US&nbsp;presidential contender <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/potential-presidential-candidate-michael-bloomberg-spends-record-amount-for-tv-ads-264108">Michael Bloomberg</a> pledged on Sunday to "always have Israel's back," while separately joking he was the only Jewish candidate who does not want to turn the United States into a "kibbutz."

The joke, made during a speech on anti-Semitism and foreign policy, referred to collectivist farms in Israel and was an apparent dig at fellow Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders.

Bloomberg and Sanders, who are both Jewish, are vying for the Democratic nomination to take on Republican President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/what-made-us-president-donald-trump-threaten-iran-271452">Donald Trump</a> in the November election.

Sanders is a front-runner in the race and proposes left-wing policies like abolishing private health insurance in favor of a government-run Medicare for All program, based on the government program for older Americans.

Sanders spent several months in Israel in the 1960s as a volunteer on a kibbutz, or communal farm, and calls himself a democratic socialist.

Bloomberg has more centrist positions and has largely avoided attacks against individual Democratic candidates. A former mayor of New York whose wealth is estimated at about $60 billion, he has pledged to spend from his fortune to support the eventual Democratic nominee even if he loses the contest.

Bloomberg previously criticized leading Democratic candidates as too liberal to beat Trump. His remarks on Sunday appeared to take aim at Sanders, although he did not mention the senator from Vermont by name.

"I’m not the only Jewish candidate running for president. But I am the only one who doesn’t want to turn America into a kibbutz," he told a campaign event at a synagogue in Miami.

Bloomberg’s views include a proposal to create a government-run health insurance plan that would exist alongside private plans.

On Sunday, he vowed never to impose any conditions on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/us-military-strikes-in-iraq-stir-regional-hornets-nest-271866">US&nbsp;military</a> aid to Israel.

Bloomberg added that "as president, I will always have Israel’s back."

He said he originally opposed a 2015 international deal aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons because the agreement did not do enough to protect Israel. But he also criticized Trump's decision to exit the deal because doing so could boost Iran's nuclear program. Tehran says its nuclear program is peaceful.

Bloomberg also said he was shaken by anti-Semitic attacks, including a gunman's killing in 2018 of 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue that Bloomberg said his sister used to attend.

A late entrant to the Democratic nominating race, Bloomberg trails Sanders and fellow front-runners Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren in public opinion polls. But Bloomberg is rising as he floods US&nbsp;airwaves with a television advertising campaign that has cost him more than $225 million, according to estimates by Advertising Analytics.

US presidential contender Michael Bloomberg pledged on Sunday to "always have Israel's back," while separately joking he was the only Jewish candidate who does not want to turn the United States into a "kibbutz.

US presidential contender Michael Bloomberg pledged on Sunday to "always have Israel's back," while separately joking he was the only Jewish candidate who does not want to turn the United States into a "kibbutz." The joke, made during a speech on anti-Semitism and foreign policy, referred to collectivist farms in Israel and was an apparent dig at fellow Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders. Bloomberg and Sanders, who are both Jewish, are vying for the Democratic nomination to take on Republican President Donald Trump in the November election. Sanders is a front-runner in the race and proposes left-wing policies like abolishing private health insurance in favor of a government-run Medicare for All program, based on the government program for older Americans. Sanders spent several months in Israel in the 1960s as a volunteer on a kibbutz, or communal farm, and calls himself a democratic socialist. Bloomberg has more centrist positions and has largely avoided attacks against individual Democratic candidates. A former mayor of New York whose wealth is estimated at about $60 billion, he has pledged to spend from his fortune to support the eventual Democratic nominee even if he loses the contest. Bloomberg previously criticized leading Democratic candidates as too liberal to beat Trump. His remarks on Sunday appeared to take aim at Sanders, although he did not mention the senator from Vermont by name. "I’m not the only Jewish candidate running for president. But I am the only one who doesn’t want to turn America into a kibbutz," he told a campaign event at a synagogue in Miami. Bloomberg’s views include a proposal to create a government-run health insurance plan that would exist alongside private plans. On Sunday, he vowed never to impose any conditions on US military aid to Israel. Bloomberg added that "as president, I will always have Israel’s back." He said he originally opposed a 2015 international deal aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons because the agreement did not do enough to protect Israel. But he also criticized Trump's decision to exit the deal because doing so could boost Iran's nuclear program. Tehran says its nuclear program is peaceful. Bloomberg also said he was shaken by anti-Semitic attacks, including a gunman's killing in 2018 of 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue that Bloomberg said his sister used to attend. A late entrant to the Democratic nominating race, Bloomberg trails Sanders and fellow front-runners Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren in public opinion polls. But Bloomberg is rising as he floods US airwaves with a television advertising campaign that has cost him more than $225 million, according to estimates by Advertising Analytics.

