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From the SitRoom to the E-Ring, the inside scoop on defense, national security and foreign policy. | | | | |  | | By Alexander Ward and Quint Forgey | | 
Shinzo Abe speaks to the media as he arrives at the prime minister's office for a cabinet meeting in Tokyo on Sept. 16, 2020. | Eugene Hoshiko, File/AP Photo | With help from Daniel Lippman Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Alex | Email Quint The killing of former Japanese Prime Minister SHINZO ABE is a historic shock to the country he once led. “This is about as close to a JFK-style assassination as Japan has ever had,” JOSHUA WALKER , president and CEO of the U.S.-based Japan Society, told NatSec Daily. It’s led to a massive outpouring of grief from Japanese citizens and world leaders alike. Abe was, and will remain, a towering figure in Japan. The country’s longest-serving prime minister, he bent economic and foreign policy to his will. His legacy will persist in the words “free and open Indo-Pacific,” a concept that rallied the world’s democracies to bolster their regional defenses with the aim of countering China. He turned a pacifist nation constitutionally mandated to focus on self-defense into a global force, pioneering the idea of the Quad and hewing ever closer to the United States. “He’s the most consequential leader in the history of modern Japan,” said Sen. BILL HAGERTY (R-Tenn)., who served as the U.S. ambassador in Tokyo from 2017 to 2019. “He had a vision that is still being carried out today.” That vision received bipartisan praise in Washington, D.C., where he became the first Japanese prime minister to address a joint session of Congress in 2015. Members of Congress and the two most recent American presidents quickly put out statements of condolence and remembrance, underscoring the bipartisan nature of the U.S.-Japan alliance that Abe helped shape. “I do not believe [the assassination is] likely to have, but I don’t know yet, likely to have any profound destabilizing impact on Japanese security or Japanese solidarity,” President JOE BIDEN told reporters Friday afternoon. It seems crude to turn to politics now, but the most immediate impact of Abe’s murder could be felt during Sunday’s Upper House election. Abe, as arguably the most powerful person in Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, was campaigning on behalf of a candidate when he was shot. SHEILA SMITH, a senior fellow with deep expertise on Japan at the Council on Foreign Relations, said “it could provide a large sympathy vote for the LDP.” If true, then current Prime Minister FUMIO KISHIDA — who served as Abe’s foreign minister — could find himself with a stronger mandate to pursue policies that echo the muscular vision of his former boss. Experts say there will also be discussions about changing the time-honored tradition of barely separating politicians from the public at rallies, since that proximity made it easier for the alleged assassin to shoot his improvised weapon at Abe. A gun control debate could bubble up, but it’s unlikely to dominate the discussion since guns are hard to own in Japan, they said. Last year, the country suffered 10 total shootings, leading to one death and four injuries. “I’d be surprised if this led to wide-ranging changes in Japanese political culture,” said TOBIAS HARRIS, a senior fellow on Asian security issues at the Center for American Progress. Meanwhile little, if anything, is expected to change on the world stage. “Our basic security and foreign policy will remain consistent with what Abe had laid out,” a current Japanese diplomat who worked with the slain premier told us. “A greater role for the Self-Defense Forces and closer ties with our American partners will be the same.” Abeism, then, will outlive Abe himself. A fun anecdote from the former ambassador: During a baseball game in Japan, Hagerty and Abe were served a fine Japanese meal by the owner of the Yomiuri Giants. Abe barely spoke English, but turned to the then-ambassador and asked directly: “How would you like a hot dog and a Coke?” Hagerty gladly accepted the offer, he told us.
