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Tag: deter
Guatemala’s president says U.S. should invest more to deter migration
Washington — Nearly three years ago, Vice President Kamala Harris stood alongside the then-president of Guatemala in his palace and delivered a message to would-be migrants: “Do not come” to the United States.
Her pleas didn’t work. Since June 2021, when Harris made those remarks, U.S. officials have tallied 709,305 encounters with migrants from Guatemala along the southern border, according to government data. More than 2 million migrants of all nationalities are expected to be apprehended along the border by the end of this fiscal year in September, which would be the third straight year of sustained foot traffic across the span.
Asked this week whether migrants have heeded Harris’ request from three years ago, Guatemala’s new president, Bernardo Arévalo, shrugged his shoulders and said, “Well, I don’t know. You do the numbers.”
Arévalo, who took office in January, came to Washington this week to meet with President Biden and Harris as the White House hopes to demonstrate progress on addressing border security and immigration, issues that remain top voter concerns.
He told CBS News the president was “enchanting” and “very warm” in a brief Oval Office exchange captured by White House photographers. But in longer meetings with Harris, Arévalo said he told her Guatemala needs more U.S. economic investment — not just taxpayer-funded American relief — in order to encourage people to stay put.
“Cooperation is not sending money. Cooperation can be by creating conditions in which we can invite you to invest in Guatemala and establish factories, work that can begin to produce and create jobs. That’s fundamentally what we are most interested in,” he told CBS News.
Ron Sachs/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images
“We have to work to allow people, what we call, ‘The right to stay.’ People have a right to remain in their places. People need to find opportunities,” Arévalo added.
Mr. Biden tasked Harris with addressing the “root causes” of migration early in their administration as the number of illegal border crossings spiked after four years of hardline border security policy under former President Donald Trump. But the Biden administration is now anticipating another busy spring along the U.S.-Mexico border, and officials tell CBS News the president is still considering taking executive action to curb the crossings if Congress fails to enact a bipartisan plan negotiated by senators last year.
As she personally wades back into the politically tricky issue, Harris on Monday announced another $170 million in economic development and security assistance for Guatemala. Arévalo welcomed the investments as a long-term solution to preventing his country’s citizens from leaving and signaled he’d prefer to see that kind of cooperation continue. But he also did not discount the possibility of working with a second Trump administration.
“We are looking forward to working with whoever wins in the next election to support and work so that our citizens that are residents in the United States enjoy full rights,” Arévalo said.
Asked whether he thought Trump’s preference for border walls works, he said, “I think that history shows they don’t. What we need to look for is integrated solutions to a problem that is far more complex than just putting a wall to try to contain.”
“Corruption is the most urgent problem”
Arévalo, 65, is a former diplomat and sociologist and the son of the late former Guatemalan president Juan José Arévalo, who was the country’s first democratically elected president from 1945 to 1951.
The younger Arévalo took office in January after running an underdog campaign on an anti-corruption platform and defeating several better-known, better-funded opponents backed by the country’s political and economic elite. His victory effectively put an end to the country’s long standing conservative political establishment. But rivals who control the country’s judiciary continue to try prosecuting him and his political party, accusing them of rigging the results of last year’s elections — accusations he strongly disputes.
“We believe that corruption is the most urgent problem,” Arévalo told CBS News. “But the most important problem is development. But if we do not fight corruption, we are not going to be able to get the development that we need so that people can flourish and stay.”
As he tries to revamp Guatemala’s government and restore democratic norms, Arévalo said he supports the release of journalist José Rubén Zamora, who was sentenced to six years in prison in 2023 on money laundering charges under the former President Alejandro Giammattei’s administration.
Zamora’s newspaper, “El Periódico,” published countless stories about corruption within the Giammattei administration. It was forced to shut down after he was detained, due to a lack of resources and its journalists fleeing the country for fear of prosecution. Zamora’s case has earned international attention and condemnation from international journalists’ rights groups.
“We would hope for him to be released tomorrow,” Arévalo said of Zamora.
On his Inauguration Day, Arévalo said he sent the head of the country’s prison system to “transform” the torturous conditions under which Zamora was being held. While the president supports the journalist’s liberation, Arévalo could not specify a release date for the detained journalist because does not control Guatemala’s judiciary under the Guatemalan Constitution.
“We know that the accusations are just not serious,” he said. “But we cannot interfere with the Court of Justice, so we don’t know.”
