reverse the greenhouse effect would be a death knell for the environment. As we teeter on the edge of an environmental collapse, the impact of this policy reversal would not only lead to the destruction of millions through famine, pandemic, and war but also render the earth's surface scorched beyond recognition, with no hope of restoration. This would happen without a nuclear war, but nuclear war may also occur concurrently. That brings us to the question of Israel.

Third, in the Middle East, the political turmoil that began in April 2024, will most likely bring Israel and Muslim states (Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey) into an open war with the possibility of a nuclear confrontation. Given the wishy-washy policies towards Israel, the use of nuclear options becomes more plausible than not.

Fourth, the ecological disaster would hit agriculture and mainly food production, creating a global food shortage for the overpopulated Asian and African countries. This would be a definitive outcome. At first, the whole sequence of events would start as unsuspecting 'inflation.' Rather than looking at the cause of the inflation, governments in these countries would focus on controlling the inflation rather than the downturn of the food supply.

Fifth, the immigration policies in the United States will shift to complete restrictions like Trump did in 2016, focusing on the Muslim ban. The oppressors become more violent in the second term, and Trump's followers are waiting to bring back pre-Lincoln and pre-civil war days back to the United States. The idea is to go back to the days of slavery, literally. In the day-to-day social domain, this would manifest as an extreme form of prejudice, racism, xenophobia, and violence towards any citizen who looks or talks differently. And for the trigger-happy Yankees, that would be the dream come true.

Democracy is dead.

Ask not why they find Trump attractive, but ask why the Germans liked Hitler. And be ready for the impending decline and fall of human civilisation.​

 

[Saif]

Trump escapes an assassination attempt.

 

[Old School]

It is a sad day for America. Anyone posting a "conspiracy theory" or blatant propaganda here will get a thread ban immediately without warning.

 

[Saif]

Kaspersky to officially leave the US

Kaspersky Labs, the Russia-based cybersecurity firm, has stated on its US website that the company will be leaving the United States. This announcement took place about a month after the US government banned Kaspersky from selling its antivirus software in the country.

www.thedailystar.net

Kaspersky to officially leave the US

Kaspersky's US website did not allow consumers to purchase any products, citing "purchase is unavailable for US customers". Image: Reuters/Dado Ruvic

Kaspersky Labs, the Russia-based cybersecurity firm, has stated on its US website that the company will be leaving the United States. This announcement took place about a month after the US government banned Kaspersky from selling its antivirus software in the country.
Last month, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced plans to bar the sale of antivirus software made by Kaspersky in the country, citing security risks posed by Russia's influence on the cybersecurity company.

Kaspersky did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The government also slapped sanctions in June on Kaspersky's senior leadership, including the chief business development officer, chief operating officer, legal officer and corporate communications chief, citing cybersecurity risks.

CNN on Monday reported that Kaspersky Labs will "gradually wind down" its US operations and lay off US-based employees, starting July 20.

Kaspersky's US website did not allow consumers to purchase any products, citing "purchase is unavailable for US customers".

The new restrictions by the US government on inbound sales of Kaspersky software, which would bar downloads of software updates, resales and licensing of the product, will come into effect on September 29.
New US businesses for Kaspersky are to be blocked 30 days after the restrictions were first announced on June 20.​

 

[Lulldapull]

Listen to this shyster spew nonsense and propaganda. Very disappointed already with him:

 

[Bilal9]

Kaspersky to officially leave the US

Kaspersky Labs, the Russia-based cybersecurity firm, has stated on its US website that the company will be leaving the United States. This announcement took place about a month after the US government banned Kaspersky from selling its antivirus software in the country.

www.thedailystar.net

Kaspersky to officially leave the US
View attachment 6984
Kaspersky's US website did not allow consumers to purchase any products, citing "purchase is unavailable for US customers". Image: Reuters/Dado Ruvic

Kaspersky Labs, the Russia-based cybersecurity firm, has stated on its US website that the company will be leaving the United States. This announcement took place about a month after the US government banned Kaspersky from selling its antivirus software in the country.
Last month, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced plans to bar the sale of antivirus software made by Kaspersky in the country, citing security risks posed by Russia's influence on the cybersecurity company.

Kaspersky did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The government also slapped sanctions in June on Kaspersky's senior leadership, including the chief business development officer, chief operating officer, legal officer and corporate communications chief, citing cybersecurity risks.