| | | U.S. TO SEND NEW PRECISION ARTILLERY TO UKRAINE: Biden has approved sending a new type of precision-guided artillery round to Ukraine that the administration believes will give Kyiv a technological edge in its battle against Russia, a senior defense official told reporters Friday, including our own LARA SELIGMAN. The 1,000 rounds of the new 155mm ammunition is part of a new $400 million aid package the White House is set to announce on Friday, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The package also includes four additional rocket launchers and ammunition, bringing to 12 the number of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) the U.S. is providing to Ukraine, the official said. Out of the total promised, eight HIMARS have already been delivered to Ukraine. The latest tranche of aid also includes three tactical vehicles, demolition munitions, counter battery systems and spare parts and other equipment, the official said. The new munitions offer a similar capability to the U.S. Army’s M982 Excalibur rounds, which provide GPS-guided precision targeting to the M777 Howitzers Washington has sent — and that Kyiv is now using against Russian forces. But the official would not confirm that Excalibur is part of the package. Yet 1,000 is a fraction of the 36,000 rounds of standard Howitzer shells the U.S. sent to Ukraine in the last aid package. Ukraine typically fires 5,000-6,000 rounds of standard Howitzer ammunition a day, while Russia fires more than twice that amount. But the administration hopes the new precision-guided shells will save ammunition as Ukraine battles to retake territory in the eastern Donbas region, the official said. “It offers Ukraine precise capability for specific targets, it will save ammunition, it will be more effective due to the precision, so it’s a further evolution in our support for Ukraine in this battle in the Donbas,” the official said. “This kind of ammunition will not be used at a rate of [thousands] a day.” ‘HUMANITARIAN DISASTER’ IN LUHANSK: The governor of Ukraine’s Luhansk province said the city of Severodonetsk faces a “humanitarian disaster.” “The sewage is accumulating. Add to that the current air temperature outside. And the stench from the dead - those who were buried in yards, and many remain in apartments and entrances, such as in one of the high-rise buildings in the new districts,” SERHIY HAIDAI wrote on Telegram, as reported by the Washington Post’s VICTORIA BISSET and ANNABELLE CHAPMAN. “Severodonetsk is witnessing a humanitarian disaster.” About 80 percent of the homes in the city have been damaged or destroyed, he added, further accusing Russian troops of looting. Meanwhile, Haidai told a local television station that the shelling of his province hasn’t stopped. “There are constantly efforts [by the Russians] to move forward; they are throwing in new units, especially tank ones,” he said. RUSSIA SAYS IT’S OPEN TO UKRAINE, TURKEY TALKS ON GRAIN: Russian Foreign Minister SERGEI LAVROV said his country was ready to speak with Ukraine and Turkey about grain exports, but didn’t offer a clear timeline for when such talks might take place. “U.S. and Western officials have said that Russia has effectively blockaded Ukrainian ports and exerted tight control on Ukraine’s grain exports. The Kremlin has said that Kyiv is free to ship grain from its ports. Turkey and the United Nations have been leading efforts to transport Ukrainian grain out of the country,” the Wall Street Journal’s VIVIAN SALAMA reported. “Mr. Lavrov called on Ukraine to unblock its ports and clear them of mines and said that the Russian military plays the main role in negotiations on the grain exports, according to state newswire TASS.” Images emerged Friday of Russian troops burning Ukrainian crops , likely in an effort to pressure Kyiv and put further strain on the global food supply. As exports of Ukrainian wheat stall, millions in Africa and the Middle East will find it harder to get a meal, exacerbating a crisis that threatens to kill thousands. With Russia holding all the cards on exports, there’s significant leverage on the table for Moscow to win some concessions. IT’S FRIDAY. WELCOME TO THE WEEKEND: 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 — plus our summer interns, @Lawrence_Ukenye and @nicolle_liu.
| | A message from Lockheed Martin: LMXT: Competitive capabilities for America’s next strategic tanker.
Lockheed Martin and Airbus announced the LMXT’s boom will be manufactured in Arkansas, reinforcing that the LMXT will be built in America for Americans by Americans. Learn more. | | | | | | LAVROV LEAVES G20: Russian Foreign Minister SERGEI LAVROV stormed out of a G20 meeting as leaders from the world’s top economies blasted the Kremlin’s decision to start a war. “Lavrov walked out of a morning session as German counterpart ANNALENA BAERBOCK criticized Moscow over its invasion, diplomats said,” the AFP’s SHAUN TANDON reported. “He also left an afternoon session before Ukrainian Foreign Minister DMYTRO KULEBA addressed the ministers virtually and was not present as Blinken condemned Russia.” "Our Western partners are trying to avoid talking about global economic issues," Lavrov told reporters. "From the moment they speak, they launch into fevered criticism of Russia." Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN hasn’t stopped criticizing Russia: "To our Russian colleagues: Ukraine is not your country. Its grain is not your grain. Why are you blocking the ports? You should let the grain out." Before the G20 meeting in Bali, there were whispers about whether Russia should have been invited at all. Now it seems like Russia isn’t fully represented since Lavrov refuses to participate in the entirety of the gathering.
