But in a joint briefing with Austin, Galvez was careful to refer to the four unnamed locations US forces would go to under the agreement as “EDCA sites,” not bases, and stressed that the deal was still contingent on consultations with local authorities.

Source: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/03/03/us-troop-expansion-near-taiwan-revives-old-debate-in-philippines/

Hollywood director Guy Ritchie said it is “morally reprehensible” for Afghans who worked alongside British and US forces to be denied safe passage to the UK.

Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/afghan-war-hero-pilot-deportation-support-b2324707.html

Hours later, four boats tried to attack the same ship, but US forces opened fire, killing several of the armed crews, the US Central Command (Centcom) said.

Source: https://www.barryanddistrictnews.co.uk/news/national/24020124.us-forces-shoot-ballistic-missiles-red-sea/?ref=rss

If Taiwan surrenders before US forces can be brought to bear, the rest is futile,” the report said.

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/china-unlikely-seize-taiwan-invasion-heavy-losses-both-sides-united-states-japan-3194426?cid=cna_flip_070214

In late March, US forces retaliated with airstrikes on sites in Syria used by groups affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard following a suspected Iran-linked drone attack that killed a US contractor and wounded six other Americans in northeast Syria.

Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-airstrikes-syria-two-killed-iran-b2314724.html

In the days leading up to the sudden darkness, there were war reports about Ukraine, with US forces in combat with the Russian army.

Source: https://hudsonvalleyone.com/2023/02/01/tyre-nichols-murder-joule-community-power-enslaved-people-and-more-letters-from-our-readers/

Israel’s leaders know that US forces killed Bilal al-Sudani and 10 other ISIS terrorists in Somalia on January 25. “This action leaves the United States and its partners safer and more secure,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said.

Source: https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-747532

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been firing long-range missiles from his territory, causing alarm in South Korea and Japan and putting US forces in the region under high tension.

Source: https://energycentral.com/c/cp/german-toro-ghio-linkedin-news-round-thursday-february-2-2023-%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%94-germ%C3%A3%C2%A1n-toro

Persistent, solar-powered and able to carry radios and sensors, balloons could give US forces the ability to more closely peer into Chinese airspace and territory in peacetime and create new sources of uncertainty for Beijing.

Source: https://nypost.com/2023/02/03/strike-back-at-chinas-battle-for-the-stratosphere/

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, one of the warring sides, said a US forces mission consisting of six aircraft evacuated American diplomats and their families.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/22/uk-us-and-others-prepare-to-evacuate-nationals-from-sudan

The additional access comes under a 2014 agreement known as EDCA that allows US forces to rotate through Philippine bases.

Source: https://houstonianonline.com/us-gains-access-to-four-additional-military-bases-in-the-philippines-abroad/

The Hamas-Israel conflict has also led to skirmishes in Syria and Iraq, from which Iran-backed militias have launched multiple drone attacks on US forces.

Source: https://krdo.com/news/2023/10/27/iran-may-not-want-a-full-blown-war-with-israel-but-it-may-be-dragged-into-one/

The strikes came after a series of drone and rocket attacks against US forces in the region.

Source: https://krdo.com/news/2023/10/27/iran-may-not-want-a-full-blown-war-with-israel-but-it-may-be-dragged-into-one/

This month, the Philippines identified four military bases - in addition to five existing sites - to which US forces will have access, including one near the Spratly Islands.

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/philippine-leader-travels-us-bolster-ties-amid-china-tensions-3455206?cid=cna_flip_070214

Trump threatened repeatedly to withdraw US forces from the Korean peninsula; this year Biden reached an agreement with the South Korean president to counter the nuclear threat from Pyongyang and prevent Seoul from pursuing its own nuclear weapon.

Source: https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/the-us-needs-a-good-president-and-biden-s-been-good-for-us-20230928-p5e8bq.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_world

US forces have also struck Iran-linked targets in Syria.

Source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iraq-iran-us-strike-kills-five-militants

“We — US forces and the coalition — remain in an advise, assist and enable role.

Source: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/03/pentagon-chief-lloyd-austin-talks-troop-presence-surprise-iraq-visit