On Monday, August 15, it was reported that U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio may agree on a missile defense plan during Kishida’s visit to the U.S. that begins on Thursday, The Associated Press reported Tuesday. Cooperation on hypersonic missile defense is a natural progression for the two allies, Riki Ellison, chairman of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, based in Virginia, said by email Monday. The alliance lobbies for missile defense, deployment and development. “Japan already builds the SM3 Block IIA (missile) with the United States in partnership and the defense against hypersonic glide will be launched off the SM3 Block IIA stages,” he said.

On Thursday, August 17, it was reported that Army Maj. Gen. Brian Gibson, head of a missile defense command in Hawaii where Indo-Pacific Command is located, said the strategic Pacific island is considered part of the U.S. homeland that must be defended from the alarming buildup of military forces by China. “The PRC is trying to continue to impose their will throughout the [U.S. military area of responsibility] on things they believe they lay claim to,” Gen. Gibson said, using the acronym for People’s Republic of China during an online conference. “The activities and the growth of the PRC alone – my words – remain shocking,” he added. The conference was hosted by the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance.

Also on Thursday, Israel’s Ministry of Defense announced that the US has approved the sale of the Arrow 3 air defense system to Germany. The final process in the procurement is expected to take place by November, according to statements from Israel’s Ministry of Defense. Arrow, which is used to defeat exo-atmospheric threats such as ballistic missiles, is expected to have an initial operational capability by 2025 for Germany and be fully operational by 2030.

On Friday, August 18, it was reported that Founder of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, Riki Ellison, said building up Guam's defence capability was crucial for promoting regional peace. "It's not just the US's problem here. You know, it is Australia, it is Japan, it is the other countries in the Pacific," he said. Mr Ellison said the multi-layered approach would be "the first of its kind". "That architecture can be prototyped [for] other islands and other places in the Pacific … so I think this is a great movement to deter a war," he said.

Click here to read all of this week's headlines.