CENTCOM: We Are Working to Consolidate Regional Partnerships to Confront Iranian Threats

Top commander of US forces in the Middle East, Gen. Michael Kurilla (AFP)
Top commander of US forces in the Middle East, Gen. Michael Kurilla (AFP)
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CENTCOM: We Are Working to Consolidate Regional Partnerships to Confront Iranian Threats

Top commander of US forces in the Middle East, Gen. Michael Kurilla (AFP)
Top commander of US forces in the Middle East, Gen. Michael Kurilla (AFP)

Gen. Michael Kurilla, top commander of US forces in the Middle East, has reaffirmed that Saudi-US military ties are “very strong” and “necessary for permanent peace and security in the Middle East.”

Kurilla, during a press briefing from CENTCOM headquarters, Tampa, Florida, added that he is working to invest in partnerships that bring together countries of the region, where he said everyone is a stakeholder.

US commitment to the region was measured by the number of soldiers on the ground, said Kurilla, but then added that this is the old way of thinking.

“Rather, it should be measured by the strength of our partnerships,” he commented.

“For example, we are building on assets that we already have and creating an interconnected mesh of sensors that transmit real-time data, viewed together through data integration, artificial intelligence platforms that help build a clearer picture of the operating environment.”

“We’re using unmanned systems paired with artificial intelligence, or AI, to give us better information faster. This allows us to employ our manned systems more efficiently and strategically.”

“All of this helps us achieve decision dominance. We’re able to cultivate information and use AI to make decisions faster than our adversaries and use our manned systems more efficiently.”

“CENTCOM has recently stood up three innovation task forces: Task Force 59, Task Force 99, and Task Force 39.”

“Task Force 39 will test concept and technology, to include a fleet of unmanned land vehicles paired with manned ground vehicles, to help us and allow us to protect the force while maximizing our troops strength and force posture.”

“Task Force 39 is teaming manned and unmanned systems. Task Force 39 is also looking at new technology to defeat Iranian drones. We want to serve as the experimentation center for new drone-defeat systems, ideas, and technology, to include directed energy.”

“Meanwhile, Iran continues to undermine regional security and stability through militia groups, ballistic missile capabilities, UAVs, and routine threats to international waterways.”

“Iran continues to violate sanctions and embargoes, proliferate weapons to its network of proxies and affiliates, and seize shipping in international waters. Iran continues to spread chaos through violent proxy groups funded by Tehran.”

“For more than 40 years, the Iranian regime has funded and aggressively supported terrorism and terrorist organizations and defied international norms by conducting malign activities while destabilizing not only the region, but global security and commerce as well.”



Australia, Britain Sign 50-Year AUKUS Submarine Partnership Treaty

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (C) poses with Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong (L), Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy (2nd-L), Britain’s Defense Secretary John Healey (2nd-R) and Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles (R) before the start of the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) meeting in Sydney on July 25, 2025. (AFP)
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (C) poses with Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong (L), Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy (2nd-L), Britain’s Defense Secretary John Healey (2nd-R) and Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles (R) before the start of the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) meeting in Sydney on July 25, 2025. (AFP)
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Australia, Britain Sign 50-Year AUKUS Submarine Partnership Treaty

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (C) poses with Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong (L), Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy (2nd-L), Britain’s Defense Secretary John Healey (2nd-R) and Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles (R) before the start of the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) meeting in Sydney on July 25, 2025. (AFP)
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (C) poses with Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong (L), Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy (2nd-L), Britain’s Defense Secretary John Healey (2nd-R) and Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles (R) before the start of the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) meeting in Sydney on July 25, 2025. (AFP)

Australia’s government said on Saturday it signed a treaty with Britain to bolster cooperation over the next 50 years on the AUKUS nuclear submarine partnership.

The AUKUS pact, agreed upon by Australia, Britain and the US in 2021, aims to provide Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines from the next decade to counter China’s ambitions in the Indo-Pacific. US President Donald Trump’s administration announced a formal review of the pact this year.

Defense Minister Richard Marles said in a statement that the bilateral treaty was signed with Britain’s Defense Secretary John Healey on Saturday after a meeting in the city of Geelong, in Victoria state.

“The Geelong Treaty will enable comprehensive cooperation on the design, build, operation, sustainment, and disposal of our SSN-AUKUS submarines,” the statement said.

The treaty was a “commitment for the next 50 years of UK-Australian bilateral defense cooperation under AUKUS Pillar I,” it said, adding that it built on the “strong foundation” of trilateral AUKUS cooperation.

Britain’s ministry of defense said this week that the bilateral treaty would underpin the two allies’ submarine programs and was expected to be worth up to 20 billion pounds ($27.1 billion) for Britain in exports over the next 25 years.

AUKUS is Australia’s biggest-ever defense project, with Canberra committing to spend A$368 billion over three decades to the program, which includes billions of dollars of investment in the US production base.

Australia, which this month paid A$800 million to the US in the second instalment under AUKUS, has maintained it is confident the pact will proceed.

The defense and foreign ministers of Australia and Britain held talks on Friday in Sydney on boosting cooperation, coinciding with Australia’s largest war games.

As many as 40,000 troops from 19 countries are taking part in the Talisman Sabre exercises held from July 13 to August 4, which Australia’s military has said are a rehearsal for joint warfare to maintain Indo-Pacific stability.

Britain has significantly increased its participation in the exercise co-hosted by Australia and the United States, with aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales taking part this year.