US candidate Bloomberg vows to back Israel, takes dig at Sanders

US military says it conducts successful missile defence test

The US&nbsp;military on Wednesday renamed its&nbsp;PacificCommand&nbsp;the US&nbsp;Indo-Pacific&nbsp;Command, in a largely&nbsp;symbolic&nbsp;move underscoring the growing importance of&nbsp;India&nbsp;to the Pentagon, US&nbsp;officials said.

US&nbsp;Pacific&nbsp;Command, which is responsible for all US&nbsp;military activity in the greater&nbsp;Pacific region, has about 375,000 civilian and military personnel assigned to its area of responsibility, which includes&nbsp;India.

"Relationships with our&nbsp;Pacific&nbsp;and&nbsp;Indian Ocean allies and partners have proven critical to maintaining regional stability," US&nbsp;Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said in prepared remarks.

"In recognition of the increasing connectivity between the&nbsp;Indian and&nbsp;Pacific&nbsp;Oceans, today we rename&nbsp;the US&nbsp;Pacific&nbsp;Command&nbsp;to US&nbsp;Indo-Pacific&nbsp;Command," Mattis said.

He was speaking during a change of&nbsp;command&nbsp;ceremony. Admiral Philip Davidson was assuming leadership of the&nbsp;command&nbsp;from Admiral Harry Harris, who is President Donald Trump's nominee to be ambassador to South Korea.

The renaming does not mean additional assets will be sent to the region at this time but rather recognizes&nbsp;India's increasing military relevance for the United States.

In 2016, the United States and&nbsp;India&nbsp;signed an agreement governing the&nbsp;use of each other's land, air and naval bases for repair and resupply, a step toward building defense ties as they seek to counter the growing maritime assertiveness of China.

Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said they had noted the name&nbsp;change.

"We will continue to pay attention to developments," he told a regular monthly news briefing.

The United States is also keen to tap into&nbsp;India's large defense market. It has emerged as&nbsp;India's No. 2 weapons supplier, closing $15 billion worth of deals over the last decade.

Mattis has been pushing for a waiver for countries like&nbsp;India after Trump signed a law last year which said that any country trading with Russia's defense and intelligence sectors would face sanctions.

"I think&nbsp;India&nbsp;and the relationship with the United States is the potentially most historic opportunity we have in the 21st-century and I intend to pursue that quite rigorously," Davidson, the incoming head of the&nbsp;command, said last month.

However, experts said the&nbsp;name&nbsp;change would mean little unless it was tied to a broader strategy.

"Renaming PACOM is ultimately a&nbsp;symbolic&nbsp;act ... (it) will have a very limited impact unless the US&nbsp;follows through with a significant array of initiatives and investments that reflect a wider aperture," said Abraham Denmark, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia under President Barack Obama.

US Pacific Command has about 375,000 civilian and military personnel assigned to its area of responsibility, which includes India

The US military on Wednesday renamed its PacificCommand the US Indo-Pacific Command, in a largely symbolic move underscoring the growing importance of India to the Pentagon, US officials said. US Pacific Command, which is responsible for all US military activity in the greater Pacific region, has about 375,000 civilian and military personnel assigned to its area of responsibility, which includes India. "Relationships with our Pacific and Indian Ocean allies and partners have proven critical to maintaining regional stability," US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said in prepared remarks. "In recognition of the increasing connectivity between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, today we rename the US Pacific Command to US Indo-Pacific Command," Mattis said. He was speaking during a change of command ceremony. Admiral Philip Davidson was assuming leadership of the command from Admiral Harry Harris, who is President Donald Trump's nominee to be ambassador to South Korea. The renaming does not mean additional assets will be sent to the region at this time but rather recognizes India's increasing military relevance for the United States. In 2016, the United States and India signed an agreement governing the use of each other's land, air and naval bases for repair and resupply, a step toward building defense ties as they seek to counter the growing maritime assertiveness of China. Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said they had noted the name change. "We will continue to pay attention to developments," he told a regular monthly news briefing. The United States is also keen to tap into India's large defense market. It has emerged as India's No. 2 weapons supplier, closing $15 billion worth of deals over the last decade. Mattis has been pushing for a waiver for countries like India after Trump signed a law last year which said that any country trading with Russia's defense and intelligence sectors would face sanctions. "I think India and the relationship with the United States is the potentially most historic opportunity we have in the 21st-century and I intend to pursue that quite rigorously," Davidson, the incoming head of the command, said last month. However, experts said the name change would mean little unless it was tied to a broader strategy. "Renaming PACOM is ultimately a symbolic act ... (it) will have a very limited impact unless the US follows through with a significant array of initiatives and investments that reflect a wider aperture," said Abraham Denmark, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia under President Barack Obama.

US Pacific Command changes name underscoring growing importance of India to Pentagon

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US candidate Bloomberg vows to back Israel, takes dig at Sanders

US military says it conducts successful missile defence test

US Pacific Command changes name underscoring growing importance of India to Pentagon