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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 Ari Hawkins | |  “Maybe this doesn't get all the media attention that some of these other bills will, but it is a solution," Sen. Joni Ernst said of the Disrupt Fentanyl Trafficking Act of 2023. "It's a real solution.” | Francis Chung/POLITICO | With help from Daniel Lippman Subscribe here | Email Alex | Email Matt The Biden administration argues that blocking fentanyl from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border is solely a law enforcement function. Senior Republicans, including top 2024 presidential candidates, are open to using the American military to attack Mexican drug cartels. But a new bipartisan and bicameral proposal — the Disrupt Fentanyl Trafficking Act of 2023 — would chart a middle path for escalating America’s counter-drug efforts while keeping the guns holstered. The legislation — introduced by Sens. JONI ERNST (R-Iowa) and TIM KAINE (D-Va.) in the Senate simultaneously alongside Reps. STEPHANIE BICE (R-Okla.) and SALUD CARBAJAL (D-Calif.) in the House — declares fentanyl trafficking a national security threat and would order the Pentagon to boost military cooperation with Mexico. The measure does not call for direct military action against the cartels, though it orders the Pentagon to find ways to improve coordination between the U.S. and Mexican militaries as well as their interactions with law enforcement. “This is an off ramp for the AUMF nonsense,” said a House GOP aide, citing proposed Republican-led bills calling for an authorization for the use of military force against Mexican fentanyl traffickers. The staffer was granted anonymity to discuss how the measure is generally perceived by Republicans on the Hill. In an interview, Kaine said that members of U.S. Southern Command told him that, today, they can only track about 20 percent of known fentanyl shipments (that, of course, doesn't account for unknown shipments). The bill, if passed, would likely lead to more funds to invest in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for SOUTHCOM and U.S. Northern Command. “There are DoD equities here that should be elevated,” he told NatSec Daily. Ernst, who like Kaine serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told us that there are many aspects of the fentanyl problem to solve, but this is her and the Virginian’s “piece of the pie.” The U.S.-Mexico military “relationship is not as strong as it should be,” she added,” and so this really provides a legislative pathway for DoD to say, yeah, we need to focus more on our partnership with Mexican authorities.” The bill could also force a refocus within the administration, which mentioned “climate change” 20 times in the National Security Strategy but “fentanyl” only twice and “drug” five times. The fentanyl crisis, which is killing more Americans every year than the entirety of some U.S.-involved wars, has hit close to home for both lawmakers. Ernst said drug-overdose deaths have increased more than doubled over the last five years among people under 25 years old. Kaine mentioned that in 2012, Virginia suffered 50 fentanyl-related deaths. In 2022, that number skyrocketed to 2,000 deaths — 40 times more. Ernst told NatSec Daily that she believes this bipartisan effort will help save lives. “Maybe this doesn't get all the media attention that some of these other bills will, but it is a solution. It's a real solution,” she said.
| | A message from Lockheed Martin: Using Artificial Intelligence to help firefighters better detect, predict and fight wildfires.