Ed O’Keefe
Thousands of Marines and sailors deploy to Middle East to deter Iran from seizing ships
More than 3,000 Marines and sailors arrived in the Middle East on Sunday in a deployment meant to deter Iran from seizing and harassing merchant ships near the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.
They came aboard the dock landing ship USS Carter Hall and amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, which together can carry dozens of aircraft, including Ospreys and Harrier jets, plus amphibious landing craft and tactical vehicles.
U.S. Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable)’s (MEU(SOC)) Maritime Special Purpose Force clear an Landing Craft Utility during training aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), Mediterranean Sea, July 31, 2023.
U.S. Marine Corps by Sgt. Matthew Romonoyske-Bean
These forces belong to the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The North Carolina-based MEU “is capable of conducting amphibious missions, crisis response and limited contingency operations to include enabling the introduction of follow-on forces and designated special operations,” according to a release from Naval Forces Central Command.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the move last month “in response to recent attempts by Iran to seize commercial ships” in the Middle East, according to U.S. Central Command.
Maritime Special Purpose Force Marines, assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Capable, conduct weapons familiarization drills on the flight deck of the USS Bataan in the Mediterranean Sea, July 26, 2023.
U.S. Navy
Iran attempted to seize two commercial oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman in July, opening fire on one of them, according to the Navy. In May, the U.S. said, Iran seized two merchant ships within one week.
“Since 2021, Iran has harassed, attacked or seized nearly 20 internationally flagged merchant vessels, presenting a clear threat to regional maritime security and the global economy,” a Navy release stated in July.
The USS Bataan conducts routine operations in the Atlantic Ocean, July 20, 2023.
U.S. Navy
Some Marines of the 26th MEU were flown ahead for training in Bahrain in anticipation of being placed aboard commercial ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz to stop Iran from capturing them, a U.S. official told ABC News on Friday.
The U.S. is considering multiple options and is likely to offer protections to ships that are U.S.-flagged, carrying crews that include U.S. citizens or bringing cargo to or from the U.S., according to the official. The commercial shipping industry has been made aware that this option is or will become available on a voluntary basis.
The U.S. now is waiting for commercial shipping companies to request protection. A senior White House official told ABC News last week that while the plan will likely be approved, no final authorization has been given to U.S. Central Command to go forward.
Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder did not confirm the possibility when asked during a press gaggle on Monday.
“I’m aware of the press reports speculating that that’s something we may be looking at doing, but … I don’t have anything to announce,” Ryder said.
U.S. Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Maritime Special Purpose Force, prepare to depart the USS Bataan in the Mediterranean Sea, July 28, 2023.
U.S. Marine Corps
The ships and troops that arrived this weekend join other U.S. military support recently sent to the area.
“In response to a number of recent alarming events in the Strait of Hormuz, the secretary of defense has ordered the deployment of the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner, F-35 fighters and F-16 fighters to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to defend U.S. interests and safeguard freedom of navigation in the region,” Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said during a July 17 briefing.
US Marines prepare to be put on commercial ships to deter Iranian harassment in Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. says Iran has seized commercial oil tankers in the Persian Gulf area.
In a sign of rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran, U.S. Marines are poised to be placed aboard commercial ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz to help stop Iran from seizing or harassing them, a U.S. official said Friday.
The U.S. is considering multiple options, and is likely to offer protections to ships that are U.S.-flagged, carrying crews that include U.S. citizens, or bringing cargo to or from the U.S., according to the official.
A U.S. Marine with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), searches a hostage during a visit, board, search, and seizure training mission in support of Amphibious Squadron/MEU Integrated Training (PMINT), in the Atlantic Ocean Jan. 27, 2023.
U.S. Marine Corps by Cpl. Yvonna Guyette
The commercial shipping industry has been made aware that this option is or will become available on a voluntary basis. The U.S. now is waiting for commercial shipping companies to request protection.
A senior White House official told ABC News while the plan likely will be approved, no final authorization has been given to U.S. Central Command to go forward.
The White House official did not comment on the potential for miscalculation or escalation with Iran, referring questions to the Pentagon.
A U.S. Marine with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), prepare to board a ship during a visit, board, search, and seizure training mission in support of Amphibious Squadron/MEU Integrated Training (PMINT), in the Atlantic Ocean Jan. 27, 2023.
