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You can view it at the link below:View PDFIf you can not access the report, please contact ariana.lynn@thefastmode.com Get updates and alertsdelivered to your inbox Facility estimated to cost $100-$250 million The US Navy intends to build a data center in Guam’s Andersen Air Force Base In a tender shared on February 1and updated April 29 the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command which handles the Navy’s engineering needs reinforced concrete communications center and administrative support space for the 36th Communications Squadron.” A generator building will be built as part of the facility The 36th Communications Squadron is the communications wing of the 36th Wing The contract is valued at between $100 and $250 million and the completion period is estimated to be around three and a half years Publicly shared documents indicate that the communications center will be 288,000 sq ft (26,755 sqm) The generator building will be 62,000 sq ft (5,760 sqm) Information about future capacity was not available and all necessary supporting facilities” will need to be constructed The tender also specified that construction need to be will be performed by American companies using American citizens Prospective contractors must demonstrate experience with precision cooling systems Andersen Air Force Base was established in 1944 after American troops recaptured Guam from Japan the base has played a strategic role in the Korean and Vietnam wars a village near the northeastern tip of Guam Guam is an unincorporated territory of the US. Its strategic importance as America’s westernmost point means that it hosts a variety of military and communications infrastructure. It is currently a landing point for 11 subsea cables with eight more to become operational by 2028 Last year, a tender was submitted by the Department of Defense to build a data center at Camp Blaz a Marine installation activated in October 2020 Data Centre Dynamics Ltd (DCD), 32-38 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH Email. [email protected]DCD is a subsidiary of InfraXmedia who began relocating from Japan's Okinawa to Guam late last year will begin occupying barracks at Camp Blaz in June a spokesperson for the Guam-based facility said as construction of the facilities continues The remark comes amid the ongoing relocation of 100 logistics personnel to Guam this year marking the first group among more than 4,000 U.S Marines set to be transferred from Japan's southern island prefecture of Okinawa The move is part of efforts to ease the base-hosting burden on local communities in Okinawa Diann Rosenfeld told Kyodo News on Wednesday that junior enlisted Marines have arrived from Okinawa and are currently housed at other military facilities on the U.S "We're on track to be able to receive the Marines to have the buildings for the Marines to start moving into and start working," Rosenfeld said which will accommodate up to 5,000 personnel once completed while the headquarters building is expected to be fully operational by fall The relocation is based on the U.S.-Japan Roadmap for Realignment Implementation an agreement reached by the two countries in 2006 The cost of the transfer is estimated at $8.7 billion of which up to $2.8 billion will be covered by the Japanese government some 18,000 Marine Corps are stationed in Okinawa Top court nixes Okinawa Pref.'s last appeal over U.S. base landfill Work begins to reinforce soft soil in Okinawa U.S. base transfer U.S. Marines in Okinawa start moving to Guam, over 10 yrs after accord To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible an aircraft carrier whose home port is in Bremerton according to the territory's local police force and the U.S The Navy announced on Thursday that it had paused its search for Information Systems Technician Seaman Gabriel Holt was assigned to the Nimitz and was visiting Naval Base Guam during a scheduled port call when he disappeared at 11:57 p.m near Nikko Hotel and Gun Beach on the northwestern side of the island The nuclear-powered Nimitz is currently on a mission that is likely its final deployment before it is decommissioned in April 2026 This deployment involves conducting "routine operations" in the US The carrier was based out of Bremerton for more than 10 years The Navy said it searched for Holt for 120 hours covering more than 11,000 square nautical miles using a helicopter combat squadron and aircraft from other ships military have reached a novel agreement that lets civil engineers work outside Andersen Air Force Base to help rein in the island’s stray dog population The 36th Wing at Andersen will provide vehicles kennel maintenance assistance and personnel according to a Tuesday news release from the U.S “This is a first-of-its-kind agreement and shows the amazing relationship between Andersen Air Force Base and the Government of Guam,” Marlyn Aguilar an attorney adviser at Andersen’s Office of the Staff Judge Advocate “We are proud to continue supporting the local communities and building strong connections across the island.” The agreement marks a significant step toward coordinated efforts to control Guam’s strays — known locally as “boonie dogs” — according to the Agriculture Department and the wing it permits the 36th Civil Engineer Squadron to assist with off-base operations The Agriculture Department division in charge of animal health and control is “passionate and dedicated to finding solutions yet we are restrained by limited resources,” Turner wrote “The collaboration with Andersen AFB serves as a force multiplier for our efforts.” Andersen’s civil engineers have been supportive in recent years by capturing strays and helping with adoptions Airmen from the base have also repaired damaged fences and kennels at Guam Animals in Need and the wing expects to deepen its relationship with that shelter Thomas Palenske with helping to finalize the agreement “General Palenske has been very active with pursuing a solution to the free-roaming boonie dog population on Guam,” she wrote No funds are transferred under the agreement which allows the Agriculture Department and the wing to share resources and expertise and creates a formal process for each party to request support services Both sides will conduct annual reviews to ensure its effectiveness and relevance to the community HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — President Donald Trump signed an executive order on May 1 ending the use of taxpayer dollars to fund National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service organizations are clapping back contending that Congress has the final say the proposed defunding will need to be considered in local budget talks with PBS Guam A fact sheet from The White House said the order ceases federal funding as well as indirect funding to PBS and NPR by mandating that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting revise its 2025 general provisions to “explicitly prohibit direct or indirect funding.” the chair of the legislative Committee on Education who that noted he had just begun reviewing Trump's executive order Sunday morning it’s of concern because that is going to affect PBS on Guam I think what’s important is we have to meet with (Gov Lou Leon Guerrero) and get her position and then we have to look at the funding,” Borja said Trump’s EO comes with allegations that NPR and PBS have “fueled partisanship and left-wing propaganda with taxpayer dollars,” a misuse of taxpayer’s money according to the president “President Trump is working to ensure taxpayer dollars are no longer wasted on progressive pet projects but rather used to benefit hardworking Americans,” the White House EO fact sheet said PBS News Hour reported that Trump plans on asking Congress to defund the organizations noting that financial disclosures show that CPB funding constitutes about 13% of local media stations’ revenue PBS CEO Paula Kerger said in a statement that the loss of funding “would devastate PBS member stations and the essential role they play in communities particularly smaller and rural stations who rely on federal funding for a larger portion of their budgets,” according to the PBS News Hour report Congress has final say over any cuts to federal funding NPR and PBS receive Borja noted that upon hearing “rumors” in Washington of impending federal cuts to PBS and with the EO signed he recognized it will need to be addressed in the local budget “It's definitely something as we move towards budget discussion "If it's something that’s the priority of the Legislature and the executive branch then we're going to have to figure out where that money is going to come from we kind of work based on the budget submitted by the governor and so we're definitely going to have to come back to the drawing table." The senator will be reaching out to the governor I can schedule a meeting this week and then also reach out to the governor as well,” Borja said "I'll see where she's at in regards to how she plans to proceed and what type of support we may look for in the Legislature in regards to where that funding to cover the shortfall is going to come from." He also said he would be reaching out to CPB for insight on their stance on Trump’s EO and to Guam Delegate James Moylan as well “To kind of see what they’re their tracking at the Congress level in regards to their direction we’re not here to toe the line in regards to the national agenda What's important is the people that we represent We got to look at the priority of the government and look at where this falls in line with the governor as well,” Borja said the Office of the Governor was unable to comment on the president’s EO but did note that the PBS board would need to address the