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From the SitRoom to the E-Ring, the inside scoop on defense, national security and foreign policy. | | | | |  | | By Alexander Ward , Matt Berg and Lawrence Ukenye | | 
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the attack came in successive waves of 28 drones — which appeared to include Iranian-made Shaheds, pictured here — though most Russian airstrikes have been in the form of missiles | Ukrainian military's Strategic Communications Directorate via AP | With help from Stuart Lau, Daniel Lippman and Phelim Kine Subscribe here | Email Alex | Email Matt Officials on both sides of the Atlantic are weighing how to punish Iran for planning to give missiles and more drones to Russia . Our own NAHAL TOOSI spoke to a U.S. official Monday who said the administration is “absolutely going to sanction anybody who’s helping Iranians help Russians kill Ukrainians.” Export controls would almost certainly be part of any reprimand. A National Security Council spokesperson also told NatSec Daily that “we will continue to vigorously enforce all U.S. sanctions on both the Russian and Iranian arms trade, make it harder for Iran to sell these weapons to Russia, and we will stand with our partners throughout the region against the Iranian threat. We are also working with allies and partners, including at the United Nations, to address Iran’s dangerous proliferation of weapons to Russia. And we’ll continue to surge unprecedented security assistance to Ukraine, including air defense and working with allies to enable transfer of air defense systems of their own to Ukraine.” The Iran case is a test for the administration’s new policy , announced Friday, that the U.S. can “use its broad targeting authorities against non-U.S. persons that provide ammunition or other support to the Russian Federation’s military-industrial complex.” In other words, if Tehran continues to help Moscow, then a slew of economic penalties could, and likely will, be placed on the Islamist regime. That’s an appropriate course of action, MICK MULROY , a former top Pentagon official for the Middle East and CIA officer, told NatSec Daily. He added that “possible increased activity from my old organization” — the CIA — would also send a clear signal to Iran. It’s unclear if the sanctions and export controls would have the desired effect on Tehran, he said, but they could certainly sting a regime that is reeling from massive protests. The punishments might work “if they felt that they need to focus more domestically and not get further outside the international community with more sanctions.” Europe, meanwhile, is set to impose sanctions if it finds the evidence of Iranian drones being used in Ukraine . “We are following very closely this use of drones. We are gathering evidence. And we will be ready to react with the tools at our disposal,” JOSEP BORRELL, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, told reporters Monday. What sure look like Iranian-made drones have proven destructive over the last two days. More than two dozen suicide drones struck Kyiv on Monday, killing four people, setting buildings ablaze and striking energy facilities, the Associated Press’ SABRA AYRES and HANNA ARHIROVA report . Kyiv Mayor VITALI KLITSCHKO said the attack came in successive waves of 28 drones — which appeared to include Iranian-made Shaheds — though most Russian airstrikes have been in the form of missiles. And as the Financial Times’ CHRISTOPHER MILLER pointed out : YURIY IGNAT, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Air Force, said Russia launched 43 kamikaze drones from the south to attack Ukraine since Sunday evening, with air defenses successfully destroying 37 of them. The switch in weaponry suggests Moscow may be attempting to preserve its depleting arsenal of long-range precision missiles. “Our Ukrainian friends have stated that today's attacks [were] by drones, by Iranian-made drones, then in that context, I think the immediate sanction to these … activities of Iran should be immediately implemented,” Estonian Foreign Minister URMAS REINSALU told our own STUART LAU. The barrage of drones on Kyiv came a day after the Kremlin blamed Ukraine for a missile attack on the mayor’s office in Donetsk, which is held by separatists. There were no reports of casualties, and Ukraine did not claim responsibility.