| | | HACKERS OF IRAN STEEL PLANTS RELEASE DOCS: Hackers claiming to have attacked Iranian steel plants last month released nearly 20 gigabytes of documents claiming to show those facilities ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Cyberscoop’s AJ VICENS reported. “In a series of tweets in both English and Persian , the group — which calls itself Gonjeshke Darande or Predatory Sparrow — said the 19.76 gigabyte cache was just the ‘first part’ of what would be released. The group also posted an image of what appears to be the inside of a steel facility,” Vicens wrote. “Gonjeshke Darande is just one of several names, including Indra, the group uses. The shadowy outfit claims to be independent, but some speculation has suggested it could be the work of the Israeli government, given the access needed to carry out the attacks, the sophisticated nature of the operation and the messaging during and after the apparent hacks.” Israeli Defense Minister BENNY GANTZ has ordered an investigation into leaks that suggest his government was behind the attacks on the steel plants.
| | | UKRAINE HIGHLIGHTS U.S. ARMY NEED FOR LONG-RANGE FIRE: The war in Ukraine shows how necessary the U.S. Army’s modernization push is, Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. JAMES McCONVILLE told reporters Thursday in Europe, especially the need for long-range munitions. “McConville stressed combat leadership skills as key for success in large-scale, combined-arms operations, in addition to logistics, training and the ability to disperse command-and-control across the battlefield and at every echelon, Defense News’ JEN JUDSON reported. “The fighting has also shown the importance of long-range precision fires, he added. For the U.S. Army, that is its number one modernization priority. The service is poised to initially field its Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), the Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) weapon system and a Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile in fiscal 2023 to take out enemy targets from a safe, stand-off distance.” “Now these are extremely long-range precision fires, but that reaffirms our commitment to developing those capabilities,” McConville said.
| | | SUMMER SPRINT: Our friends at Morning Defense (for Pros!) note that the House and Senate return to session next week with a lengthy to-do list and just three weeks to accomplish their agenda. Chief among the priorities is passing the NDAA and forging compromise competitiveness legislation. Here are some big items to expect: NDAA gets its day: The full House takes up its defense policy bill next week. First up, the House Rules Committee must sort through nearly 1,200 amendments filed by lawmakers. Expect House leaders to aim to preserve the bipartisan coalition that got the bill through the committee. Still, contentious issues could emerge, such as slashing defense spending, increasing abortion access and allowing the Navy to retire ships. Senate leaders haven't yet indicated when they will bring their own defense bill to the floor. SASC approved its version of the bill last month, though bill text hasn't been made public yet. Appropriations: The House Appropriations Committee finalized its dozen government spending bills last week, and leadership is eyeing floor debate this month. That’s where things could get rocky. But Republicans oppose the Democratic-led bills over what they consider a slew of misplaced spending priorities and contentious policy riders. That includes the Pentagon funding bill, which matches Biden's lower budget level and includes protections for troops and Pentagon civilians seeking abortions. China competition: The House and Senate are trying to strike a deal on legislation to enhance U.S. economic competitiveness with China. The package includes $52 billion in aid for domestic semiconductor manufacturers. Though there is bipartisan support for the package, Senate Minority Leader MITCH MCCONNELL has threatened to tank the legislation if Democrats press forward with a separate party-line package of their own domestic spending priorities. Nominees: Senate Democrats will likely seek to confirm Biden's civilian and uniform nominees, and a Pentagon pick is first up on the to-do list next week. The Senate votes Monday afternoon on cutting off debate on ASHISH VAZIRANI, the nominee to be deputy undersecretary for personnel and readiness.
