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Lloyd Austin

The latest news on Lloyd Austin, civil servant and United States Secretary of Defense, including political news and updates.<br />

Born

8 Aug 1953

Industry

Politics, Military

Job Title

Politician

last updated:

4 December, 2024

An undated image of a PLA Type 094 strategic nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine. Photo: Handout

US-China relations

China’s nuclear warheads total 600 and raise ‘concerns’: Pentagon

Both the diversity and sophistication of its arsenal like precision-strike capable missiles have improved, annual US defence report finds.

19 Dec 2024 - 7:15AM

South Korea

Top US diplomat Blinken to talk to South Korea following martial law decision

6 Dec 2024 - 10:40AMvideocam

United States

Torture of 9/11 suspects is the ‘original sin’ delaying a trial

10 Aug 2024 - 10:53PM

US-China relations

Pentagon to bolster response to China, Russia in melting Arctic

In a new report, the US defence department highlighted concern over a ‘growing alignment’ between China and Russia.

23 Jul 2024 - 1:50PMvideocam

A polar bear stands on melting Arctic sea ice in Svalbard, Norway. Photo: Polar Bears International / KT Miller / AFP

Asean

Opinion | Why the US is suddenly going soft on Cambodia

It’s likely a goodwill gesture to Phnom Penh’s ally China, amid shared US-China concerns over the threat of Moscow and Pyongyang drawing closer.

12 Jul 2024 - 5:55AMvideocam

US-China relations

Opinion | Shangri-La Dialogue shows US-China rivalry extends far beyond Asia

The prominence of global conflicts beyond the Indo-Pacific highlights how the US and China can no longer isolate different theatres of competition.

6 Jun 2024 - 8:30PMvideocam

US-China relations

Shangri-La Dialogue: US defence chief pushes partnerships, pledges China talks

Washington seeks peaceful resolution of disputes, ‘not coercion’, says US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin at Singapore security forum.

1 Jun 2024 - 8:30PMvideocam

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin speaks at the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Ukraine war

US has no plan to send military trainers into Ukraine, top general says

US general gives briefing on US commitments to Ukraine after France opened the door to sending troops to train Kyiv’s forces.

21 May 2024 - 3:13PMvideocam

US-Russia relations

Kremlin dismisses report Russia is behind Havana Syndrome affecting US spies

Latvia-based media group reported that members of a Russian intelligence unit had been placed at scene of reported health incidents involving US staff. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said report was baseless.

2 Apr 2024 - 3:59AM

United States

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin admitted to critical care, transfers powers

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, who is fighting prostate cancer, transferred his duties to his deputy hours after he was taken to hospital for ‘an emergent bladder issue’.

12 Feb 2024 - 2:49PM

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin earlier this month. Photo: AFP

United States

Pentagon chief apologises for concealing cancer hospitalisation

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin says the diagnosis was a ‘gut punch’, but admits he should have told Biden and senior staff instead of keeping it a secret.

2 Feb 2024 - 1:58AM

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin takes questions during a press conference at the Pentagon on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Middle East

US defence chief Lloyd Austin vows ‘all necessary actions’ after US troop deaths

Austin, who returned to work after nearly a month’s absence because of prostate cancer complications, said: ‘The president and I will not tolerate attacks on US forces.’

30 Jan 2024 - 2:44AMvideocam

United States

US defence chief Lloyd Austin released from hospital

‘I’m eager to fully recover and return as quickly as possible to the Pentagon,’ Austin said. He had initially concealed his prostate cancer diagnosis from Joe Biden.

16 Jan 2024 - 2:17AM

United States

Lloyd Austin’s doctors think he may need additional care: White House

US National Security spokesman John Kirby said ‘there is routine regular communication’ between President Joe Biden and the defence secretary and that Austin remains ‘actively involved’ from the hospital.

15 Jan 2024 - 2:04AM

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. Photo: AP

United States

US defence chief has prostate cancer – and Biden just found out

The White House is mounting a policy review, after the US president and other key officials were not told for days about Pentagon head Lloyd Austin’s condition and hospitalisation.

