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From the SitRoom to the E-Ring, the inside scoop on defense, national security and foreign policy. | | | | |  | | By Connor O’Brien, Quint Forgey and Alexander Ward | | 
Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, right, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin testify to the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense, Tuesday, May 3, 2022 on Capitol Hill in Washington. | Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The Washington Post via AP, Pool | With help from Joseph Gedeon Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Alex | Email Quint Defense Secretary LLOYD AUSTIN and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. MARK MILLEY appeared on Capitol Hill today to take questions about the administration's $773 billion Pentagon budget proposal. The Senate Defense Appropriations panel hearing was their third time this year making the case to the congressional committees that control the Pentagon’s purse strings. (Austin and Milley already sat before the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, which will produce a massive policy bill in the coming months, but that measure doesn’t actually allocate any money to the military.) The pair of Pentagon leaders were pressed on U.S. support for Ukraine as Russia’s offensive intensifies in the Donbas region, the Defense Department’s plans to shed older weapons, how the department factored inflation into its budget planning, and whether the requested 4 percent boost in funding from the current year is enough to overcome rising costs and meet world threats. Here are some highlights from their testimony: Stocking the shelves: Prodded by several senators about efforts to replenish weapons transferred to Ukraine’s military from U.S. inventories — most notably Stinger anti-aircraft and Javelin anti-tank missiles — Austin pledged that stocks of munitions won’t drift below the minimum needed levels. “It’s very critical to make sure that we maintain what we consider to be our minimum required stockage levels,” Austin said. “And you can rest assured that I will not allow us to go below that in critical munitions.” Congress provided $3.5 billion for the Pentagon to restock weapons and equipment that were sent into the fight, and the White House is seeking billions more in another $33 billion supplemental. Asked what more Congress can do to speed up the restocking effort, Austin said the Pentagon is “in pretty good shape” and largely has what it needs for the effort. His comments come amid concerns from industry leaders and Hill lawmakers about how quickly production of systems like Javelins and Stingers can be surged. They also come as President JOE BIDEN visits a Lockheed Martin plant in Alabama that builds Javelins to highlight efforts to arm Ukraine. Seeking a raise: Count the top Senate GOP appropriator, RICHARD SHELBY, among the defense hawks who want to see another sizable boost to Biden’s Pentagon budget plans. Shelby (R-Ala.), who didn’t attend the hearing due to illness, dinged Biden’s request as “anemic” in a written statement. “Personally, I hope we can pick up in fiscal year 2023 where we left off in 2022, with an increase — above the President’s request — to assure the adequate defense of our nation,” Shelby argued. “That will require proper levels of investment to assure our superiority for generations to come.” Shelby didn’t name his preferred budget level, but Republicans on the House and Senate Armed Services panels have closed ranks in support of a 5 percent increase above the current year’s threshold after adjusting for inflation. Cleaning the slate: Sen. PATRICK LEAHY (D-Vt.), who chairs the full Appropriations Committee, said he “very much” desires to clinch a deal on funding levels for defense and domestic programs soon. Bipartisan talks are underway to hammer out those numbers, which would allow Pentagon spending legislation and other government funding bills to proceed. “Hopefully both sides can put pressure on both Shelby and you to get to that number soon, so we can get a budget out by the end of September,” Sen. JON TESTER (D-Mont.), who chairs the defense spending subcommittee, told Leahy. Leahy, who is retiring after the midterm elections, added that he doesn’t want any unfinished government funding business — so no extended continuing resolutions — to spill over into 2023, when he’ll turn over the reins of the committee. “I will not be here next year, but I look at some who will and [will] try to get a clean slate for the committee beginning at noon on January 3rd,” Leahy said.