| | | |   | | | | | | AKLEH LETTER: The family of killed journalist SHIREEN ABU AKLEH sent a letter to Biden Friday demanding a meeting while he’s in the Middle East next week. “In the days and weeks since an Israeli soldier killed Shireen, not only have we not been adequately consulted, informed, and supported by U.S. government officials, but your administration’s actions exhibit an apparent intent to undermine our efforts toward justice and accountability for Shireen’s death,” ANTON ABU AKLEH wrote on behalf of the family. “[T]he United States has been skulking toward the erasure of any wrongdoing by Israeli forces.” In a Monday statement, State Department spokesperson NED PRICE said the U.S. and independent investigations couldn’t definitively determine who killed the Palestinian journalist, but added “that gunfire from IDF positions was likely responsible for the death of Shireen Abu Akleh.” That conclusion clearly hasn’t satisfied the Akleh family. Her killing will loom large over Biden’s regional visit, which is already dogged by the killing of journalist JAMAL KHASHOGGI and an expected meeting that Crown Prince MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN — the alleged mastermind of that murder — will attend.
| | | — KISHLA ASKINS is now deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Enterprise Integration at the Department of Veterans Affairs. She most recently was CEO and co-founder of Global Bridge Health Strategies. — MAUREEN ELIAS is now deputy chief of staff at the Department of Veterans Affairs. She most recently served as an adviser to the department’s chief of staff. — CHRIS LANEN has been promoted to associate director for compliance and ethics, global legal affairs, and government relations at Raytheon Technologies. — IAN MCDOUGALL is joining the Hague Court of Arbitration’s Aviation Advisory Board. He currently serves as chair of the Volatus Aerospace board of directors. — JIM MURRAY is joining Snap Inc. as chief security officer. He currently serves as director of the U.S. Secret Service. — ANSHU SIRIPURAPU has left the Council on Foreign Relations, where he was an economics writer and editor. He’s attending Georgetown University Law Center this fall. — CHRISTIAN WALKER has joined the federal government relations team at Cornerstone Government Affairs as a vice president. He’s a subject matter expert in national security and defense appropriations, and previously served as deputy chief of staff and legislative director for Rep. ANN KIRKPATRICK (D-Ariz.). — DANIEL E. WHITE is now special assistant to the assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs. He previously served as special assistant to the assistant secretary of Defense for strategy, plans and capabilities.
| | | — BARRY POSEN, Foreign Affairs: “Ukraine’s Implausible Theories of Victory” — DOUGLAS FARAH, POLITICO Magazine: “Opinion: Take the Deal: Brittney Griner in Exchange for the ‘Merchant of Death’” — SARAH DADOUCH, The Washington Post: “Killings of Women at Mideast Universities Provoke Outrage and Worry”
| | | — The National Defense Industrial Association, 9 a.m.: “JADC2: All Domain Warfare Symposium — with JAMES ADAMS, WILLY ANDERSEN , COREY BEAVERSON, SCOTT BERRIER, KARI BINGEN and more” — House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, 1 p.m.: “ Subcommittee Hearing: Ending Veteran Hunger: Examining the Impact of Covid-19 on Food Insecurity — with CHRISTINE GOING, WILFRED QUINTONG, MATTHEW RABBITT, DANIEL SANTIBÁÑEZ, RICK WANNE and more” — The Israel Policy Forum, 2 p.m.: “From Jerusalem to Jeddah: Biden’s Middle East Trip — with SHIRA EFRON, MICHAEL KOPLOW and NERI ZILBER” — The Center for Strategic and International Studies, 3 p.m.: “The U.S.-Australia Alliance: Aligning Priorities in the Indo-Pacific with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles — with CHARLES EDEL and ANTHONY PRATT” 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, Ben Pauker, who also walks out of rooms the second we start criticizing him.
| | A message from Lockheed Martin: LMXT: Competitive capabilities for America’s next strategic tanker.
The LMXT aircraft delivers proven capabilities for the U.S. Air Force’s increasing aerial refueling missions. One of the LMXT’s discriminating capabilities is its refueling system, which includes a fly-by-wire aerial refueling boom. Learn more. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | | |  |
