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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 Matt Berg | | 
“‘Blank check’ doesn't mean you're not going to continue to get support. You're not going to get a blank check. I agree we shouldn't give them a blank check,” Sen. Kevin Cramer told NatSec Daily | Kevin Dietsch/Pool via AP | With help from Lara Seligman and Zi-Ann Lum Subscribe here | Email Alex | Email Matt Sen. KEVIN CRAMER (R-N.D.) doesn’t want Ukraine to worry that a Republican-led Congress means less support for its war against Russia. The Senate Armed Services Committee member said the “blank check” comment by his colleague, KEVIN McCARTHY (R-Calif.), the presumptive speaker of the House should Republicans prevail in the midterms, was taken out of context. “‘Blank check’ doesn't mean you're not going to continue to get support. You're not going to get a blank check. I agree we shouldn't give them a blank check,” he told NatSec Daily in a phone interview. “It also implies, I think, that we'd like to see better transparency on how the money is used. That’s a reasonable Republican, American position.” “If Kevin becomes the speaker of the House,” Cramer continued, “he's going to eventually have to govern, and I'm pretty confident when he governs, he'll govern properly.” McCarthy’s comment a week ago still haunts him. He’s spent the last few days assuring fellow Republicans money and weapons will still go to Ukraine under his leadership, even if some members on the right and left would prefer the U.S. dial back support and focus on domestic issues. Cramer said such diversity of opinion in Congress reflects the broader ideological viewpoints within the United States. “It's important that VLADIMIR PUTIN not mistake our diversity for disunity,” the senator told NatSec Daily. “I also think the same of Ukraine.” But, Cramer made sure to add, “I think we have too many Russian sympathizers in the Congress, and certainly on cable television.” When pressed about who he specifically meant, the senator refused to name names. The SASC member said he understands the anxiety of Ukrainian officials. Between McCarthy’s remark and the brouhaha over the Congressional Progressive Caucus letter , it’s only fair for Kyiv to fret about the prospects for continued strong American support. “But I think we can all calm down and not miscalculate,” he said.
| | | | NEW AND IMPROVED POLITICO APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. With a fresh look and improved features, the sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. Already a POLITICO app user? Upgrade today! DOWNLOAD FOR iOS – DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID . | | | | | | | | PUTIN AT THE PODIUM: Russian President VLADIMIR PUTIN ruled out the possibility that the military will use nukes in its war against Ukraine, saying “there is no point in that, neither political, nor military,” in a speech Thursday. In his annual speech at Valdai Discussion Club, the Kremlin head struck a familiar tone lambasting the U.S. and its allies , criticizing “Western elites” for attempting to dominate the rest of the world. He used the podium to try to appeal to conservatives in the U.S. and Europe, explaining that Russia isn’t fundamentally opposed to the West — it’s only opposed to Western elites who seek to impose their “pretty strange” values on others. “There are at least two Wests,” Putin said. One holds “traditional, mainly Christian values,” which Russia is similar to. But “there’s another West — aggressive, cosmopolitan, neocolonial, acting as the weapon of the neoliberal elite.” He also blamed the United States for "fanning the flames of war in Ukraine,” claiming Moscow’s attempts to “build trust” have been “cast aside.” NEW NUKES FOR U.S.: The upgraded version of the United States’ mainstay nuclear bomb is now planned to arrive in December, surprising longtime observers who believe it could stoke an already dangerous situation in Europe, our own BRYAN BENDER, PAUL MCLEARY and ERIN BANCO reported late Wednesday. The upgraded B61-12 air-dropped gravity bomb was widely assumed to begin arriving in the spring, but U.S. officials told NATO allies during a closed-door meeting in Brussels this month that it’ll come in December, according to a U.S. diplomatic cable and two people familiar with the issue. The expedited process comes as Moscow’s threats about using nukes increase, with Russian President VLADIMIR PUTIN monitoring missile tests that his defense chief called a simulation for a “massive nuclear strike” should Russia be attacked and require retaliation. “It would be odd to rush it in,” said HANS KRISTENSEN, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, who has been closely tracking the program. U.S. officials “have been saying we don’t respond to this situation with nuclear weapons. I don’t think they want to go down that one.” ROTATING IN OKINAWA: The U.S. will replace its permanent fleet of F-15 fighter jets in Okinawa with a rotational force, the Financial Times’ DEMETRI SEVASTOPULO and KANA INAGAKI report. The Air Force aims to retire two squadrons of the F-15 Eagle based in Okinawa, and Japan is anxious that the U.S. doesn’t expect to find a full-time alternative for them. What’s more, “critics are concerned about possible gaps that could weaken the ability to deter China,” per the FT. The current idea is to send F-22s from Alaska to Okinawa’s Kadena air base for a rotational period. The question is if the U.S. will have “heel-to-toe” rotations — meaning there are no gaps between deployments. HAITI’S KNOT: Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN says Haiti has an “insecurity knot” that needs to be broken before next steps can be taken to bring calm to the country. Blinken made the comment in Ottawa Thursday during his first official trip to Canada. That knot, he explained, concerns security. Gangs have blocked the main terminal in Port-au-Prince and cascading challenges have deteriorated food and fuel supplies in the country. These conditions, Blinken says, make a future election “impossible.” Blinken, along with his Canadian counterpart, Foreign Affairs Minister MÉLANIE JOLY, both made vague vows to work together to “rally international support” for Haiti — but stopped short of committing to leading a foreign intervention. IT’S THURSDAY: 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 .