| | | | INTRODUCING DIGITAL FUTURE DAILY - OUR TECHNOLOGY NEWSLETTER, RE-IMAGINED: Technology is always evolving, and our new tech-obsessed newsletter is too! Digital Future Daily unlocks the most important stories determining the future of technology, from Washington to Silicon Valley and innovation power centers around the world. Readers get an in-depth look at how the next wave of tech will reshape civic and political life, including activism, fundraising, lobbying and legislating. Go inside the minds of the biggest tech players, policymakers and regulators to learn how their decisions affect our lives. Don't miss out, subscribe today. | | | | | | | | PUTIN MIGHT DECLARE WAR ON MAY 9: Russian President VLADIMIR PUTIN could officially declare war on Ukraine as soon as next Monday, CNN reported, citing U.S. and Western officials. “May 9, known as ‘Victory Day’ inside of Russia, commemorates the country’s defeat of the Nazis in 1945. Western officials have long believed that Putin would leverage the symbolic significance and propaganda value of that day to announce either a military achievement in Ukraine, a major escalation of hostilities — or both,” per CNN. “Officials have begun to hone in on one scenario, which is that Putin formally declares war on Ukraine on May 9. To date, Putin has insisted on referring to the brutal monthslong conflict as a ‘special military operation,’ effectively banning words such as invasion and war.” U.S. and Western officials we’ve talked to say that May 9 is the day to watch. Putin could do many things related to Ukraine that day, with the maximalist move likely declaring war. Experts say that would signal an escalation of the Kremlin’s campaign. “[I]t is significant. It allows a host of policies from general mobilization to stoploss of conscripts. Declaring a state of war carries political risks, but also changes force availability for the Russian war effort,” MICHAEL KOFMAN , an expert on Russia’s military at the CNA think tank in Arlington, Va., tweeted late Monday night. UKRAINE’S CULTURE UNDER ATTACK: As of May 2, UNESCO has registered at least 120 instances of damage or complete destruction of cultural sites, including museums, historic buildings, libraries and religious institutions since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24, reports our own JOSEPH GEDEON. The damage has become so widespread that some experts believe the sites are being targeted deliberately, putting the architecture of Ukraine’s identity at risk. Now, they’re calling on the United Nations and the U.S. government to protect and promote Ukraine’s cultural identity before it’s too late. “In addition to a purely conventional military attack, Russia knows it to be more strategic to target Ukrainian culture with the primary aim of it being destroyed,” said Columbia University professor YURI SHEVCHUK. “They know that even if Ukraine wins, but Ukrainian culture loses and Ukrainian language disappears, there will be no Ukraine.” It’s against international law to intentionally target cultural heritage and property in war, according to the 1954 Hague Convention. Since Russia and Ukraine are among the 133 signatories, the damage to Ukraine’s cultural institutions could become evidence in a potential war crimes case. In a March letter to Moscow, which was obtained by POLITICO, UNESCO chief AUDREY AZOULAY urged Russia to abide by the 1954 treaty. Russian Foreign Minister SERGEY LAVROV responded that Moscow was aware of its obligations under the treaty and remains committed to them, a spokesperson at UNESCO said. There is no proposed legislation in Congress to protect Ukrainian cultural property specifically, and it’s unclear whether the Biden administration’s recent $33 billion Ukraine request includes funding to save heritage sites — which is the focus of the State Department’s Cultural Heritage Center.
| | A message from Lockheed Martin: LMXT: America’s next strategic tanker.
Lockheed Martin’s LMXT is built in America by Americans for Americans. The LMXT leverages 60 years of experience producing tanker aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, and multiple operators around the world. Learn more. | | | IT’S TUESDAY: Thanks for tuning in to NatSec Daily. This space is reserved for the top U.S. and foreign officials, the lawmakers, the lobbyists, the experts and the people like you who care about how the natsec sausage gets made. Aim your tips and comments at award@politico.com and qforgey@politico.com, and follow us on Twitter at @alexbward and @QuintForgey. While you’re at it, follow the rest of POLITICO’s national security team: @nahaltoosi, @woodruffbets, @politicoryan, @PhelimKine, @ChristopherJM, @BryanDBender, @laraseligman, @connorobrienNH, @paulmcleary, @leehudson, @AndrewDesiderio and @JGedeon1.
| | | GRINER WRONGFULLY DETAINED: The Biden administration has determined that BRITTNEY GRINER, the WNBA star, has been wrongfully detained in Russia — which will lead the U.S. to more forcefully work to secure her release, per The Associated Press’ ERIC TUCKER and MATTHEW LEE. Since Russia detained Griner at an airport in February, “U.S. officials had stopped short of classifying the Phoenix Mercury player as wrongfully detained and said instead that their focus was on ensuring that she had access in jail to American consular affairs officials,” they wrote. “Now, though, U.S. officials have shifted supervision of her case to a State Department section — the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs — that is focused on negotiating for the release of hostages and other Americans deemed wrongfully detained.” The U.S. last week secured the release of TREVOR REED and are still working to bring PAUL WHELAN home. The status of negotiations for the Whelan and Griner cases remains unclear. BURNS MET MBS: CIA Director WILLIAM BURNS huddled with Saudi Crown Prince MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN in the coastal city of Jeddah during an unannounced trip to the kingdom last month, per The Wall Street Journal’s STEPHEN KALIN, SUMMER SAID and WARREN P. STROBEL. “While details of what the two men discussed weren’t available, recent sources of U.S.-Saudi tension include oil production, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Iran nuclear deal and the war in Yemen,” the Journal reports. One American official said of the meeting: “It was a good conversation, better tone than prior U.S. government engagements.” As the Journal notes, Burns “is a former deputy secretary of state who studied Arabic and held postings in the Middle East, as well as having prior experience in covert diplomacy.” In the Obama administration, Burns “helped lead secret talks with Iran that led to a multination accord in 2015 to limit Tehran’s nuclear development in exchange for relief from economic sanctions.”