CNN on Monday reported that Kaspersky Labs will "gradually wind down" its US operations and lay off US-based employees, starting July 20.

Kaspersky's US website did not allow consumers to purchase any products, citing "purchase is unavailable for US customers".

The new restrictions by the US government on inbound sales of Kaspersky software, which would bar downloads of software updates, resales and licensing of the product, will come into effect on September 29.
New US businesses for Kaspersky are to be blocked 30 days after the restrictions were first announced on June 20.​

This was expected for a long time. The See-I-A (and most of the US administration) accuses Kaspersky to spy for the Russian Govt. which they have officially stated.

No US Govt. agency buys Kaspersky products (mainly antivirus software) and even the private companies in the US are discouraged to buy Kaspersky stuff especially if they do business with the US Govt.

This has been going on for ten years or more. I am surprised it took them this long to leave US shores. Same thing with Huawei and other large Chinese IT related brands. Tiktok will leave soon too.

 

[Saif]

US hails meeting between Blinken, China FM

The United States hailed ‘open and productive’ discussions between China’s foreign minister and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Laos on Saturday in which Blinken raised...

www.newagebd.net

US hails meeting between Blinken, China FM
Agence France-Presse . Vientiane 27 July, 2024, 23:20

US secretary of state Antony Blinken (left) shakes hands with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi as they meet on the sidelines of the 57th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane on Saturday. | AFP photo

The United States hailed 'open and productive' discussions between China's foreign minister and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Laos on Saturday in which Blinken raised US concerns over Beijing's 'provocative actions' around Taiwan.

Blinken's stop in Laos is part of a multi-nation Asia visit aimed at reinforcing regional ties in the face of Beijing's growing assertiveness, including in the South China Sea, and its deepening ties with Moscow.

The talks on the sidelines of a foreign ministers meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) lasted for one hour and twenty minutes, according to a senior State Department official.

Blinken raised 'US concerns about provocative actions' by China, including a simulated blockade of Taiwan following the May inauguration of its new president Lai Ching-te, the official said.

China claims the democratic island as its territory and slammed Lai's inauguration speech as 'confession of independence.'

Shortly before the meeting Blinken hit out at Beijing's 'escalatory and unlawful actions' in the South China Sea, where China and the Philippines are locked in a territorial dispute.

Beijing claims the waterway—through which trillions of dollars of trade passes annually—almost in its entirety despite an international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.

Wang also warned the Philippines over deploying a US medium-range missile system on its soil, saying it would 'create tension and confrontation in the region and trigger an arms race.'

The US Army said in April it had deployed the Mid-Range Capability missile system in the northern Philippines for annual joint military exercises.

Philippines military officials later said the system would be removed from the country.

Blinken arrived in Laos two days after the foreign ministers of China and Russia met with the 10-nation ASEAN bloc—and each other on the sidelines of the meeting.

On Thursday, Wang met Russia foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in Vientiane and discussed 'building a new security architecture for Eurasia', according to Moscow's foreign ministry.

The pair also agreed to jointly 'counter any attempts by extra-regional forces to interfere in Southeast Asian affairs', it said.

China has a strong political and economic partnership with Russia, with NATO members labelling Beijing as a 'key facilitator' of Moscow's involvement in the war in Ukraine.​

 

[Lulldapull]

Indians think that hating us and partying up with the racist west is their salvation….……anytime Indian guy even answers back to blatant racism in the US, he gets shot dead!

Newly Married Indian-Origin Man Shot Dead In US In Suspected Road Rage

A 29-year-old Indian-origin man was shot dead in a suspected road rage incident in the US state of Indiana on Tuesday, the police said.

www.ndtv.com

 

[Lulldapull]

I try mentioning this on our other lesser forum, and the mods get uncomfortable.

Ajeeb baat hae no?

😝

When you try educating our ghareeb badbakht on having a second option toward potentially leaving the west, fuckking earthquake happens on our other forum. 😝

 

[Saif]

US, Japan deepen ties, take swipe at China

The United States and Japan issued scathing verbal attacks on China and Russia yesterday after high-level discussions on enhancing already close defence collaboration between Tokyo and Washington in an increasingly unstable region.

www.thedailystar.net

US, Japan deepen ties, take swipe at China

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin meet with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defense Minister Minoru Kihara at their Foreign and Defense Ministerial (2+2) Meeting at Iikura Guest House in Tokyo, Japan yesterday. Photo: Reuters

The United States and Japan issued scathing verbal attacks on China and Russia yesterday after high-level discussions on enhancing already close defence collaboration between Tokyo and Washington in an increasingly unstable region.

