A contingent of airmen and B-52s from the 69th Bomb Squadron at Minot AFB, N.D.—the Air Force’s newest operational B-52 squadron—is set to deploy to Guam this week for the first time since the squadron’s reactivation in September 2009. This deployment, which is part of US Pacific Command’s continuous bomber presence at Andersen Air Force Base on the strategic island, also will mark the first time that the 5th Bomb Wing has had back-to-back deployments to Guam, reports the Minot Daily News. The 23rd BS is expected to return to Minot this week after a six-month stint at Andersen. The 69th BS’s elements also will be deployed for about six months.
Earlier this week, the People’s Republic of China confirmed it is halting its nuclear arms control talks with the U.S., in retaliation for the U.S. continuing to sell arms to Taiwan. The move reinforces a “pattern of behavior” from Beijing, experts say.