Lockheed Martin is collaborating with commercial companies to integrate our technologies and expertise with their capabilities to help first responders detect, predict and fight wildfires. Learn more. | | | | | THE PACIFIC TRIP THAT WASN’T: Australia postponed a summit of the Quad countries scheduled for next week after President JOE BIDEN canceled a trip to the continent and Papua New Guinea to negotiate the debt ceiling in Washington. Leaders from Australia, India, Japan and the United States will instead gather at the G-7 summit in Japan this weekend, Australian Prime Minister ANTHONY ALBANESE said Wednesday, according to Al Jazeera. Biden “expressed very much his disappointment” with his abrupt change of plans, Albanese added. In Papua New Guinea, the news was met with disappointment from local papers and politicians. Biden’s appearance would’ve marked the first time a sitting U.S. president visited the nation, and the island’s citizens had been preparing for months: The country’s airspace would’ve been shut down, a public holiday would’ve been called, and students and cultural dance groups were set to line the path of Biden’s motorcade, the Guardian’s REBECCA KUKU reports. “We are disappointed that this historic visit has been canceled as we have prepared well, spent a lot of time, effort and energy towards the visit and we were all looking forward to the visit,” said POWES PARKOP, the governor of the National Capital District, the are around the country’s capital. PATRIOT HASN’T FALLEN: Ukrainian officials denied claims that a Russian hypersonic missile had destroyed one of their Patriot missile defense systems, Reuters’ OLENA HARMASH reports. "I want to say, do not worry about the fate of the Patriot," Ukrainian air force spokesperson YURIY IHNAT told Ukrainian television, blaming Moscow for spreading misinformation. “Everything that they say there, it can remain in their propaganda archive.” His remarks follow two U.S. officials saying that the system had likely been damaged, but probably wasn’t destroyed. One official said Washington and Kyiv were in talks to repair the system, which currently doesn’t need to be taken out of Kyiv. Ukraine has begun criminal proceedings against six bloggers who allegedly took photos of the air defense systems during Tuesday’s airstrikes, which authorities worry could be used to help Russia adjust future assaults, CNN’s OLGA VOITOVYCH and JO SHELLEY report. Read: Scouring the seas for Putin’s pipeline saboteurs by our own CHARLIE COOPER PYONGYANG’S NEW TOY: North Korean leader KIM JONG UN inspected the country’s finished military spy satellite that’s expected to be launched soon. State media reported that during Kim’s visit to the facility on Tuesday, he approved a “future action plan” for sending the satellite into orbit, the Associated Press’ KIM TONG-HYUNG reports. While Pyongyang hasn’t announced a launch date, some analysts say it could come within weeks. It’s unclear what capabilities the satellite could have, though Kim has said that it would help bolster his nation’s defense against adversaries including the U.S. and South Korea. AFRICAN PEACEMAKERS: Russian President VLADIMIR PUTIN and his Ukrainian counterpart VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY have agreed to discuss a potential peace plan with the African leaders. "My discussions with the two leaders demonstrated that they are both ready to receive the African leaders and to have discussion on how this conflict can be brought to an end," South African President CYRIL RAMAPHOSA told reporters on Tuesday, per Reuters’ WENDELL ROELF. Both leaders have agreed to hold talks in their respective capitals, Ramaphosa’s office said in a statement. No details of the future discussion were revealed, though Russia and Ukraine have each remained adamant that no land will be forfeited during potential negotiations. CONVOY ATTACK: Four people were killed in Nigeria after assailants attacked a convoy carrying U.S. and Nigerian officials, the State Department confirmed on Wednesday. “We condemn in the strongest terms this attack,” Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN said in a statement. “We will work closely with our Nigerian law enforcement colleagues in seeking to bring those responsible to justice.” RIP SERGEANT: NICHOLAS MAIMER, a retired Army staff sergeant, was killed in Bakhmut this week when he was either trapped under a collapsed building or struck by Russian artillery fire, CNN’s HALEY BRITZKY and ALEX MARQUARDT report. IT’S WEDNESDAY: 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, @PhelimKine, @laraseligman, @connorobrienNH, @paulmcleary, @leehudson, @magmill95, @johnnysaks130, @ErinBanco, @Lawrence_Ukenye, @reporterjoe and @_AriHawkins.
| | | | GET READY FOR GLOBAL TECH DAY: Join POLITICO Live as we launch our first Global Tech Day alongside London Tech Week on Thursday, June 15. Register now for continuing updates and to be a part of this momentous and program-packed day! From the blockchain, to AI, and autonomous vehicles, technology is changing how power is exercised around the world, so who will write the rules? REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | | BATTLE AT THE BORDER: Florida Gov. RON DeSANTIS said Tuesday he is sending 1,100 law enforcement officers, as well as equipment including drones, aircraft and boats to the Southern border, which are poised to patrol the border as soon as Wednesday, reports JEFFREY SCHWEERS from the Orlando Sentinel. It’s the second time in two years that the Republican governor has moved troops to the border. Back in 2021, Desantis deployed 50 officers. The new, much larger figure comes at the request of Gov. GREG ABBOTT (R-Texas), who urged “the nation’s governors” to help with border security in a statement from his office. “We stand by ready to help with that because I think what you are seeing is going to be really, really bad, potentially very shortly,” DeSantis said at a news conference in Broward County Tuesday. The decision comes two weeks after Biden ordered 1,500 active troops to the border for 90 days in anticipation of a surge of migrants. Border crossings actually declined by 50 percent, according to Homeland Security Secretary ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS.