| | | SPAIN’S PM SPIED ON WITH PEGASUS: Spanish Prime Minister PEDRO SÁNCHEZ and the nation’s defense minister, MARGARITA ROBLES, were targeted with the invasive surveillance tool known as Pegasus, reports our own CAMILLE GIJS. FÉLIX BOLAÑOS, the minister of the presidency, said an “external” force targeted their phones in May and June of last year. “When we say external intrusions, we mean that they are alien to state agencies and do not have judicial authorization from any official agency. That is why we classify them as illegal and external," Bolaños said Monday, adding that the government was currently investigating whether other senior members were hacked. Pegasus is all anyone in Spain can talk about, as the news about this intrusion follows revelations of the surveillance tool being used on 65 Catalan politicians and activists.
| | | |   | | | | | | NEW NATO CHIEF TAPPED: The Pentagon today announced the nomination of Army Gen. CHRISTOPHER CAVOLI to be the next head of U.S. European Command, as well as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander in Europe. If confirmed by the Senate for the promotion, Cavoli won’t be going far; he’s currently the commander of Army forces in Europe and Africa. Cavoli is set to succeed Air Force Gen. TOD WOLTERS as the commander of U.S. forces on the continent. According to CNN’s BARBARA STARR , “Cavoli speaks Russian and served as Russia director on the staff of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. He also served a combat tour in western Afghanistan and has extensive knowledge of land based combat operations.”
| | | LURIA LAMENTS SHIP RETIREMENTS: In Morning Defense (for pros!), Rep. ELAINE LURIA (D-Va.), a leading shipbuilding booster, calls the Navy’s plans to retire 24 ships a “catastrophic loss” of firepower. The former Navy officer points out in a lengthy essay published by the Center for International Maritime Security that the Biden administration’s fiscal 2023 proposal to retire 24 ships — while building only eight new hulls — means the Navy will lose 756 MK41 vertical launch system cells that can fire offensive and defensive missiles. What’s more, the Navy will lose a total of 1,668 cells by 2027 and 1,980 cells by 2035, she says. Luria sketches out several alternatives, including keeping 12 cruisers and refitting expeditionary fast transport ships with a 64-cell capacity, and building eight additional ships.
| | | SCHOLZ SNUBS KYIV VISIT: German Chancellor OLAF SCHOLZ said again Monday that he has no plans to visit Kyiv, citing Ukrainian President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY’s diplomatic rejection of German President FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER last month, per our own LAURENZ GEHRKE. While on a trip to Warsaw in April, Steinmeier was told that he would not be welcome in Ukraine because Zelenskyy’s government accused him of having fostered close ties with Russia for too long. In a new interview with German public broadcaster ZDF, Scholz said Zelenskyy’s insult was an unacceptable way to treat the president of “a country that provides so much military assistance, so much financial assistance, that is needed when it comes to the security guarantees that are important for Ukraine in the future.” Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany ANDRIY MELNYK then accused Scholz of “playing an offended liverwurst,” saying the chancellor’s remarks and refusal to come to Ukraine’s capital “doesn’t sound very statesmanlike,” per Der Spiegel.
| | A message from Lockheed Martin: LMXT: America’s next strategic tanker.