issue Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Lalani Aguon and her family enjoy Pet Fest Guam 2025 with pets Canela and Ina on Saturday Photos by Jolene Toves/The Guam Daily Post HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Four- and two-legged kindred spirits gathered in Tumon on Saturday for some fun in the sun and the occasional rain The people and their furry best friends at Pet Fest Guam 2025 came to Gov Joseph Flores Park at Ypao Beach to socialize and to spread awareness about Guam’s stray dog population The humans were glad their pets could enjoy each other’s company in the fresh outdoors and he doesn’t have that many dog friends,” said Jennilyn Bravo who brought 4-year-old Bougie “So we found out about this event through Instagram and it was just a good opportunity for him to get out of the house.” This year's pet party was a first for both of them “I love that all the local vendors and businesses are out here It gives them an opportunity to just network with everyone I think it’s just a great opportunity for the community to get together." Lalani Aguon brought poodles Canela and Rocket “I noticed there’s not a lot of facilities for dogs “So I figured this was a good event to bring them out and actually be in a safe place for them just to get out experience the public and experience things.” and she was glad they could socialize at Pet Fest and to learn more about what type of services are available on the island for pets just support the event so we can continue to have more of this stuff for dogs and animals,” Aguon said It’s pretty big and there’s a lot for everybody to do.” The event was filled with games and activities but also information about responsible pet ownership Guam Animals In Need and Guåhan Paws for Pets two nonprofit groups helping to reduce the number of stray dogs on Guam “people let their pets go that are unfixed and add to the stray population And so we are trying to let people know…what happens when you let your unspayed pets go roaming around.” Guzman is the founder and director of Guåhan Paws for Pets She told the Post that stray dogs her group picks up are often in terrible shape we need funds to get these animals back to health and adopt them out,” she said In addition to spaying and neutering their pets she also encouraged people to adopt animals from shelters or rescue groups instead of buying them “The more people adopt from GAIN or Guåhan Paws for Pets animal rescue groups the more we can bring in and rescue other animals in need of rescuing She said Guåhan Paws for Pets had helped find homes for over 300 dogs since 1999 helping owners find their lost or missing pets when you’re out there looking for someone’s pet and that’s what started the rescue part of Guåhan Paws for Pets,” Guzman explained Guåhan Paws for Pets has seen a shift in the community “More people seem to care,” said Ciera Tamayo you would see that there’s a lot of cases of animal abuse,” she said seem to want to become educated and knowledgeable you can see the love and the care people are taking.” She said people are learning “it’s okay to care “There’s been a stigma that it’s just a dog That’s not how it is and not how it should ever be And we’re here to let people know that it’s OK Read now > Sign up for our weekly newsletter of articles from Japan, Korea, Guam, and Okinawa with travel tips, restaurant reviews, recipes, community and event news, and more. The islands territorial status gives Washington all the unilateral authority it needs to use facilities and project force without encumbrances. The Guam headlines from the recent visit of the U.S secretary of defense are only part of Secretary Hegseth’s maiden visit to the Pacific It is Guam’s place in the larger picture - where the island fits into U.S strategy - that helps us understand how the “tip of the spear” is being positioned the arrangement of the “Guam piece” gives us a better sense not only of Guam’s importance to the United States sees the larger geopolitical competition taking shape secretary of defense’s recent regional visit in context We must not only consider what was said and done during his trip to help us understand (1) the signaling on Guam that informs the unfolding U.S strategy in the region and (2) the increasing risk to Guam’s security secretary of defense was bringing the agenda of a new president to the region The Trump administration’s pressure campaign on regional allies to support U.S warfighting contingency planning is itself a tell is pushing for greater commitment and clarity because today they do not have it This tepid allied commitment makes for a weak American war plan in the event of conflict with China But decisions about war go to the heart of a nation’s sovereignty Even America’s closest allies in the region are unlikely to grant permission for a unilateral U.S decision to bring their country into conflict secretary of defense calls the “frontlines.” relatively small steps in relation to the commitments the U.S Regional allies of the U.S. are clear about the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposition to a change in the status quo by force to unilaterally manage a de facto commitment to war with China on their behalf is a different matter It remains to be seen how far sovereign governments in the region will bend to Trump’s view of containing China decision-makers already have the type of ready response to conflict they are seeking from allies on the frontlines of the region Guam’s territorial status gives Washington all the unilateral authority it needs to use facilities and project force without encumbrances In view of uncertain commitments from regional allies in a potential conflict with China The U.S. military’s certainty about the use of bases and assets on Guam was a highlight of the defense secretary’s visit to the island. “These islands are the tip of America’s spear in the Pacific,” Hegseth said in a DoD release titled “Secretary of Defense Emphasizes Lethality Deterrence on Guam.” Joint Region Marianas dutifully reported their “efforts and contributions to strategic deterrence even if the magnitude of the threat did not pass his lips there were no direct discussions about the conflict risks or what would be done to protect the people of the island The Trump administration will be ramping up pressure on frontline countries in the region to make security commitments that align with U.S It is too early to tell how hard countries will be pushed how far they will go in response and what they will ultimately agree to does not want to go it alone in an aggressive approach to China because it is unlikely to prevail if it does is also unlikely to get frontline countries in the region to commit to an open-ended American decision to go to war against China back to the importance of Guam and its ability to act unilaterally Secretary Hegseth’s stops in Hawaii and Guam on his way to the Philippines and Japan were meant to signal U.S force projection and the ability to act militarily on its own in the region As frontline countries are pressured to support the aggressive U.S strategy outlined in the “secret memo,” they may be looking at how the U.S is acting in the places where it already has unilateral authority High-level visits that do not directly address the risks posed by the U.S plans that assume the spread of conflict among U.S.-controlled islands and a failure to address the most fundamental elements of population security in conflict are likely not persuasive signals about U.S This article was republished with permission by The Guam Daily Post Today, there are only three global naval powers: the United States, China, and Russia able occasionally to deploy further afield If Donald Trump wants European states to look after their own collective security Britain might be better off keeping its handful of ships in the Atlantic although still able to inflict severe damage on Ukraine few people talk about the real Russian naval capacity to challenge Western dominance how this will increasingly come up against U.S That is an incredible message to our adversaries It is an incredible show of unity to our allies and our commitment to NATO.” almost half of Britain’s fighting ships embarked from Portsmouth and Devonport to much fanfare “the world’s most advanced air defense destroyer,” has been in the dry dock since 2017 I’ve just finished reading “The Royal and Russian Navies, Cooperation, Competition and Confrontation,”written by Britain’s former Naval Attache to Moscow retired Principal Lecturer at the Defence Centre for Languages & Culture at the UK’s Defence Academy The authors argue that while we have focused most of our attention on Russia’s army in Ukraine And thinking about Russia as a relic of its Cold War self is a huge mistake laboring under sanctions and the tight fiscal constraints of the war in Ukraine Russia’s naval yards have built new vessels non-stop for the past decade Russia has taken delivery of 27 submarines Many more are under construction and will arrive by the end of this decade The Royal Navy, on the other hand, has continued to shrink in the teeth of defense cuts, and each new efficiency drive makes it smaller. The two Albion-class landing vessels and negotiations about their sale to Brazil are at an advanced stage The increase in defense spending to 2.5% of GDP will mostly be swallowed by the MoD’s bloated procurement programs that are typically delayed and always over budget It will not produce a rapid conveyor belt of ship-building that has seen Russia overtake Britain at a rapid pace since the Ukraine crisis started The book also underlines the importance of dialogue as a key component of deterrence and reminds the reader of the significant naval cooperation that took place between the two navies after the Cold War When HMS Battleaxe