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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 Lawrence Ukenye | | 
“I’m actually for the legislation, but not at this minute,” Elizabeth Whelan told NatSec Daily. | Patrick Semansky/AP Photo | Subscribe here | Email Alex The sister of PAUL WHELAN, an American held hostage in Russia since December 2018, doesn’t think now is the right time to label the country a terrorist state. “I’m actually for the legislation, but not at this minute,” ELIZABETH WHELAN told NatSec Daily over breakfast Friday, hours before her meeting with President JOE BIDEN. Her fear is that an official designation that’s being pushed by a bipartisan team in Congress would effectively kill talks over Whelan and BRITTNEY GRINER’s return to the United States. Once both were home, though, that’d be the right move. Elizabeth expressed frustration that neither Sens. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-Conn.) nor LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-S.C.), the leaders of the Senate bill to name Russia a state sponsor of terrorism, reached out to the Whelan family to convey they had weighed the measure’s effect on the hostages. None of the five lawmakers who introduced a similar bill in the House called, either, she said. Paul Whelan, a former Marine, was arrested at a Moscow hotel nearly four years ago on charges of espionage — an allegation Paul and his family vigorously deny. After nearly two years of solitary confinement, he was transferred to a forced labor camp from which he can periodically call his parents and receive four care packages a year. He and his family were pleased to see TREVOR REED released from Russian custody in an April prisoner exchange, but frustrated that Paul wasn’t also on the flight home. Now Paul’s fate seemingly is linked with Griner’s, with the U.S. reportedly offering arms dealer VIKTOR BOUT for the two. Elizabeth wouldn’t speculate about how she’d feel if only Griner came home, as Reed did, but she did say “as Paul’s sister, I do not want to see him left behind again and have urged the U.S. government not to let the Russian Federation do that,” adding that her anger would mostly be directed at Moscow for forcing such a situation. Elizabeth also didn’t hint at either support or frustration for former Gov. BILL RICHARDSON's recent trip to Russia , which the State Department denounced as freelancing. She just said she hopes the visit by the seasoned hostage negotiator helped convince the Kremlin to release Paul and Griner. Elizabeth refused to share what she planned to tell Biden later this afternoon, but NatSec Daily noted that she was powered up with a fruit bowl, scrambled eggs and coffee. She continually brought up policy suggestions for the administration, ones she thinks might hasten Paul’s release and improve U.S. wrongful detainment procedures. Here’s just one suggestion: move the Office of the Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs from the State Department to the National Security Council. Hostage issues aren’t really diplomacy, she argued; they're extortion. Putting the weight of the White House behind hostage cases might increase the chances of success, and also might give more resources to those working on the issue than are available at State. She’s passed this idea on to many in government, including national security adviser JAKE SULLIVAN. Whelan is appreciative of the Biden administration’s efforts to secure Paul’s release. Today’s meeting with Biden shows her that U.S. officials care, even if there’s no real progress to announce — a situation she blames Russian President VLADIMIR PUTIN for more than Biden. But she still feels lost in the sea of bureaucracy and tricky geopolitics — and that’s coming from someone as deeply engaged as she is. “I still don't yet know how to make the government work for me on this issue,” she said.