| | | | 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 . | | | | | | | | CHINA ACCESSING U.S. HYPERSONIC TECHNOLOGY: Chinese military research groups are gaining access to U.S. hypersonic missile technology from firms who've received millions in grants from the Pentagon, The Washington Post's CATE CADELL and ELLEN NAKASHIMA report . “It’s very disturbing, because the bottom line is that technology that can be used for military hypersonics was funded by U.S. taxpayers, through the U.S. government, and ended up in China,” said IAIN BOYD, director of the Center for National Security Initiatives at the University of Colorado at Boulder, who researches hypersonic missiles. Despite many of the military groups subject to U.S. export controls, private Chinese firms are able to sell software products. MILITARY MOVES IN CHINA: Chinese leader XI JINPING announced plans to speed up modernization of the country’s military in a televised speech Sunday, the Associated Press reports . Multiple times over the course of the speech to about 2,000 delegates, the leader invoked his “rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” slogan. Xi did not announce change in policies that have caused tension between China and Washington, instead focusing on plans to improve the country’s society and economy in the near future. The party’s military wing needs to “safeguard China’s dignity and core interests,” Xi said, referencing the People’s Liberation Army. The leader referred to a list of territorial claims that China has said it is ready to go to war over. We asked our China Watcher PHELIM KINE for his succinct view: "Xi's implicit messaging: He’ll dedicate his third term to countering a perceived U.S. threat to his hawkish vision of ' national rejuvenation .' That will reinforce the bipartisan assessment of a China threat that the Biden administration seeks to counter through policies including the new National Security Strategy released earlier this month. ... Xi urged 'a strong system of strategic deterrence,' an implicit reference to the People’s Liberation Army’s dramatic expansion of its nuclear weapons capacity in the past two years. Xi’s warning of the need for 'mechanisms for countering foreign sanctions' signals the CCP’s desire to fortify China from the economic isolation that has hammered the Russian economy in reaction to Putin’s Ukraine invasion." ‘COFFINS ARE ALREADY COMING’: Since Russian President VLADIMIR PUTIN announced a mandatory draft in his war against Ukraine, thousands of ill-equipped and untrained soldiers have been rushed to the front lines, The New York Times’ NEIL MACFARQUHAR reports . While the draft is intended to include men in the reserves who have some military skills, critics claim it has pulled virtually everyone into the war. Moscow is trying to strike a balance of deploying enough soldiers to stop Ukrainian advancement while also rebuilding its ground forces that have been weakened. “The result of the mobilization is that untrained guys are thrown onto the front line,” ANASTASIA KASHEVAROVA , a pro-war military blogger, wrote in a Telegram post. “Chelyabinsk, Yekaterinburg, Moscow — zinc coffins are already coming.” IT’S MONDAY: 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 mberg@politico.com , and follow us on Twitter at @alexbward and @mattberg33 . 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 , @ericgeller , @johnnysaks130 and @Lawrence_Ukenye .
| | A message from Lockheed Martin: Our mission is to prepare you for the future by engineering advanced capabilities today.
Many of today’s military systems and platforms were designed to operate independently. Through our 21st Century Security vision, Lockheed Martin is accelerating innovation, connecting defense and digital to enhance the performance of major platforms, to equip customers to stay ahead of emerging threats. Learn more. | | | | | | MULTIPLE NUKE TESTS?: North Korea could conduct “two or three consecutive” nuclear tests in a row once KIM JONG UN decides to do them, South Korean Vice Defense Minister SHIN BEOM-CHUL said Friday. Per NK News’ JEONGMIN KIM and YEJI CHUNG , experts agree with him. “That is a reasonable presumption,” said YANG UK, a military expert at the Asan Institute of Policy Studies. North Korea needs to test multiple types of tactical nukes, he said, which means it will need to different types of test –– one size does not fit all in this case. Furthermore, multiple tests would help North Korea miniturize its bombs, accelerating its five-year weapons development plan unveiled in Jan. 2021. South Korea is on a “ 24-hour readiness regime ” as it awaits the expected seventh North Korean nuclear test.
| | | CISA STRETCHED THIN?: Rep. RITCHIE TORRES (D-N.Y.) is concerned that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is overworked considering it operates half of the country’s critical infrastructure, our friends in Weekly Cybersecurity report. “There must be greater transparency and accountability around CISA’s role as a [sector risk management agency], how it measures success, and whether it has the authorities and resources it needs to oversee multiple sectors of critical infrastructure effectively and exclusively,” wrote Torres, a member of the House Homeland Security cyber subcommittee, in a Oct. 14 letter to CISA director JEN EASTERLY. Torres’ letter outlined a laundry list of concerns about the agency’s massive responsibilities including how it manages dams and nuclear reactors. His concerns come as the Biden administration seeks to pursue additional cyber regulations and upcoming retirements among cyber-minded lawmakers in January.
| | | DOD TO PAY FOR STARLINK?: The Pentagon is considering paying for the Starlink satellite network that has been a lifeline for Ukraine from a fund that is being used to supply weapons and equipment over the long term, according to two U.S. officials who are involved in the deliberations, our own BRYAN BENDER reports. The Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative is designed to provide enduring support for the Ukrainian military by financing contracts with American firms for weapons and equipment that would be delivered in months or even years. A third official also said of the fund: “As far as vehicles go, that certainly could be an option. The discussion comes after CNN reported that SpaceX warned the Pentagon last month that it would no longer be able to finance the satellite terminals and communications services, which has already cost it over $80 million and could cost hundreds of millions more over the next year. BLOOMBERG PANEL: The Defense Innovation Board will convene today under the leadership of MICHAEL BLOOMBERG who will serve as chair of the advisory panel, our own LEE HUDSON reports. The former New York mayor aims to bring Silicon Valley's innovation to the military as the board has taken steps to push efforts in artificial intelligence and software development. Defense Secretary LLOYD AUSTIN rebooted the board, which was founded in 2016, alongside HEIDI SHYU, undersecretary for research and engineering.