sailed into Baltiysk in 1992 the first Royal Navy ship visit to modern-day Russia it discovered the remnants of the Soviet Navy The Russian Navy had become the main beneficiary of Russia’s state armament program and a Russian admiral was saying the UK’s decision to give up the Nimrod Maritime Patrol Aircraft in 2010 made his “life easier.” practically all direct engagement between the Royal and Russian navies was cut at the instigation of the UK government the UK and Russia have no serving military attachés in their respective embassies in London and Moscow for the first time since 1941 Our modern generation of seafarers are now only able to view Russians through binoculars Britain has literally watched a modernizing Russian navy sail off into a distant horizon as we’ve criticized Russia from an ivory conning tower From his ridiculous photo op on the deck of HMS The Prince of Wales, it’s not clear that Keir Starmer has understood that the world now contains just three global naval powers: the United States of America Russian naval ambitions have now grown in the High North (Arctic) and in the Pacific While Britain’s modest Carrier Strike Group steams east, Russia has already been active in joint naval exercises with China and Iran as well as ship visits to Myanmar and other locations Britain has practically no scope to control Russia’s increasingly assertive naval posture in Asia This decade-long lack of engagement — not just by Britain but by America pre-Trump — has left us sailing blind on how Russian doctrine and tactics have shifted in the forge of war in Ukraine It's clear to me that in this new world order of military burden sharing between America and Europe Britain would be better placed keeping its handful of ships in the Atlantic while America increasingly comes into contact with the Russian Navy in the Pacific In President Donald Trump’s first 100 days his administration has arrested and detained visa holders and other non-citizens in the U.S for speaking out against Israel’s military actions in Gaza That’s not how the administration frames it but that is the connective tissue in each of the cases “We’re either a free society governed by the Constitution Paul was specifically addressing the Antisemitism Awareness Act which would codify a Trump-era executive order declaring that antisemitism is a prohibited form of discrimination in schools and universities and would use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism in assessing cases of antisemitic discrimination through the Department of Education Critics say that it would allow the government to conflate criticism of Zionism and the Israeli government with antisemitism and serve as a dangerous tool to shut down free speech Paul wondered aloud if campus police would be used in enforcing new speech rules As The Jewish Chronicle reported after the vote was postponed Paul was part of “a testy hearing on Wednesday that covered objections to the bill ranging from whether a Christian would be barred from saying that Jews killed Jesus to the acceptability of making contemporary political allusions to Nazi Germany and even the comedy of Jerry Seinfeld and Joan Rivers.” Paul cited the landmark 1969 Brandenburg v. Ohio case in which Ku Klux Klan member Clarence Brandenburg was convicted under two Ohio laws of allegedly inciting violence against Jews and African-Americans with his speech Brandenburg claimed that his punishment violated the First Amendment “Brandenburg was a Nazi and an antisemite and he said horrible things,” Paul said the Supreme Court ruled that you can say terrible things.” The senator compared the American concept of free speech with Europe’s recent crackdowns on speech “That’s unique about our country,” Paul said. “In Europe if you call a boy who thinks he’s a girl a boy If you say something about the Holocaust in Europe Do we want to replicate Europe’s speech laws in the U.S. “We’re codifying what Europe did to speech The Congressional debate is taking place as non-citizen students have been snatched away ostensibly for what they said or wrote about Israel the former co-president of Columbia University’s Palestinian Student Union of using “threatening rhetoric and intimidation” against Jewish students during a protest on campus in 2024 A 34-year-old permanent resident of the U.S who was born and raised in a Palestinian refugee camp in the West Bank before moving to the U.S Mahdawi was detained by ICE agents while at his naturalization hearing in Vermont on April 14 He was never formally charged with a crime We don't know if the other non-citizen students detained by immigration authorities in the last month have actually been involved in threats or intimidation because the administration has been deliberately vague about its reasons for detaining them Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the administration has the right to deport non-citizens when their "presence and activities in the United States would have serious adverse foreign policy consequences and would compromise a compelling U.S He is invoking a little-used clause in the Immigration and Nationality Act which stipulates that the Secretary of State can determine what kind of activity rises to the level of having “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences” for the country Others are still in detention awaiting hearings Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil claims he was arrested on March 8 for a speech he gave during campus protests, though he too was never charged with anything. A judge has said the administration’s attempt to deport him will be decided in court He has been accused by Department of Homeland Security officials of spreading Hamas propaganda something his family and supporters vehemently deny the detainees’ support for the Palestinians’ plight and criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza appear to be the primary reasons behind their arrests But if America did ignore the First Amendment and allowed rigid UK-style speech laws instead Do the purveyors of the new antisemitism speech legislation on Capitol Hill know that this could boomerang on them when their ideological opponents someday get back into power As journalist Glenn Greenwald observed about the antisemitism legislation “this is not a hate speech code applying to foreign nationals It's a hate speech code that applies to American citizens where people can be punished for the expression of ideas on college campuses cheered for by the right wing faction that has long claimed there's nothing worse than hate speech codes and other forms of suppression of ideas on college campuses.” Carving out one country in the world and making it forbidden to criticize its government is the complete antithesis of the Constitution’s protections and a betrayal of the American tradition The First Amendment allows anyone on American soil to critique the U.S but now condemning a foreign government could land you in jail or deported to another country One would think that putting America first might include putting its First Amendment first The U.S.-Ukraine minerals agreement is not a diplomatic breakthrough and will not end the war but it is a significant success for Ukraine both in the short term and — if it is ever in fact implemented — in the longer term It reportedly does not get Ukraine the security “guarantees” that Kyiv has been asking for. It does not commit the U.S. to fight for Ukraine, or to back up a European “reassurance force” for Ukraine. And NATO membership remains off the table. Given its basic positions, there is no chance of the Trump administration shifting on these points But since the Ukraine peace process appeared to run out of steam and Trump threatened to “walk away” from the talks Kyiv and Moscow have been engaged in an elaborate diplomatic dance of semi-proposals and hints to try to ensure that if Trump does walk away he will blame the other side for the talks’ failure This agreement makes it far more likely that he will blame Russia, and therefore that he will continue military and intelligence aid to Ukraine. He may also, as threatened, try to impose additional sanctions on Russia — though given the resistance of most of the world to these sanctions, and tensions over tariffs between the U.S. and Europe it is not at all clear how effective new sanctions would be military and intelligence aid will not win the war for Ukraine nor allow it to drive the Russians from occupied territory It will however help the Ukrainian army to slow down Russia’s advance on the ground and impose heavy casualties on the Russian army This should not be taken by the Ukrainians or their European supporters as an excuse to maintain impossible conditions for peace that will make a settlement impossible; because the military and economic odds are still strongly against Ukraine and a collapse of Ukraine’s exhausted troops is a real possibility it will make it more likely that Russia will abandon or heavily qualify its impossible demands for example for Ukrainian disarmament and withdrawal from additional territory it is clearly far more favorable for Ukraine than Trump’s original — and grotesque — proposal that Ukraine should essentially hand its entire reserves of minerals to the U.S the profits of mineral extraction will be equally shared As Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said: “This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free … President Trump envisioned this partnership between the American people and the Ukrainian people to show both sides’ commitment to lasting peace and prosperity in Ukraine no state or person who financed or supplied the Russian war machine will be allowed to benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine.” money go to develop mineral extraction in