Improved range and fuel offload, INDOPACOM base flexibility, automatic air-to-air refueling, and enhanced defensive systems come together in our next strategic tanker. Learn more. | | | | | | — DAKOTA CARY is now a consultant at Krebs Stamos Group. He most recently was a research analyst at the Center for Security and Emerging Technology. — TODD HARRISON is starting work next week as senior vice president and head of research at Meta Aerospace. He currently is the director of defense budget analysis and the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
| | | — CAITLIN DICKERSON, The Atlantic: “'You Cannot Host Guests Forever'” — SAM SCHECHNER, YULIYA CHERNOVA and KEACH HAGEY, The Wall Street Journal: “Russia’s Independent Media, Battling for Survival, Defies Kremlin Crackdown” — SHANE HARRIS, The Washington Post: “CIA Instructs Russians on How to Share Secrets With the Spy Agency”
| | | — The Center for Strategic and International Studies, 8 a.m.: “Responses to the Challenges Faced by Women Migrants in the Northern Triangle — with RYAN C. BERG, DIANE CARAZAS, TIMOTHY T.Y. HSIANG, RACHEL SCHMIDTKE and ANA LETICIA AGUILAR THEISSEN” — The Economic Club of Washington, D.C., 8 a.m.: “In Conversation with KATHY WARDEN, Chair, Chief Executive Officer and President of Northrop Grumman Corporation — with DAVID RUBENSTEIN” — ICS Village, 8 a.m.: “Hack the Capitol 5.0” — The Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council Summit, 8 a.m.: “Day Two Programming — with ANNE NEUBERGER, KORI SCHAKE, JANET YELLEN and more” — The Government Executive Media Group, 8:30 a.m.: “Zero Trust: Marching Orders and Milestones — with JOSH BRODBENT, GRANT DASHER, AMY HAMILTON, ALLEN HILL, RANDY RESNICK and more” — The National Defense Industrial Association, 8:30 a.m.: “18th U.S.–Sweden Defense Industry Conference” — The Stimson Center, 9:30 a.m.: “ Shrouded in Secrecy: Examining Key Challenges to Arms Trade Transparency — with ELODIE HAINARD, GRISSELLE RODRÍGUEZ, CARINA SOLMIRANO and RACHEL STOHL” — The Center for Strategic and International Studies, 10 a.m.: “The Falklands at 40 — with SEBASTIAN BRUNS, WILLIAM DOSSEL, EMILY HARDING, TOM KARAKO, JOHN LEHMAN JR. and DOV ZAKHEIM” — Senate Appropriations Committee, 10 a.m.: “Subcommittee Hearing: A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2023 Funding Request for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security — with ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS” — Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 10 a.m.: “Full Committee Hearing: Business Meeting” — The Center for a New American Security, 1 p.m.: “The Pitch 2022: A Competition of New Ideas — with WILLIAM COFFIN, ADAM DUBARD, MYCAL FORD, JORDAN HIBBS, JARRETT HORNE, ARIS ILIOPULOS, SARAH MARSHALL, JACQUELINE WHITE MENCHACA, MATTHEW MITTELSTEADT, HEATHER PRICE and ARTEM SHERBININ” — The Center for Strategic and International Studies, 1 p.m.: “ Maritime Security Dialogue: Force Design 2030 and Marine Corps Modernization Efforts — with PETER H. DALY, KARSTEN S. HECKL and SETH G. JONES” — Federal Computer Week, 2 p.m.: “ The DevOps Security Journey — with STEVEN HERNANDEZ, MARK HURTER, AMEAR MITCHELL and CHRIS RIOTTA” — Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 2:15 p.m.: “ Full Committee Hearing: Nominations — with JANE HARTLEY, ALAN M. LEVENTHAL, CONSTANCE J. MILSTEIN and BRUCE I. TURNER” — Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, 2:30 p.m.: “Full Committee Hearing: Resources and Authorities Needed to Protect and Secure the Homeland — with ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS” — Senate Intelligence Committee, 2:30 p.m.: “ Closed Briefing: Intelligence Matters” — Senate Appropriations Committee, 3:30 p.m.: “Subcommittee Hearing: A Review of the FY 2023 Budget and FY 2024 Advance Appropriations Requests for the Department of Veterans Affairs — with DENIS MCDONOUGH” — Senate Armed Services Committee, 4:30 p.m.: “Subcommittee Hearing: The Nuclear Weapons Council — with CHRISTOPHER GRADY, JILL HRUBY, WILLIAM LAPLANTE, JOHN PLUMB , CHARLES RICHARD and HEIDI SHYU” — The Center for Strategic and International Studies, 6 p.m.: “Australia’s Election: Foreign Policy and National Security Implications — with AMELIA ADAMS, CHARLES EDEL, STAN GRANT and PETER HARTCHER”
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | Have a natsec-centric event coming up? Transitioning to a new defense-adjacent or foreign policy-focused gig? Shoot us an email at award@politico.com or qforgey@politico.com to be featured in the next edition of the newsletter. And thanks to our editor, John Yearwood, who turns our liverwurst copy into porterhouse prose. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | | |  |