10 Jan 2024 - 5:11AM

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin testifies during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing in May 2023. Photo: AFP

Donald Trump

Trump calls for removal of Pentagon chief Austin, Biden has no plans to fire him

‘He has been missing for one week, and nobody, including his boss, Crooked Joe Biden, had a clue as to where he was, or might be,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social.

9 Jan 2024 - 2:07AM

United States

Why was US defence chief’s hospital stay kept secret for days?

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospitalisation was kept far more secret than previously known, officials disclosed on Sunday.

8 Jan 2024 - 9:54AM

United States

US defence chief Lloyd Austin hospitalised over ‘medical complications’

The Pentagon said Austin was admitted to hospital on January 1 ‘for complications following a recent elective medical procedure’ but did not provide details.

6 Jan 2024 - 7:39AM

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. Photo: AFP via Getty Images / TNS

Israel-Gaza war

To beat Hamas, Israel must shield Gaza civilians, US defence chief says

Driving non-combatants into the arms of the enemy will turn a ‘tactical victory’ into ‘strategic defeat’, Pentagon head Lloyd Austin said, drawing on his experience battling Isis.

3 Dec 2023 - 5:20AM

Ukraine war

Pentagon chief pledges US$100 million to support Kyiv’s fight against Russia

In a surprise trip to Kyiv, Austin said the US would be sending an additional US$100 million in weapons to Ukraine from US existing stockpiles. To date, Ukraine has received more than US$44 billion from the US.

21 Nov 2023 - 7:55AMvideocam

US-China relations

US defence secretary to meet Chinese counterpart ‘when that person is named’

Beijing has not had a defence minister since Li Shangfu was removed from the post in October for unknown reasons.

17 Nov 2023 - 7:15AMvideocam

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin was in Indonesia for an Asean conference on Thursday. Photo: EPA-EFE

China’s military

Lloyd Austin’s absence at Xiangshan Forum a missed opportunity: Chinese general

US defence secretary could have met top PLA brass – and maybe even President Xi Jinping – while resuming long-stalled senior military dialogues at security conference in Beijing, says Lieutenant General He Lei.

31 Oct 2023 - 10:11PMvideocam

PLA Lieutenant General He Lei is one of two Chinese military officials known to have spoken with members of the US delegation at the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing. Photo: SCMP/ Jack Lau

US-China relations

Shangri-La Dialogue: Chinese general hits out at Lloyd Austin over Taiwan

Lieutenant General Jing Jianfeng accuses Austin of distorting the facts about the island’s status.

3 Jun 2023 - 9:58PM

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China’s military

The right time to talk is now, Lloyd Austin says in swipe at China

The United States is stepping up planning and training with partners from the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean, he says.

3 Jun 2023 - 2:36PM

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United States

US vows to ‘turn over every rock’ to find source of leaked documents

Defence Secretary Austin said his department takes the matter ‘very seriously’ as Washington sought to reassure allies about its ability to keep secrets safe.

12 Apr 2023 - 9:09AM

The leaked secret documents revealed information on a range of topics, including Ukraine’s battle plans. Photo: AFP

US-China relations

Pentagon chief vows US will help Taiwan defend itself if Beijing invades

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin tells CNN he sees ‘no imminent threat’ of invasion but increased military activity in Taiwan Strait shows Beijing seeks to establish ‘a new normal’.

3 Oct 2022 - 3:25PMvideocam

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin was asked on CNN whether the US military was preparing to send troops to Taiwan in line with Pesident Biden’s comments, but he declined to answer directly. Photo: Getty Images/TNS

Coronavirus pandemic

US defence chief Lloyd Austin positive for Covid for second time

The Pentagon head, who is vaccinated and received 2 boosters, says he is experiencing mild symptoms and will quarantine at home.

16 Aug 2022 - 3:25AMvideocam

Shangri-La Dialogue

China is getting ‘more coercive’ in its territorial claims: US defence chief

US defence chief also says Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has ‘galvanised’ the world in speech at regional security summit in Singapore.

11 Jun 2022 - 1:50PMvideocam

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