| | KEEP 702, WITH CHANGES: Cyber experts tell the Washington Post that a controversial surveillance tool should remain in effect as long as some revisions are made to it, TIM STARKS reports. The smallest group of respondents — 16 percent — argue that Section 702 should end solely because of privacy concerns. A full 20 percent believe 702 should be reupped without any changes at all. The largest contingent, 64 percent (!) said the law, which allows the warrantless tracking of potential foreign adversaries, needs some tweaks but should still be in use. “One popular suggestion, despite the Biden administration’s objections, has been to require a warrant when querying Americans’ messages,” per Starks. Section 702 authorization is set to expire by the end of 2023.
| | COLIN IT QUITS: The Pentagon’s top policy official, COLIN KAHL, is set to leave his post in July, a Defense Department official familiar with his plans told our own LARA SELIGMAN, CONNOR O’BRIEN and JOE GOULD. Kahl, who was narrowly confirmed by the Senate after a tough confirmation battle two years ago, is returning to his position as a tenured professor at Stanford University, the official said. NBC News first reported his departure. Kahl has been a key player in shaping U.S. defense policy, particularly in synchronizing security assistance for Ukraine. SASHA BAKER, the deputy undersecretary for policy, will take over his job in an acting capacity, the official said. ‘BUY AMERICAN’ BACKLASH: A group of close U.S. military allies worried that any legislative proposal to boost “Buy American” requirements will harm U.S. defense cooperation with them. And they’re asking lead HASC lawmakers to keep such measures out of the NDAA, our own JOE GOULD reports. The Defense MoU Attachés Group, an association of 25 foreign military attachés whose countries have special reciprocal trade agreements with the Pentagon, sent the letter to HASC Chair MIKE ROGERS (R-Ala.) and HASC ranking Democrat ADAM SMITH (D-Wash.). “We ask that you would oppose any expansion of domestic content requirements for Department of Defense acquisitions, as these would impede allies working together to provide superior warfighting capabilities to the United States and its allies and partners,” the attachés wrote in the letter.
| | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S HEALTH CARE SUMMIT: The Covid-19 pandemic helped spur innovation in health care, from the wide adoption of telemedicine, health apps and online pharmacies to mRNA vaccines. But what will the next health care innovations look like? Join POLITICO on Wednesday June 7 for our Health Care Summit to explore how tech and innovation are transforming care and the challenges ahead for access and delivery in the United States. REGISTER NOW. | | | | | | | | SHAHEEN ABORTION BILL: Sen. JEANNE SHAHEEN (D-N.H.) went on Morning Joe Wednesday to promote and defend her bill that would codify the Pentagon’s policy of ensuring access to abortion services to troops. “The fundamental issue here is that what those people who are so extreme would do is say to women in the military — who are putting their lives on the line — that you can make life-or-death decisions about protecting this country, but you can’t make your own decisions about your own body and your own future with your family,” she said. In a statement to NatSec Daily, the Senate Armed Services Committee member fears that women won’t want to join the military if DoD doesn’t provide access to that kind of care. “How do we maintain a fighting force and incentivize women to join the military ranks while systematically disenfranchising their right to bodily autonomy? I urge lawmakers who believe in putting the personal health of our service members and the health of our force over partisan politics to support my bill,” Shaheen said. She continued: “Republicans have made clear, both at the state level and in Congress, that they are willing to sacrifice our national security if it means they can control women’s bodies. That is galling and a deeply alarming escalation of partisan grandstanding from the GOP.” After the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the Pentagon announced in February that troops could still get abortions no matter what state they serve in. Sen. TOMMY TUBERVILLE (R-Ala.) is holding up military promotions to protest Defense Secretary LLOYD AUSTIN’s decision and force a policy change. NOW YOU SEE IT: The State Department will now allow HFAC's top two lawmakers to see a dissent cable that opposed the administration's withdrawal plans from Afghanistan. For months, Blinken opposed the disclosure because he didn't want to betray the confidence of State's employees and the dissent channel process. But the decision to let Reps. MICHAEL McCAUL (R-Texas) and GREGORY MEEKS (D-N.Y.) see the cable comes as McCaul planned a committee vote next week to hold Blinken in contempt of Congress.