the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine keep a lot of bad actors out of the country or certainly out of the area where we’re doing the digging." absolute Western security guarantees for Ukraine after a peace settlement have never really been on offer because the Biden administration and almost every other NATO government stated repeatedly that they would not fight to defend Ukraine will however ensure a strong continued U.S It greatly reduces the risk that in the event of future Russian aggression would simply look away and not respond as it has in this war with military supplies and extreme sanctions But the deal won’t be implemented until the war comes to an end. Thereafter, it will depend on the willingness of U.S private companies to invest in this sector — and that will depend on their assessment of both the risks and the profits involved For it is vital to note that this agreement does not commit the U.S government to invest in Ukraine; and to judge by the present profitability of minerals extraction in the world it is not certain that private investors will see major benefits from doing so China has developed its rare-earth sector on such a scale mainly through huge state-directed investment; and no-one has so far done a thorough analysis of the actual profitability and scale of most of these Ukrainian resources. So, only a tactical success for Ukraine and one over which there hang many questions; but nonetheless one that hopefully will lead Moscow to respond with some serious and acceptable peace proposals of its own. About Us Privacy Policy PitchRS@quincyinst.org©2025 Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft ©2025 Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft Subscribe now to our weekly round-up and don't miss a beat with your favorite RS contributors and reporters War in the Pacific National Historical Park The Marines, Army, and Coast Guard weren't the only branches of the military to serve during the Battle of Guam. Three platoons of war dogs also played a part in liberating Guam 60 dogs and 90 handlers were assigned to the Third Marine Division and the First Provisional Marine Brigade sometimes called "devil dogs," were primarily Doberman Pinschers and German Shepherds war dogs were primarily used as sentries and scouts and searched potentially occupied caves and pillboxes Many Marines said they slept better when they knew the war dogs were guarding their foxholes.[2] During the twenty-one days of the Battle of Guam the war dogs saved the lives of hundreds of soldiers a Doberman Pinscher named Kurt alerted his platoon of Marines about a large Japanese force hidden in the jungle ahead of them an Imperial Japanese soldier lobbed hand grenades at the dog and his spine and spinal cord were exposed Kurt was the first war dog to die during the Battle of Guam His bravery likely saved the life of 250 Marines a record of each individual war dog's service Cookie's service book tells the following story from one of her many combat patrols: While on nightly security duty during the Guam operations this dog alerted [i.e. alerted her handler to the presence of] 10 Japanese soldiers This dog carried a vital message from an out-post to the division CP [command post] of which there were no other means of communication Twenty-five dogs were killed during the liberation of Guam Another twenty were injured in the line of duty The war dogs were originally buried in a cemetery along the Asan River the War Dog Cemetery was relocated to the U.S A statue of Kurt watches over the final resting place of his fellow dogs-in-arms kicking off a 21-day fight to retake the island the Third Marine Division landed on the beach between Adelup Point and Assan Point troops had to capture the Japanese Army's stronghold on Fonte Plateau Download the NPS app to navigate the parks on the go possibly marking its final visit to the island as the ship continues what is expected to be its last Pacific deployment The Nimitz and its escorts — the guided-missile destroyers USS Gridley and USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee — pulled into Apra Harbor for the strike group’s first port call since departing San Diego on March 24 The ships will resupply and the crew will conduct maintenance and “take time to rest and recharge,” he told Stars and Stripes by email Friday Pietrack declined to comment on the length of the stay While the Navy has not officially confirmed this as the Nimitz’ final deployment the ship’s nuclear reactors are scheduled to begin deactivation next spring when the vessel relocates to Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia marks an early step toward the carrier’s decommissioning and eventual disposal Nimitz remains ready to sail where we are needed in support of our nation’s tasking,” Pietrack wrote the 50-year-old Nimitz is set to be replaced by the Gerald R which is expected to be commissioned later this year highlighted Guam’s strategic importance during the visit “It’s always an honor to return to Guam — where our service members are welcomed like family and where our presence truly matters,” he said in the release “The Nimitz Strike Group is proud to be in Guam — America’s critical terrain and gateway to maintaining stability in the region.” Andersen Air Force Base and Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed Guam’s strategic role during a visit to Andersen on March 27 referring to the island as the “tip of the spear” – a phrase the Pentagon often uses to emphasize the U.S territory’s position as a key logistics and power projection hub in the Indo-Pacific “You’re living in history; you’re living in reality and you’re living in a dangerous neighborhood,” Hegseth told service members “You are America’s power projection and platform.” Archbishop Anthony Apuron enters the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagåtña at the start of a Mass to celebrate the inauguration of Pope Francis “made a settlement offer” to plaintiffs in a handful of Guam clergy sex abuse and defamation cases Details of Apuron’s settlement offer are under wraps and Wolff have been engaging in “settlement discussions” since March 11 A settlement would halt the litigation even as U.S District Court Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood previously said the scheduled trial in September remains the parties are asking the judge for additional time to file motions Apuron’s deposition that was supposed to happen in either March or April — as ordered by a federal judge — did not go forward because of the former archbishop’s “health problems.” and his lawyer informed the court on multiple occasions that he has medical problems due mainly to his age The abuse and defamation cases involving Apuron are outside of the settlement by the Archdiocese of Agana with nearly 300 Guam clergy sex abuse claimants This comes nine years after the pope removed Apuron from his post as the head of Guam’s Catholic Church when former altar boys started publicly accusing him of either raping or molesting them when they were children A Vatican tribunal later found him guilty of molesting multiple minors Tydingco-Gatewood previously ordered both parties to conduct depositions from March 24 to April 4 told Wolff that the former archbishop would not be available for depositions at the court-ordered time “due to health problems and a medical appointment,” according to Wolff Wolff said the parties agreed to reschedule Apuron’s deposition Apuron’s counsel made a settlement offer to Plaintiff...Thereafter the parties have engaged in settlement discussions to resolve the dispute between them,” Wolff said are in line with the court’s previous encouragement to the parties to consider resolution and the financial burden of continued litigation The plaintiffs in the Apuron cases seek $5 million each in damages A 2016 Guam law allowed the filing of lawsuits involving childhood sexual assaults regardless of how long ago those assaults allegedly happened The archdiocese later filed for bankruptcy because of the deluge of clergy sexual abuse complaints and later agreed to settle the claims to exit bankruptcy using a mix of cash filed a motion to compel discovery and a motion to extend some deadlines awaits Terlaje’s confirmation of Apuron’s availability for deposition from May 30 to June 9 “There is a specific need to take Apuron’s deposition since he is a defendant and he has never been deposed in this matter,” Wolff stated in court filings Wolff said there is good cause to enlarge the scheduling order to extend the deadline to take Apuron’s deposition Haidee Eugenio Gilbert is managing editor for the Pacific Daily News. You can reach her at hgilbert@guampdn.com. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. and travelled to Taipei to meet Lai for Taiwan's national day celebrations in October."Different countries the same belief in democracy; different time zones the same air of freedom," Lai wrote on Facebook after his welcome in Tuvalu.With a population of 11,000 scattered across nine low-lying atolls and predictions that half of its main town will be submerged by rising tides by 2050 Tuvalu is reliant on donors including Taiwan to fortify its coast.It will also be connected to international telecommunications by a subsea cable for the first time in a joint project backed by Taiwan the United States and Japan.Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney Ben Blanchard in Taipei and David Brunnstrom and Michael Martina in Washington; Editing by Christopher Cushing Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Walt Disney World is continuing to stretch its wings in global conservation particularly through its involvement in the comeback story of the Guam kingfisher there are only 127 Guam kingfishers being cared for across 25 zoos in the continental U.S and at a Guam Department of Agriculture facility Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Disney has been deeply involved in the conservation of the Guam kingfisher through its team work with the AZA and the Guam Kingfisher Species Survival Plan (SSP) Based on learnings and experience in caring for its own small flock of Guam kingfishers in its backstage Avian Research Center (ARC) at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Disney veterinarians and animal care experts have been able to share best practices about the birds’ wellbeing nutrition and disease risk analysis with collaborators in the Sihek Recovery Program in preparation for the birds’ eventual return to Guam Their exceptional care also enabled a breeding pair at Disney’s Animal Kingdom to successfully lay an egg which later hatched at another accredited AZA facility and was a part of this year’s release program has led much of the critical Guam kingfisher SSP health research since 2010 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  “Our primary goal right now is to build what’s called an insurance population of these birds,” explained Dr. Deidre “We hope to have a genetically diverse population with the hope that they breed and expand to build bigger populations in the future.”  Reintroducing Guam kingfishers is a complex initiative that requires hand-rearing animals in managed care settings then carefully acclimatizing and releasing them into a predator-free habitat with hopes of one day reintroducing them back into Guam where they can breed naturally. a handful of Guam kingfishers underwent pre-release quarantine and health assessments to ensure their wellbeing Two of the birds under Disney’s care were examined back in August receiving fluids and final checks before being safely flown in containers — decorated with artistic bumper stickers that were created by children of Disney cast members — to the Sedgwick County Zoo in Kansas The birds stayed at the AZA accredited facility before being flown to their destination of Palmyra Atoll in late August During their short time in quarantine on the island each of the birds became accustomed to the sights and sounds of their surroundings — which included snacking on small insects each were fitted with tiny radio transmitter devices so teams could track their progress and movements on the island in the weeks and months ahead “The Nature Conservancy has a staff monitoring these birds with small transmitters to track them,” said Dr “We have established a network of support through telemedicine and conference calls to address any issues as these birds adapt to their new environment.”   This ongoing support ensures that the birds’ wellbeing remains a priority as they acclimate to their new habitat. As this historic project unfolds it not only celebrates the recovery of the Guam kingfisher but also serves as a beacon of hope for the future of global biodiversity.  “These two birds represent the care and dedication that our cast members have provided over the years symbolizing an incredible opportunity for zoos to play a vital role in saving species,” Dr Disney’s efforts to save the Guam Kingfisher are just one part of the dedicated work in Guam Teams are also actively involved in aiding the repopulation of the small Guam rail a bird known locally as the ko’ko’.  Additionally, Disney Conservation is committed to working to protect wildlife including Guam kingfishers and hundreds of other bird species and build a diverse global community inspired to celebrate the magic of nature together the Disney Conservation Fund has directed more than $125 million to community conservation programs along with the expertise of our dedicated teams to support organizations working with communities to protect wildlife To learn more about Disney’s commitment to the environment through Disney Planet Possible, visit https://impact.disney.com/environmental-sustainability/. Global Climate Agreements: Successes and Failures How Tobacco Laws Could Help Close the Racial Gap on Cancer Could Trump’s Tariffs Replace Income Tax for the Bottom 90% Peter McColough Series on International Economics With Robert E the small island of Guam has been a valuable strategic asset for decades and today it hosts a growing American military presence Guam’s location—closer to Beijing than to Hawaii—makes it ideal for U.S power projection amid rising tensions in the South China Sea this military presence has sparked debate over the outsize role of Washington’s influence on Guam’s economy Guam is commonly referred to as “the tip of the spear” of the United States’ ability to project its military might across the Indo-Pacific Experts say the island’s proximity to countries including China and North Korea makes it a linchpin of U.S power in an increasingly tumultuous region In recent years, Guam has become even more important as U.S.-China tensions mount and Washington grows more concerned about Beijing’s aggression in the South China Sea and a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan Defense Department’s 2022 National Defense Strategy highlights Guam’s centrality to U.S Washington established a naval base on Guam the year after. A summary of global news developments with CFR analysis delivered to your inbox each morning. Weekdays examining the debates and efforts to improve health worldwide. Weekly The island was heavily contested between U.S and Japanese forces during World War II before the United States recaptured it in 1944 President Harry Truman signed the Guam Organic Act of 1950—transferring federal jurisdiction from the Navy to the Department of the Interior—that Washington established a civilian government on the island and gave U.S and South Korea to supplement worker shortages the number of foreign workers passed a record high of 5,500 people due to several major new military projects including improved missile defense systems Many believe that this operation was intended to probe for weaknesses that could be exploited to deny the United States the ability to operate from the island during a conflict Other U.S. funding seeks to address Guam’s environmental challenges. Guam’s location puts it at risk of extreme weather events, such as typhoons and rising sea levels in the Pacific. President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act aimed to address some of the ongoing costs of the climate crisis in Guam including by funding coastal conservation efforts and providing jobs in clean energy. Michael Bricknell and Will Merrow created the maps for this In Brief Unpacking the IPEF: Biden’s Indo-Pacific Trade Play The President’s Inbox Recap: The Future of U.S.-Taiwan Relations The President’s Inbox Recap: U.S.-India Relations A Tale of Two Elections: Trump Casts Shadow Over Australia and Singapore World Press Freedom Continues Decline at a Time of Upheaval Trial continued today in the Superior Court of Guam for murder defendant Eithen Mendiola one of the men accused in the killing of Ryan Chaco Prosecutors called multiple witnesses to the stand in Judge John Terlaje’s courtroom one from the Guam Fire Department and one from the Guam Police Department. The prosecution played the 911 call made by Mendiola on Sept ma’am and the guy is like 30 something and he kept holding me down and trying to rape me and telling me that he’s going to keep me as a slave.” After the call was transferred to GPD’s emergency dispatch “He was holding me down and tried to rape me but I fought back and then I grabbed his knife.” Mendiola allegedly told police the victim made unwanted sexual advances toward him before the pair started to fight He also allegedly admitted to stabbing Chaco repeatedly in the neck and chest allegedly tried to burn the evidence by setting Chaco’s home on fire Special Assistant Attorney General Curtis Van De Veld previously noted to KUAM that each defendant had made a confession implicating the other. security footage from a neighboring home was also shown as audio from the security camera captures Mendiola knocking on a door while still on the phone. Mendiola appears to be limping and is heard reiterating his previous claims “What’s his name?” Mendiola replied The trial continues tomorrow. With support from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Guam is identifying pathways toward an affordable Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs Guam Energy Strategies represents a culmination of past and upcoming efforts toward Guam's energy future Guam Energy Strategies is a comprehensive approach to answering these questions and identifying strategies for achieving affordable Engagement is guided by a Guam Energy Strategies advisory group of key local partners Guided by local collaborators and with help from NREL and other U.S Department of Energy national laboratories Guam is navigating its own journey to an affordable Guam Energy Strategies leverages proven modeling, analysis, and community engagement expertise from NREL's robust range of past and ongoing work in Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Alaska, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Los Angeles and other locations seeking to achieve energy goals Contact Guam Energy Strategies to learn more Sign up for NREL's State, Local, and Tribal Program quarterly newsletter to get the latest news, informational resources, tools, decision support, and publications relevant for states, local governments, and tribes. 