| | | BLUMENTHAL RAISES ALARM: Sen. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-Conn.) warned that Saudi Arabia could share U.S. defense technology with Moscow, citing the Saudis recent decision to cut oil production as cause of concern, the Guardian’s STEPHANIE KIRCHGAESSNER reports . Because of OPEC+ decision to significantly cut oil production — a move viewed as a gift to Moscow amid a global energy crisis — Blumenthal has proposed freezing weapons sales to the Middle Eastern country for one year. The senator said he would “dig deeper into the risk” of the Saudis sharing technology with Russia in talks with Pentagon leaders. “I want some reassurances that they are on top of it and if there are risks, I want to determine what can be done to mitigate those risks immediately,” Blumenthal told the Guardian.
| | | | 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 . | | | | | | | | MAD AT MAGNUS: Multiple officials within the Biden administration voiced an array of concerns with Customs and Border Protection Commissioner CHRIS MAGNUS, suggesting that he is unengaged with his post, our own DANIEL LIPPMAN reports. There’s a long list of complaints, but some include that Magnus often doesn’t attend White House meetings regarding the border, badmouths other agencies to colleagues and superiors and is unfamiliar with some of the operations within his own department, instead focusing mostly on reforming the culture of CBP. “He’s not in the game,” one of the administration officials told Daniel. “Every time there’s a meeting and he’s in it, we’ll get to a conclusion and Magnus will have some sidebar issue that he wants to raise and we’re all like ‘What the fuck is that about?’” UK DEMANDS ACTION OVER BEATEN PROTESTER: British MPs within the Conservative and Labor parties are demanding an investigation after a Hong Kong pro-democracy protester was dragged into a Chinese consulate and beaten, MATT HONEYCOMBE-FOSTER reports. “The foreign secretary should urgently summon the Chinese ambassador to demand an explanation for the incident,” Shadow Secretary DAVID LAMMY said. “The U.K. stands for freedom, the rule of law and democracy. The quashing of peaceful protest will never be tolerated on our streets.” A man displaying a satirical portrait of Chinese leader Xi Jingping was confronted Sunday by men who emerged from the consulate in Manchester and attacked him. A spokesperson for Prime Minister LIZ TRUSS expressed concern over the attack but deferred to Manchester police who are handling the incident.
| | | — RICH DAVIDSON is now director for strategic communication at the Atlantic Council. He previously was comms director for Sen. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE (D-R.I.). — MICHAEL KIMMAGE has joined the Center for Strategic and International Studies as a senior associate in the Europe, Russia and Eurasia program. The expert on the U.S.-Russia relationship served on the State Department’s Policy Planning staff from 2014 to 2016. — BTS: BORN TO SERVE: It’s a bad day for K-pop fans. After weeks of speculation, officials announced that members of BTS, one of the world’s biggest boy bands, will serve their mandatory duties in the South Korea military, the Associated Press’ KIM TONG-HYUNG reports . The group’s management company on Monday put an end to the rumors that BTS members may be exempt from duty because of their artistic accomplishments. Each member of the seven-person outfit is “looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment,” the company said in a statement. Surely all that dancing and choreography will help them in formation.
| | | |   | | | | | | — MAURA REYNOLDS, POLITICO: FIONA HILL: ‘ELON MUSK Is Transmitting a Message for Putin’ — BORIS BONDAREV, Foreign Affairs: The Sources of Russian Misconduct — ALICE HUNT FRIEND, War On The Rocks: The Civilian And The State: Politics At The Heart Of Civil-Military Relations
| | | — The National Defense Industrial Association, 7:45 a.m.: "Precision Strike Technology Symposium" — The Heritage Foundation, 10 a.m.: “The Diminished State of Today’s Military” — The Wilson Center, 10 a.m.: “The Human Cost of Russia's War in Ukraine: The Migration Dimension” — The German Marshall Fund of the United States, 10:30 a.m.: A Conversation with Defense Minister HANNO PEVKUR — The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, 12:00 p.m.: “Offensive Cyber Operations: A Book Discussion with DANIEL MOORE” — The Hill, 1 p.m.: National Security At The Speed Of Sound: Hypersonics in American Defense — The Center for Strategic and International Studies, 1:30 p.m.: "Is Iran on the Brink" — The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, 2 p.m.: "Resilient Networking for the Tactical Edge" 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. Thanks to our editor, Heidi Vogt, who now wants to join the South Korean military. And we thank producer Jeffrey Horst for helping us look good. (Well, Matt and Lawrence, at least.)
| | A message from Lockheed Martin: Our mission is to prepare you for the future by engineering advanced capabilities today.
Many of today’s military systems and platforms were designed to operate independently. Through our 21st Century Security vision, Lockheed Martin is accelerating innovation, connecting defense and digital to enhance the performance of major platforms, to equip customers to stay ahead of emerging threats. Learn more. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | | |  |