| | ‘AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE COURSE’: Senate Minority Leader MITCH McCONNELL torched the Biden administration’s Iran policy Wednesday following a classified briefing on Washington-Tehran relations yesterday evening. “Tehran is not deterred from terror at home and abroad. Looking at this administration’s record of retreat, it’s little wonder why,” he said on the Senate floor. “President Biden began his term by relaxing pressure on Tehran’s proxies in Yemen and turning his back on America’s partners in the Gulf. His administration spent two years fruitlessly chasing the Iranians around the negotiating table.” He added: “While Iran and its proxies have conducted more than 80 attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria since the president took office, America has responded with force only four times. If Iran does not fear serious consequences for such aggression, we cannot be surprised when they attack again and again across the region.” McConnell’s comments reflect greater frustration among Republicans that Team Biden isn’t using more economic and military means to keep Iran and its proxies at bay. Yesterday’s briefing, per people familiar with its content who weren’t authorized to disclose classified discussions, did little to assuage GOP concerns.
| | | |   | | | | | — BORIS RUGE was appointed as NATO’s next assistant secretary general for political affairs and security policy. He previously served as vice chair of the Munich Security Conference. — ERIC GREEN has joined the Carnegie Endowment as a nonresident scholar. He previously worked as the special assistant to the president and senior director for Russia and central Asia in the National Security Council. — HEIDI PETERS, formerly a defense acquisition policy analyst with the Congressional Research Service, has joined the Rand Corporation as a policy researcher.
| | — ANNA NEMTSOVA, The Washington Post: I’ve never seen the Kremlin so rattled — NADIA MARZOUKI, The New York Times: What’s happening to my country is a tragedy — CRAIG SINGLETON, Foreign Policy: Why Xi is ghosting Biden
| | — House Foreign Affairs Committee, 9 a.m.: Standing United Against the People’s Republic of China’s Economic Aggression and Predatory Practices — Atlantic Council, 9 a.m.: What can the world expect from Ukraine’s counteroffensive? — Arab Center, 10 a.m.: A U.S. Pivot Away from the Middle East: Fact or Fiction? — Labor Department and the Energy Department, 10 a.m.: Federal Tech Day 2023 — House Appropriations Committee, 10 a.m.: Fiscal Year 2024 Homeland Security Bill — Center for Strategic and International Studies, 10 a.m.: Report Launch: Evolving Cyber Operations and Capabilities — Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 10:30 a.m.: Assessing U.S. Policy Towards the Western Balkans — The Intelligence and National Security Alliance, 12 p.m.: Leadership Luncheon with Lt. Gen. Lauderback, USAF — U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 1 p.m.: 7th Annual Military Spouse Employment Summit Thanks to our editor, Heidi Vogt, who only charts extreme courses of action. We also thank our producer, Gregory Svirnovskiy, who is basically Goldilocks incarnate.
| | A message from Lockheed Martin: Using Artificial Intelligence to help firefighters better detect, predict and fight wildfires.
Lockheed Martin is collaborating with commercial companies to integrate our technologies and expertise with their capabilities to help first responders detect, predict and fight wildfires. Learn more. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | | |  |