U.S. Marine Corps by Cpl. Yvonna Guyette
For the last two weeks in Bahrain, members of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit have been training to protect ships in 20-man teams, according to the U.S. official.
A screenshot of a video showing fast-attack craft from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy approaching Panama-flagged oil tanker Niovi as it transits the Strait of Hormuz, May 3, 2023.
U.S. Navy
They were flown in ahead of the bulk of their unit, which will arrive in the region soon aboard the USS Bataan and other ships being sent in response to what Central Command said were “recent attempts by Iran to threaten the free flow of commerce in the Strait of Hormuz and its surrounding waters.”
The U.S. has also recently sent F-16 and F-35 fighter jets to the region.
U.S. Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable)’s (MEU(SOC)) Maritime Special Purpose Force clear an Landing Craft Utility during training aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), Mediterranean Sea, July 31, 2023.
U.S. Marine Corps by Sgt. Matthew Romonoyske-Bean
“Since 2021, Iran has harassed, attacked or seized nearly 20 internationally flagged merchant vessels, presenting a clear threat to regional maritime security and the global economy,” a U.S. Navy release said in July.
Last month Iran attempted to seize two commercial oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, opening fire on one of them, according to the U.S. Navy. In May, Iran seized two merchant ships within one week.
The U.S. official said the presence of Marines aboard civilian vessels is expected to be a strong deterrent to Iran. And while their mission would be defensive, the Marines would have the right to defend themselves as necessary, the official said.
US aims to deploy troops on tankers to deter seizures by Iran: official
The United States is preparing to deploy sailors and Marines aboard commercial tankers transiting the Gulf as part of efforts to deter Iran from seizing ships, a US official said Thursday.
The security details would provide a further layer of protection for the tankers in addition to the warships and planes operating in the strategically vital area, through which around a fifth of the world’s oil passes.
“There is an effort… to employ security details composed of both Marines and Navy sailors on commercial tankers transiting in and near the Strait of Hormuz as an added layer of defense for these vulnerable ships,” the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
An invitation is needed to do so because the ships are private vessels, but “we are undergoing preparations to execute should final agreements be in place to do that,” the official said.
The United States is boosting its forces operating in the region, announcing last month that it would deploy a destroyer, F-35 and F-16 warplanes, as well as an Amphibious Readiness Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit comprised of some 3,000 personnel.
The US military says Iran has either seized or attempted to take control of nearly 20 internationally flagged ships in the region over the past two years.
Washington said its forces blocked two attempts by the Iran to seize commercial tankers in international waters off Oman on July 5, while Tehran took control of a commercial ship the following day.
In April and early May, Iran seized two tankers within a week in regional waters, and Tehran was also accused of launching a drone attack against an Israeli-owned tanker in November 2022.
There have been a series of such incidents since 2018, when then-US president Donald Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and reimposed crippling sanctions on the Islamic republic, sending tensions soaring.
wd/acb
China says US military aid to Taiwan will not deter its will to unify the island
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China accused the United States of turning Taiwan into an “ammunition depot” after the White House announced a $345 million military aid package for Taipei, and the self-ruled island said Sunday it tracked six Chinese navy ships in waters off its shores.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office issued a statement late Saturday opposing the military aid to Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory.
“No matter how much of the ordinary people’s taxpayer money the … Taiwanese separatist forces spend, no matter how many U.S. weapons, it will not shake our resolve to solve the Taiwan problem. Or shake our firm will to realize the reunification of our motherland,” said Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office.
“Their actions are turning Taiwan into a powder keg and ammunition depot, aggravating the threat of war in the Taiwan Strait,” the statement said.
China’s People’s Liberation Army has increased its military maneuvers in recent years aimed at Taiwan, sending fighter jets and warships to circle the island.
On Sunday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said it tracked six Chinese navy ships near the island.
Taiwan’s ruling administration, led by the Democratic Progressive Party, has stepped up its weapons purchases from the U.S. as part of a deterrence strategy against a Chinese invasion.
China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949, and Taiwan has never been governed by China’s ruling Communist Party.
Unlike previous military purchases, the latest batch of aid is part of a presidential authority approved by the U.S. Congress last year to draw weapons from current U.S. military stockpiles — so Taiwan will not have to wait for military production and sales.
While Taiwan has purchased $19 billion worth of weaponry, much of it has yet to be delivered to Taiwan. Washington will send man-portable air defense systems, intelligence and surveillance capabilities, firearms and missiles to Taiwan.