| | | | HAPPENING 9/29 - POLITICO’S AI & TECH SUMMIT : Technology is constantly evolving and so are the politics and policies shaping and regulating it. Join POLITICO for the 2022 AI & Tech summit to get an insider look at the pressing policy and political issues shaping tech, and how Washington interacts with the tech sector. The summit will bring together lawmakers, federal regulators, tech executives, tech policy experts and consumer advocates to dig into the intersection of tech, politics, regulation and innovation, and identify opportunities, risks and challenges ahead. REGISTER FOR THE SUMMIT HERE. | | | | | | | | UKRAINE DISCOVERS MASS GRAVE IN IZYUM: In a horrific development, Ukrainian officials have found at least 440 burial sites in the recently liberated city of Izyum. Most of the bodies were identified as civilians and were recently buried, according to Kyiv which has described the graves as "fresh", CNN’s JONNY HALLAM and BRAD LENDON reported. “We want the world to know what is really happening and what the Russian occupation has led to,” said Ukrainian President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY. Some of the civilians were victims of targeted attacks, while some died from artillery fire or airstrikes from being caught in the conflict, according to police in Kharkiv. Kyiv accused Russian troops of targeting civilians after mass burial sites were discovered in Mariupol and Bucha. $600M MORE FOR UKRAINE: The Department of Defense authorized a $600 million drawdown of military equipment for Ukraine on Thursday, just more than a week after providing $675 million in weapons. The package includes additional ammunition for HIMARS, as well as artillery rounds, counter-artillery radars, among other weapons systems. The latest round of military support is the 21st time equipment has been pulled off U.S. shelves and comes as Washington is looking to ratchet up support for Kyiv’s growing counteroffensive against Russia in southern and eastern Ukraine. “The capabilities we are delivering are carefully calibrated to make the most difference on the battlefield and strengthen Ukraine’s hand at the negotiating table when the time is right,” wrote Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN in a statement. The Pentagon’s support did not include ATACMS, despite repeated requests from Kyiv. The long-range missile system would be capable of striking Russian territory. NASAMS TO UKRAINE: Brig. Gen. PATRICK RYDER , the Pentagon spokesperson, announced the first two NASAMs will be delivered to Ukraine within the next two months, per our own LARA SELIGMAN. That will give a sophisticated air-defense capability to Kyiv’s forces. 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 follow me on Twitter at @alexbward. While you’re at it, follow the rest of POLITICO’s national security team: @nahaltoosi, @woodruffbets, @politicoryan, @PhelimKine, @BryanDBender, @laraseligman, @connorobrienNH, @paulmcleary, @leehudson, @AndrewDesiderio, @magmill95 and @Lawrence_Ukenye.
| | A message from Lockheed Martin: Enabling a world of unlimited possibility and 21st century security.
Lockheed Martin employees and customers are bound by a common cause. Ennobled by our shared patriotism, we will do all that is necessary to protect American and allied interests. Together, we will strengthen deterrence and help ensure mission readiness today. Learn more. | | | | | | KYRGYZSTAN, TAJIKISTAN AGREE TO CEASEFIRE: Kyrgyz President SADYR JAPAROV and Tajik President EMOMALI RAHMON agreed on Friday to halt fighting after a series of violent clashes, Reuters’ OLGA DZYUBENKO reported. The fighting between the Central Asian states erupted when Tajik forces struck Kyrgyz border forces over disputed border territory, part of which is poorly demarcated. Tensions intensified when Kyrgyzstan accused Tajikistan of using mortars and other heavy munitions to target civilian infrastructure. Dozens have been wounded in recent skirmishes and at least 55 people were killed in fighting last year due to concerns about water rights and surveillance cameras installed by Tajikistan near the border.
| | | HIGH-PROFILE TECH SUMMIT TO DISCUSS AI: Current and former U.S. officials including national security advisor JAKE SULLIVAN, Speaker NANCY PELOSI (D-Calif.), and former Secretary of State HENRY KISSINGER are meeting Friday with leading defense and tech firms to discuss the burgeoning U.S.-China tech rivalry, our friends in Morning Defense reported (for pros!). Lawmakers will look to bolster public and private cooperation on ways the U.S. can keep pace with Beijing in the race for dominance in emerging technologies, like artificial intelligence.
| | | CHINA SANCTIONS BOEING, RAYTHEON CHIEFS: China will sanction executives at Boeing and Raytheon for selling weapons to Taiwan, the Associated Press reported. GREGORY HAYES, CEO of Raytheon Technologies Corp., and TED COLBERT, CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security were targeted by Beijing for a State Department military equipment sale to Taiwan on Sept. 2. “We once again urge the U.S. government and relevant parties to ... stop arms sales to Taiwan and military contact with Taiwan, and stop creating new factors that could lead to tensions in the Taiwan Strait," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson MAO NING said in a briefing. Beijing has vehemently opposed U.S. military support for Taiwan, including recent congressional efforts to bolster arms sales to the self-governing island. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the Taiwan Policy Act by a vote of 17-5 on Wednesday. The U.S. provided Taiwan with anti-ship missiles and air-to-air missiles in the most recent arms sale and reached a deal in August to upgrade Taipei's Patriot missile defense system.