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For more information, review the  NREL security and privacy policy The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy REV AND TAX: The Department of Revenue and Taxation is seen in Barrigada on on Feb The ongoing debate over whether to roll back the Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) is not just about economics it’s a revealing example of how our local government has been grossly mismanaged at every level from budget planning to political leadership Let’s be honest: we took the initial GRT increase originally intended to offset the revenue loss caused by the national income tax cut in 2017 and the surge in revenues from the military buildup and made them the foundation of our government budget Instead of treating these as offsetting and windfall revenues our leaders locked them into recurring expenditures and expanded the size and cost of government accordingly Adding these to the surge in federal funding to ease the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic we spent the money as if this inflated revenue level was the new normal The government has grown too large to sustain without the current GRT rate and buildup related revenues and any reduction without structural reform would cripple government operations even though many public services have not meaningfully improved we’re talking about cutting into a bloated system that’s become dependent on inflated income that was never meant to last and the GRT hike wasn’t a long-term solution government employment has effectively become one of the largest drivers of local economic activity on par with the military and what remains of our tourism sector many businesses in the private sector are now more directly dependent on government employee spending to stay afloat A delayed or missed government payday would no longer just affect public servants it could deliver a serious blow to our already fragile business community the Guam Legislature approved a 22% across-the-board pay increase proposed by the Governor which pushed Government of Guam employee earnings to 72% more than average earnings in the private sector as of March 2023 We've reached the point where government no longer just supports the economy That is not a healthy or sustainable economic model One important but often overlooked benefit of the military buildup is the opportunity to strengthen our tax base if we ensure proper enforcement of existing local laws typically 6% to 8% of payroll in the construction industry should be paid to companies licensed in Guam Ensuring that large military contractors comply with this law could redirect millions in insurance premiums into our local economy we must also closely monitor the full range of revenues generated by military projects which account for a significant portion of GRT collections This must be factored into the fiscal analysis and any resulting shortfall must be offset by holding these contractors accountable for their fair share of contributions to Guam’s economy as I struggle with tax expenses like other businesses But the reality we face is difficult to ignore; we can’t afford a tax cut until we correct the imbalance we’ve created We have grown a government too big to shrink overnight amidst looming federal cutbacks across agencies and programs We deserve a government that lives within its means Martinez is the former Director of GEDA and a resident of Tamuning Poll results are published every Monday in The Guam Daily Post 2024 – Lockheed Martin and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) in support of United States Indo-Pacific Command and the Department of Defense (DoD) have successfully completed Flight Experiment Mission (FEM)-02 Completion of FEM-02 demonstrates significant regional capability with a live exo-atmospheric intercept of a Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) target using the Aegis Guam System (AGS) from the island of Guam. Lockheed Martin went from contract award to intercept flight test in less than two years This rapid integration of capabilities to demonstrate the defense of Guam was enabled by leveraging proven systems and Lockheed Martin’s systems engineering production and test excellence,” said Paul Lemmo vice president and general manager of Integrated Warfare Systems & Sensors at Lockheed Martin “Lockheed Martin is fully committed to providing 21st Century Security solutions for Guam.” could aide with pacing the Indo-Pacific threats and expanding joint all-domain operations for Guam and the region The FEM-02 test took place from Andersen AFB in Guam and demonstrated the defense of Guam against an air-launched MRBM AGS was successful in acquiring and tracking the target using the AN/TPY-6 radar planning and conducting the missile engagement using the Aegis system launching the interceptor from the VLS on Guam and intercepting the target over the broad ocean area This test provided DoD a better understanding of the missile defense system’s ability to counter threats in a realistic environment and the preliminary analysis indicates a significant step forward in the MDA's efforts to protect the United States and its allies from emerging missile threats Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security® vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at Lockheedmartin.com Guam doubles as a tropical getaway and a shopping destination But a ban born out of environmental concerns has been marked as a threat to that stream of revenue the “Choose to Reuse: Mungna ma Ayek i Plastek Act of 2018” phased out plastic bags and later Stakeholders said the July ban could do more harm than good a measure aiming to exempt luxury retail businesses from the paper bag ban claiming branded shopping bags are “integral to the store’s trademark and service mark branding” and attract tourists as presentation is a vital part of “Asian gift-giving culture.” “The impact of client perceptions of not only our brand will be negatively affected,” said Gemkell Guam’s General manager She emphasizes that DFS’s branded paper bags are made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials certified by the Forest Stewardship Council Guam stands as the only location globally enforcing a paper bag ban to hesitate producing custom reusable bags,” said Artero. Artero warns that the financial strain of developing branded reusable bags on top of declining revenues and currency fluctuations may drive brands away from Guam entirely says in this scenario it would also take from employee wages “I think it’s very clear that sometimes legislation has contained in it what we call ‘the law of unintended consequences’ and I’m sure that this is one of those times,” said Duenas. noted the issue should not be exclusive to luxury “But everybody has an accompanying carry-out bag that you put the merchandise in,” said Calvo. Vice Speaker Tony Ada pushed for a broader re-evaluation of the bag policy versus the biodegradable plastic bags,” said Ada. And that leads to a deeper issue: Personal responsibility Bill author Senator Jesse Lujan admits Bill 121 may not be the "silver bullet" to fix Guam's tourism struggles but it might be a step in the right direction the debate over bags continues and the question is posed: Can Guam strike the balance between sustainability and economic survival Prutehi Guåhan will host the screening of “No Other Land,” an Oscar-winning documentary by Basel Adra is hosting on Wednesday a free community screening of “No Other Land,” an Oscar-winning documentary that sheds light on the struggles faced by the people of Masafer Yatta in Palestine The May 7 free community screening will be at the Guam Museum in Hagåtña The team behind “No Other Land” includes Basel Adra “We encourage audience members to bring donations of dry goods or cleaning and hygiene supplies for local mutual aid distribution Information will also be provided for audience members to donate to mutual aid calls for Palestine and to the filmmakers directly,” Prutehi Guåhan said in a release Despite winning the 2024 Academy Award for Best Documentary the film is being blocked from wider distribution health educator and nutrition counselor at TakeCare talks about the power of food to connect people health educator and nutrition counselor at TakeCare and PDN's Wellness Wednesday columnist invites readers to explore ways to create ideal conditions for restorative sleep that energizes both body and mind A sailor from the carrier USS Nimitz has gone missing in Guam Holt was off base when he was last seen late on April 18 the same day as Nimitz's arrival in Guam in between Hotel Nikko and Gun Beach - about 10 miles northeast of the base at Apra Harbor He was reported missing on April 19. The search for Holt is still active and the local police are looking for public tips all available agencies are actively engaged in efforts to locate the missing sailor," Nimitz spokesman Lt and we are committed to fully cooperating with local authorities while search and rescue efforts continue." A post shared by Guam Police Department (@guampolice) USS Nimitz sailed from Guam to resume her deployment in the Western Pacific She is accompanied by the destroyers USS Gridley and USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee; the Zumwalt-class destroyer USS Michael Monsoor also deployed as part of the carrier strike group USS Nimitz is 50 years old this year and is on her final deployment before decommissioning She is expected to end her service in April 2026 and begin the long process of nuclear vessel deactivation and was the first of a successful class of supercarriers that have defined naval power projection ever since Her itinerary on this voyage is not disclosed but USNI reports that she could transit to the Mideast; sister ships USS Carl Vinson and USS Harry S Truman are already in the region and involved in high-intensity operations against targets in Yemen The Guam government has launched its first coordinated effort to address the island’s large population of free-roaming dogs territory’s overpopulation of strays — often called “boonie dogs” — dates