A joint statement issued after "2+2" talks in Tokyo between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and their Japanese counterparts said China's "foreign policy seeks to reshape the international order for its own benefit at the expense of others".

They also reiterated their "strong objections" to China's "unlawful maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed features, and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea".

The communique also criticised Russia's "growing and provocative strategic military cooperation" with China, as well as Moscow's procurement of ballistic missiles and other equipment from North Korea "for use against Ukraine". It also expressed alarm at China's "ongoing and rapid expansion of its nuclear weapons arsenal".

Blinken said US alliances were all "defensive in nature".

"They have no ambitions toward anyone else, and never have been or ever will be offensive in nature," he told a news conference.

"But at a time when unfortunately these threats are increasing, our alliances, our partnerships, they're getting deeper, they're getting stronger, they're getting more effective," he said.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said: "We are at a historic turning point."

"Developments that shake the very foundation of a free and open international order based on the rule of law are continuing."

"We must deepen and develop the US-Japan alliance to safeguard the international order and enhance deterrence," she said.

China claims the South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars of trade passes annually, almost in its entirety, while Tokyo and Beijing are also at loggerheads over disputed Japan-controlled islands in the East China Sea.

The statement also confirmed US plans to establish in Japan a new Joint Force Headquarters, headed by a three-star US commander, for the 54,000 US military personnel stationed there.

It will serve as a counterpart to Japan's planned Joint Operations Command for all its armed forces, making the two militaries more nimble in the case of a crisis over Taiwan or the Korean peninsula.​

 

[Lulldapull]

US, Japan deepen ties, take swipe at China

The United States and Japan issued scathing verbal attacks on China and Russia yesterday after high-level discussions on enhancing already close defence collaboration between Tokyo and Washington in an increasingly unstable region.

www.thedailystar.net

US, Japan deepen ties, take swipe at China
View attachment 7169
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin meet with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defense Minister Minoru Kihara at their Foreign and Defense Ministerial (2+2) Meeting at Iikura Guest House in Tokyo, Japan yesterday. Photo: Reuters

The United States and Japan issued scathing verbal attacks on China and Russia yesterday after high-level discussions on enhancing already close defence collaboration between Tokyo and Washington in an increasingly unstable region.

A joint statement issued after "2+2" talks in Tokyo between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and their Japanese counterparts said China's "foreign policy seeks to reshape the international order for its own benefit at the expense of others".

They also reiterated their "strong objections" to China's "unlawful maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed features, and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea".

The communique also criticised Russia's "growing and provocative strategic military cooperation" with China, as well as Moscow's procurement of ballistic missiles and other equipment from North Korea "for use against Ukraine". It also expressed alarm at China's "ongoing and rapid expansion of its nuclear weapons arsenal".

Blinken said US alliances were all "defensive in nature".

"They have no ambitions toward anyone else, and never have been or ever will be offensive in nature," he told a news conference.

"But at a time when unfortunately these threats are increasing, our alliances, our partnerships, they're getting deeper, they're getting stronger, they're getting more effective," he said.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said: "We are at a historic turning point."

"Developments that shake the very foundation of a free and open international order based on the rule of law are continuing."

"We must deepen and develop the US-Japan alliance to safeguard the international order and enhance deterrence," she said.

China claims the South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars of trade passes annually, almost in its entirety, while Tokyo and Beijing are also at loggerheads over disputed Japan-controlled islands in the East China Sea.

The statement also confirmed US plans to establish in Japan a new Joint Force Headquarters, headed by a three-star US commander, for the 54,000 US military personnel stationed there.

It will serve as a counterpart to Japan's planned Joint Operations Command for all its armed forces, making the two militaries more nimble in the case of a crisis over Taiwan or the Korean peninsula.​

Japan pays about $10 billion per year for the US forces to do sentry duty in Japan. Its chump change for Japan. No problem.......The Japanese are super smart on avoiding conflict with both Russia and China.