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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. | | | | | | TIME TO LEAVE: Moscow’s appointed authorities and tens of thousands of residents have evacuated Kherson as Ukrainian forces push forward with their offensive to take back the region’s capital, the Associated Press’ ANDREW MELDRUM reports . More than 70,000 residents have fled the city in recent days, VLADIMIR SALDO, the region’s Kremlin-installed governor, said Thursday. Members of Moscow’s administration, monuments to Russian heroes and the remains of Grigory Potemkin — the Russian general who founded Kherson in the 18th century — were also moved, according to KIRILL STREMOUSOV, the deputy head of the region. Russia’s bombardment of Ukraine’ energy infrastructure continued Thursday, with a drone attack striking an energy facility near the capital and causing a fire, Kyiv region Gov. OLEKSIY KULEBA said. This latest attack caused “very serious damage,” he said. IRAN’S MISSING LINK: Despite there being no evidence, Iran’s Supreme Leader AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI and President EBRAHIM RAISI attempted to link ongoing protests that have roiled the country to the deadly mass shooting at a famous mosque, the Associated Press reports . The Islamic State claimed responsibility after a gunman at Shiraz’s Shah Cheragh, the second holiest site in Iran, killed 15 people on Wednesday. Still, the president said the “riots,” which have been largely peaceful demonstrations, allowed for the shooting. “The enemy wants the riots to pave the way for terrorist attacks. The enemy is always the enemy,” Raisi said. “They go to a holy shrine of a son of the prophet, our third-most important shrine, his majesty Shah Cheragh, and open fire at innocent worshipers.” Meanwhile, Khamenei blamed the attack on a “plot of the enemies,” saying that the country’s citizens “must be united against the wave that disregards and disrespects people’s lives, their security and their sacred things.”
| | | BEST PRACTICES: The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency published a collection of basic cybersecurity recommendations intended to serve as a “quick-start guide” for critical infrastructure companies and other firms that may not know how to start securing their systems, our own ERIC GELLER reports (for Pros!) . The voluntary goals broadly apply across all critical infrastructure sectors, focusing mostly on smaller organizations that don’t have the ability to fortify with a cybersecurity plan. The cybersecurity performance goals represent “the first effort that the U.S. government has undertaken to provide a simple, succinct and actionable set of top security outcomes and measurable actions to achieve a basic level of cybersecurity capability,” CISA Director JEN EASTERLY told reporters.
| | | NEW POLICY REVIEW: The Biden administration rolled out Thursday unclassified versions of a series of long-awaited policy reviews: the National Defense Strategy, the Nuclear Posture Review and the Missile Defense Review, Paul and Bryan report (for Pros!) . The classified version of the administration’s National Defense Strategy was sent to Congress in March and provided a two-page fact sheet outlining its priorities, including working with allies and confronting China and Russia. A big question is whether anything has changed in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine and China’s increasingly bellicose threats toward Taiwan. The Missile Defense Review is expected to talk of building a more integrated homeland missile defense system, as well as a more robust net in the Pacific, where the U.S. has been shifting troops and resources in recent years but has done little to upgrade defenses against potential Chinese or North Korean missile attacks. As widely telegraphed, the nuclear review makes no significant changes to the nation’s atomic strategy. The Biden administration didn’t adopt a “no first use” policy declaring it would never strike first, nor did it designate the purpose of nuclear weapons as only for deterring other nuclear weapons — two longtime changes that President JOE BIDEN has indicated he supports.
| | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S 2nd ANNUAL DEFENSE SUMMIT ON 11/16: The United States is facing a defining moment in the future of its defense, national security and democratic ideals. The current conflicts and developments around the world are pushing Washington to reshape its defense strategy and how it cooperates with allies. Join POLITICO for our second annual defense summit, “At a Crossroads: America’s Defense Strategy” on November 16 in person at the Schuyler DC or join online to hear keynote interviews and panels discussing the road ahead for America’s national security. REGISTER HERE . | | | | | | | | 'SEAL OF APPROVAL': One more tidbit from Alex’s interview with Sen. Cramer, which was featured by our friends at Morning Defense (for Pros!): He said Congress should officially declare that Pentagon contracts should be adjusted to "recognize that inflation isn't normal right now.” Cramer's proposal to order the Pentagon to adjust contracts, subject to the availability of funding, was included in a revised version of the Senate NDAA . Asked about the Pentagon already being able to do so, Cramer responded, "I don't know that they can in all cases,” and argued that giving a "seal of approval" is needed. "I think it's important, not just to DoD, but I think it's important to our manufacturers to know that Congress supports this, that they won't be surprised by some … abrupt policy move or something that would jeopardize a long-term investment in a supply chain or manufacturing chain," Cramer said. PHOENIX RISING: Another day, another congressional letter calling for diplomacy, this one from the right. Rep. PAUL GOSAR (R-Ariz.) has offered up Arizona as a location for peace talks between Putin and Ukrainian President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY. “Peace must prevail but does not seem to currently be an option,” he wrote in a letter to both leaders. “Therefore, I’m inviting you both to Phoenix, Arizona where we can begin conversations to deescalate nuclear tensions, terminate the war, and end the death and destruction plaguing both your nations.” Gosar has long said that the war in Ukraine isn’t America’s fight, putting on his official website that “spending $40 billion to fund the Ukraine war machine is pointless and will lead to more death and destruction.” He then falsely added: “The Zelensky regime is an autocratic dictatorship that was illegally installed by a coup in 2014.”
| | | HERITAGE CLAPS BACK: NatSec Daily has turned into the official battleground for a war of words between the Heritage Foundation and the Pentagon. Last week, the conservative think tank released an annual report that for the first time rated the U.S. military as “weak.” The Defense Department didn’t take kindly to that, with a defense official telling our own LARA SELIGMAN Tuesday that the report “seems highly partisan, written for dramatic effect and at its core based on false requirements,” adding the rating was “silly and dangerous.” Well, Heritage’s TOM SPOEHR, who directs its center for national defense, emailed Lara that “the real danger is if the American public and policy makers do not know the true readiness and capability of the U.S. Armed Forces compared to the threats. Most of the data in the Index was gleaned from official documents and Pentagon releases.” Wonder what DoD will say in response to the response?
| | | |   | | | | | | — Retired Gen. GUSTAVE PERNA will serve as chief operating officer of DEFCON AI, a startup that will bring artificial intelligence to defense logistics. Previously, Perna led Operation Warp Speed, the Covid vaccine delivery program and was commander of the Army Materiel Command.
| | | — RICH LOWRY, POLITICO: Progressives’ Humiliating Retreat on Ukraine — DAKOTA WOOD, 1945: Yes, The U.S. Military Is Weak — ROBIN WRIGHT, The New Yorker: Iran’s New Protest Generation
| | | — The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 9 a.m.: Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference (featuring Alex!) — The Atlantic Council, 10 a.m.: "Will Putin's Invasion Go Nuclear?" — The Center for Strategic and International Studies, 10 a.m.: A Conversation with CHRIS INGLIS and ANNE NEUBERGER 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 wrongly believed we would “govern properly” as caretakers of this newsletter. And we thank our producer, Kierra Frazier, who governs with an iron fist.
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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 | | | | |  |