to World War II when military working dogs bred with the native population Many of their descendants now roam the island’s jungles and often appear on U.S nonprofits and community partners to find humane solutions to an issue that has persisted for decades according to a Department of Agriculture news release March 24 data-driven approach we’re now taking through the Dog Population Management Task Force,” territorial veterinarian Dr Mariana Turner said in an email Thursday to Stars and Stripes A 2014 survey by Humane Society International estimated approximately 60,000 dogs live in Guam’s 212 square miles — including 24,500 strays — Guam Animals in Need executive director Alison Hadley told Stars and Stripes in December the task force conducted the island’s first follow-up survey since 2014 It collected data on stray and free-roaming dog and cat populations vaccination practices and sterilization rates The task force is drafting legislation to establish a trap-neuter-return program The practice aims to curb reproduction without euthanizing animals by trapping strays sterilizing them and returning them to their original locations The task force is also supporting training for animal control officers in “the skills necessary for humane enforcement of animal welfare laws,” according to the release Stray animals pose a wide range of dangers to the island’s residents “These include dog bites and attacks on people and pets traffic accidents caused by dogs in the road and inhumane conditions for the dogs themselves High numbers of unsterilized dogs and cultural norms that allow them to roam freely have worsened the problem Guam has attempted various solutions over the years — spay and neuter clinics bounty programs and stray dog roundups by the Mayor’s Council — but none have led to lasting results and lacked the subject matter expertise necessary to have a successful program,” Turner said “The DPM Task Force is the first coordinated territory-wide effort bringing together government and community partners under a shared strategy.” Groups collaborating with the task force include Guam Animals in Need which operates the island’s animal shelter; Neuter Island Pets; and off-island groups like the Animal Legal Defense Fund “The Dog Population Management Task Force represents a shift in how Guam addresses this long-standing issue and from isolated efforts to unified action we can build a safer and more compassionate island for people and animals alike.” Chris Duenas is shown at the Guam Congress Building in Hagåtña on Feb Chris Duenas on Sunday announced a June 9 public hearing on a bill that would roll back the business privilege tax from 5% to 4% seeks to ease the financial burden on families and small businesses amid continued inflation and economic hardship Adelup has maintained that a rollback would mean massive revenue loss that would impact critical public services we've heard the call to revisit the BPT increase that was enacted as a temporary fix,” Duenas said in a statement “With the island still reeling from high costs of living it’s time to put everything on the table...investment Let's have an honest discussion about our fiscal future." The hearing comes after the public hearings on a series of bills that touch on tax transparency and targeted relief: “These proposals show that this conversation is long overdue,” Duenas said “We cannot keep dancing around the elephant in the room The real discussion must include whether our government can live within its means and whether government services can be delivered more efficiently.” and everyday residents to participate in this conversation “This is not just about government revenue This is about families making it through the week and restoring faith in how we manage taxpayer dollars," the senator said so everyone deserves a seat at the table.” territory has intensified with its legislature due to vote on a non-binding resolution to become a U.S state amid mounting Pacific geostrategic tensions and expansionist declarations by the Trump administration known as the “tip of the spear,” with 10,000 military personnel an air base for F-35 fighters and B-2 bombers and home port for Virginia-class nuclear submarines The small U.S. territory of 166,000 people is also listed by the U.N. for decolonization and last year became an associate member at the Pacific Islands Forum Parkinson introduced the resolution to the legislature on Wednesday and called for Guam to be fully integrated into the American union “We are standing in a moment of history where two great empires are standing face-to-face with each other about to go to war,” Parkinson said at a press conference on Thursday “We have to be real about what's going on in this part of the world We are a tiny island but we are too strategically important to be left alone Stay with America or do we let ourselves be absorbed by China?” His resolution states the decision “must be built upon the informed consent of the people of Guam through a referendum.” President Donald Trump advocates territorially expansionist policies particularly towards the strategically located Danish independent territory of Greenland and America’s northern neighbor the stars are aligning so that the geopolitics of the United States favor statehood for Guam,” Parkinson said “This is an opportunity we cannot pass up.” As a territory, Guam residents are American citizens but they cannot vote for the U.S. president and their lone delegate to the Congress has no voting power on the floor in 1898 after winning the Spanish-American War and both remain unincorporated territories to this day Independence advocates and representatives from the Guam Commission on Decolonization regularly testify at the U.N.’s Decolonization Committee where the island has been listed as a Non-Self-Governing Territory since 1946 Commission on Decolonization executive director Melvin Won Pat-Borja said he was not opposed to statehood but is concerned if any decision on Guam’s status was left to the U.S “Decolonization is the right of the colonized,” he said while attending Parkinson’s press conference a path out of this inequity,’ and then turn around and put it right back in the hands of our colonizer ultimately that is not for any one of us to decide but it is up to a collective decision that we have to come to and the only way to do it is via referendum,” he said With the geostrategic competition between the U.S Guam has become increasingly significant in supporting American naval and air operations especially in the event of a conflict over Taiwan or in the South China Sea bases have seen Guam’s economy become heavily reliant on military investments and tourism The Defense Department holds about 25% of Guam’s land and is preparing to spend billions to upgrade the island’s military infrastructure as another 5,000 American marines relocate there from Japan’s Okinawa islands Guam is also within range of Chinese and North Korean ballistic missiles and the U.S. has trialed a defense system, with the first tests held in December The “moment in history” for statehood may also be defined by the Trump administration spending cuts, Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero warned in her ‘state of the island’ address on Wednesday The island has in recent years leveraged the increased military presence to demand federal assistance and the territory’s treasury relies on at least half-a-billion dollars in annual funding “Let us be clear about this: Guam cannot be the linchpin of American security in the Asian-Pacific if nearly 14,000 of our residents are without shelter or if 36,000 of our people lose access to Medicaid and Medicare coverage keeping them healthy Parkinson’s proposed legislative resolution calls for an end to 125-plus years of U.S as the rightful stewards of their homeland must assert their inalienable right to self-determination,” states the resolution including that there be a “full examination of statehood or enhanced autonomous status for Guam.” “Granting Guam equal political status would signal unequivocally that Guam is an integral part of the United States deterring adversaries who might otherwise perceive Guam as a mere expendable outpost.” the non-binding resolution would be transmitted to the White House A local statute enacted in 2000 for a political status plebiscite on statehood independence or free association has become bogged down in U.S a former Guam resident and co-director of Right to Democracy said the self-determination process must be centered on what the people of Guam want “Right to Democracy does not take a position on political status other than to reject the undemocratic and colonial status quo,” Weare said on behalf of the nonprofit organization that advocates for rights and self-determination in U.S “People can have different views on what is the best solution to this problem but we should all be in agreement that the continued undemocratic rule of millions of people in U.S Declaration of Independence next year can open a new venue for a conversation about key concepts – such as the “consent of the governed” – involving Guam and other U.S Add your comment by filling out the form below in plain text Comments are approved by a moderator and can be edited in accordance with RFAs Terms of Use RFA is not responsible for the content of the postings be respectful of others' point of view and stick to the facts Your Trusted Source for National Security News & Analysis Rear Adm. (Ret.) Mark Montgomery is a senior director at the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation (CCTI) at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He directs CSC 2.0, which works to implement the recommendations of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. Montgomery is a principal member of the