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don’t miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. | | | | | | | | MORE MIXED MESSAGING ON SLCM-N: Air Force Gen. ANTHONY COTTON ’s testimony on Thursday to lead U.S. Strategic Command could reignite debate between Congress, the White House and top military brass about the need for a nuclear sea-launched cruise missile. The missile was not included in President JOE BIDEN’s budget request but House lawmakers on both sides of the aisle managed to muscle the weapon in the chamber’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act. Cotton testified that he wants to take a closer look at the missiles before signaling support or opposition. "I have yet to do an assessment on the weapon system,” Cotton said. A thumbs down on the missile would be a departure from other military brass — including Joint Chiefs chair Gen. MARK MILLEY who opposed Biden’s desire to scrap a proposal some advocates deem as too costly and redundant. It could also cast further doubt as to whether the weapon will appear in Congress’ finalized defense legislation as the Senate has yet to begin debate on the bill.
| | | TAIWAN DECRIES RUSSIA-CHINA RELATIONSHIP: Taiwan called China and Russia's partnership a threat to world peace on Friday, a day after face-to-face talks between Russian President VLADIMIR PUTIN and Chinese leader XI JINPING in Uzbekistan. “[Putin] calls those who maintain peace and the status quo provocative, which highly demonstrates the harm caused by the alliance of Chinese and Russian authoritarian regimes on international peace, stability, democracy and freedom,” read a statement from Taiwan’s foreign ministry. Russia has backed China's aggression toward Taipei and has asserted the U.S. is responsible for mounting tensions in the Taiwan Strait following recent congressional visits.
| | | — NATHANIEL FICK was confirmed unanimously by the Senate to serve as ambassador-at-large for cyberspace and digital policy at the State Department.
| | | |   | | | | | | — KEITH BRADSHER, The New York Times: In the 'Great Game' of Central Asia, China's Leader Seeks the Advantage — DANIEL DEPETRIS, Newsweek: North Korea Keeps Its Options Open in Selling Weapons to Russia — TIM STARKS and AARON SCHAFFER, The Washington Post: The White House is on a cyber bender
| | | — The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, 9 a.m.: "Ocean Nations: The 2nd Annual Indo-Pacific Islands Dialogue" — The Middle East Institute, 9 a.m.: "All Necessary Measures: The United Nations and International Intervention in Libya." — The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 9 a.m.: "2022 Spectrum Policy Symposium." — The Brookings Institution, 9 a.m.: "The 2022 Knight Forum on Geopolitics" — The Air and Space Forces Association, 9:15 a.m.: "2022 Air, Space and Cyber Conference" — The Heritage Foundation, 1 p.m.: "Countering Foreign Malign Influence While Protecting Civil Liberties." — Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, 1 p.m.: Webinar Featuring Rep. MIKE GALLAGHER (R-Wis.)—Arming America’s Allies and Rings of Fire — The Wilson Center, 4 p.m.:"The Triumph of Broken Promises: The End of the Cold War and the Rise of Neoliberalism." Have a natsec-centric event coming up? Transitioning to a new defense-adjacent or foreign policy-focused gig? Shoot me an email at award@politico.com to be featured in the next edition of the newsletter. And thanks to our editor, Ben Pauker, who today we learned only drinks coffee in the summer and switches to English tea during the rest of the year. Weirdo.
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Lockheed Martin is helping you outpace evolving threats by accelerating our digital transformation. That means simulating wear-and-tear with digital twins so you can anticipate maintenance and reduce downtime. It means deep knowledge of your missions. It means industry-wide experience and next-gen technologies. We do it all to help you prevent and deter emerging threats sooner and faster than ever. Learn more. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | | |  |