Cyber Initiatives Group has been pursuing a new integrated missile defense system for Guam territory in the Western Pacific that plays a critical role in U.S military has long deployed air defense capabilities in Guam Army Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery It is also working to install a version of the Aegis defense system on the island; in December the Department of Defense announced a successful intercept of a medium-range ballistic missile in a test of the Aegis Guam System integrated with a new AN/TPY-6 radar and Vertical Launching System The Cipher Brief turned to Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery (Ret.) Navy as a nuclear-trained surface warfare officer for a conversation about the development of Guam defenses Despite the recent successful missile test Montgomery is fiercely critical of the steps taken so far arguing that various aspects of the Guam defense plan amount to costly mistakes Guam is no safer today than it was four years ago,” Montgomery said “But we have spent a lot of money and wasted critical time.”Montgomery spoke with Cipher Brief Writer Ethan Masucol Their conversation has been edited for length and clarity You can watch their full discussion on The Cipher Brief YouTube channel RADM Montgomery (Ret.): Guam is a strategic location for the U.S military in terms of its ability to operationally project forces throughout the Western Pacific It lies on the edge of the second island chain when you think of the first island chain and then the second as distances away from China into the Western Pacific we’ve put a lot of investment in there We have a submarine base there with anywhere from four to six permanently home-ported submarines in a maintenance facility and weapons reload facility — very critical for the Navy which has an enormous airfield that is bomber-capable; it can host multiple squadrons of fighters It’s where we’re going to eventually reassert air control into the Western Pacific in a conflict with China in hindsight now probably not a great move we’re moving some of the Marine Corps Expeditionary Forces from Okinawa to Guam as a decision to reduce the pressure of forward stationing and forward deploying U.S The Japanese paid a lot for the development So even though we may not want to do it today it’s probably something that’s going to happen and Marine Corps forces forward postured in Guam And I would add one more thing: it’s highly likely that were we to command and control some kind of conflict in the Western Pacific Indo-Pacom would probably need to come forward from Hawaii and Guam is certainly one of the most likely locations for that Everyone needs a good nightcap. Ours happens to come in the form of a M-F newsletter that provides the best way to unwind while staying up to speed on national security. (And this Nightcap promises no hangover or weight gain.) Sign up today. Can you go through the components of this defense system and your issues with them RADM Montgomery (Ret.): First I’m going to try to help the Department of Defense define what they’re doing here It needs to be defended against all threats and those threats include intermediate-range ballistic missiles That’s a pretty extensive battery of incoming things The vast majority will come directly from China but some could maneuver around the backside of Guam So you’re going to need a very capable high-capacity integrated air missile defense system to protect Guam from this litany of forces And I’m not even counting the very limited issue we have with defeating Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles from Korea which was the traditional defense-of-Guam mission before 2020 the US Army’s Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System I’m going to gently say that the last four years the Biden administration took the exact wrong approach to defending Guam Guam is no safer today than it was four years ago But we have spent a lot of money and wasted critical time Instead of anchoring the defense in an Aegis-based system truly anchoring it in something called Aegis Ashore [they didn’t.] It’s something we’ve put in Poland and Romania for ballistic missile defense We all know that Aegis handles every weapon every threat I mentioned – inter-range ballistic missiles high-speed maneuvering cruise missiles that come around the backside 70% of the Navy is assigned to shore duty and 85% of the Navy is actually physically ashore sailors don’t like these assignments The other problem is the Army wants everything to do with it So the Army is launching all kinds of ideas They’re using their officers at JIAMDO the Joint Integrated Air Missile Defense Organization inside the Joint Staff the Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation Office at the Department of Defense to ignore the actual professionals at the Missile Defense Agency saying A new idea anchored in how the Army fights except the kick-ass missile defense service is known as the Navy which actually has things ready to go right now for these threats The Army does a few things well in missile defense missile defense is not the primary focus of the Army integrated air missile defense is the sine qua non The Army came up with this idea of a dispersed missile defense We’ve got to disperse because the Chinese are going to attack Guam and take this system out We built a dispersed missile defense architecture relying on untested and unintegrated efforts This has led to the squandering of the three and a half years of effort We tend to make things compact and low personnel-manning because ships are like that our idea of an Aegis Ashore with 60 or 80 people versus their idea with distributed four or five radar panels you end up with literally a thousand people And then you have to have military construction and an elementary school and all these other things because you’re bringing in a ton of army personnel to do this The final thing I’ll mention is that in the end [despite] the whole idea that we would disperse ourselves So when the Chinese figure out what that was and if they were fortunate enough to hit it I’ll just gently say we didn’t achieve the dispersal We did a test recently but many of the things involved in the test are leaving the island I’ll just say this was abject failure The intersection of technology, defense, space and intelligence is critical to future U.S. national security. Join The Cipher Brief on June 5th and 6th in Austin, Texas for the NatSecEDGE conference. Find out how to get an invitation to this invite-only event at natsecedge.com Masucol: Is the disconnect between making it a dispersed defense system and the small size of the territory that you’re trying to defend RADM Montgomery (Ret.): Do I think you need to have point defense weapon systems spread out at the submarine base the big radar that could have controlled this could have been in one Aegis Ashore site I didn’t do the environmental studies I haven’t participated in a sighting thing got down that road before they were outmaneuvered by the rest of OSD (Office of the Secretary of Defense) It’s easy to blame MDA because they have the name Missile Defense Agency I think a large part of the blame for this belongs in other OSD and Joint Staff entities I’m just saying Guam is not a maneuver space I think that’s how we got in this jam how would you recommend we get out of this jam RADM Montgomery (Ret.): We’re not going to go like Superman and reverse time put the professionals in charge — the Missile Defense Agency even if it includes cruise missile defense You need to come up with a defense architecture for the cruise hypersonic and ballistic missile defense at Guam I think what they would say is an Aegis Ashore the THAAD system that’s already there some good Army air defense systems — initially Patriot and NASAMS both of which have performed well in combat in Ukraine there’s a replacement army system called IFPC (Indirect Fire Protection Capability) Maybe two or three years from now that IFPC could come in Patriot — integrate them with initially Link-16 which is a known joint interoperable link system if you want to bring in a different Army system Bring in these other Army systems as they come to fruition We can have something up and running reasonably in 2027 The Cipher Brief is committed to publishing a range of perspectives on national security issues submitted by deeply experienced national security professionals. Opinions expressed are those of the author and do not represent the views or opinions of The Cipher Brief Have a perspective to share based on your experience in the national security field? Send it to [email protected] for publication consideration Read more expert-driven national security insights, perspective and analysis in The Cipher Brief SPECIAL REPORT — Fifty years ago this week, the long U.S. war in Vietnam came to an end. U.S. combat troops had left the country two […] More CIPHER BRIEF REPORTING — A pair of top U.S. military commanders warned Congress last week of dangers in their areas of operations which could factor in […] More EXPERT INTERVIEWS — Last week, the Taiwan Strait landed back on the front pages for two very different reasons: China held a two-day, large-scale military exercise […] More EXPERT INTERVIEW – As the world trains its focus on the headlines about Ukraine — the U.S. pivot to Russia, the pause on American support to Ukraine, […] More BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT — Headlines from North Korea rarely bring good news in the realm of global security, but this week’s bulletin from Pyongyang was […] More EXPERT INTERVIEW – For the past week, China has been holding annual government meetings known as the “Two Sessions,” which bring more than 5,000 political […] More For general inquiries please email [email protected]