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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 | |  Benny Gantz heads home knowing that there’s more pressure on Israel than before — and that pressure campaign comes after the Biden administration has also felt the heat. | Susan Walsh/AP | With help from Phelim Kine, Nahal Toosi, Joe Gould and Daniel Lippman Subscribe here | Email Alex | Email Matt Israeli War Cabinet member BENNY GANTZ will bring home a clear message from Washington: the U.S. is running out of patience. In a Monday meeting, national security adviser JAKE SULLIVAN told Gantz that Israel had to allow significantly more aid into Gaza, according to two senior administration officials granted anonymity to detail a private conversation. The U.S. is now airdropping assistance into Gaza and working with allies to establish a maritime corridor mainly because Israel has continuously restricted food, water, medicine and other items from reaching the 2.2 million largely displaced people in the enclave. Sullivan conveyed that the Biden administration still supports Israel’s right to self defense, per the officials, but said the U.S. needed to see a dramatic shift in Israel’s willingness to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation. As one of the officials put it, Sullivan “stressed the urgent need to create the conditions to facilitate a surge in humanitarian aid into Gaza and to enable the safe distribution of aid to those in desperate need.” Gantz heard versions of that message again and again during his time in America’s capital, underscored in other sessions with Vice President KAMALA HARRIS and Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN, based on what the officials said and official readouts. The Israeli Embassy in Washington didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. But Gantz heads home knowing that there’s more pressure on Israel than before — and that pressure campaign comes after the Biden administration has also felt the heat. Sen. CHRIS COONS (D-Del.), President JOE BIDEN’s closest ally in the Senate, has joined a growing chorus of Democrats urging the administration to do more to alleviate Gaza’s crisis. Last week, he said he was open to the idea of conditioning military aid to Israel if its forces stormed into Rafah without a plan to protect civilians. Sens. ANGUS KING (I-Me.) and JACK REED (D-R.I.), who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, suggested the U.S. send a Navy hospital ship to the enclave’s shore. And Democrats upset with Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war have let him know how they feel. More than 100,000 people voted “uncommitted” in Michigan’s Democratic presidential primary last week amid protest over the president’s approach — about 13 percent of the vote total. Then this week on Super Tuesday, 46,000 people ticked “uncommitted” on their ballot in Minnesota –– a whopping 19 percent of the Democratic total. But there are clear limits to Washington’s pushback on Israel. Biden is reluctant to consider any restrictions on military support for his Middle East ally, a clear demand from progressives in Congress and around the country. The president, NBC News reports, is “reluctant to enter into a full-blown confrontation with Israel.” Administration officials have long argued the tough-love, light-touch approach is the best way forward. It allows Washington to have sway over how Israel conducts its military operations and negotiations for a six-week cease-fire that could lead to hostage releases. Which means the likeliest trajectory is more condemnations of Israel without using every lever available to the U.S. to influence its behavior.
| | 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. | | | | | QUIET DELIVERIES TO ISRAEL: The United States has sent Israel more than 100 separate foreign military sales since October, U.S. officials told lawmakers in a classified briefing, per The Washington Post’s JOHN HUDSON. Only two approved foreign military sales to Israel have been made public in the past five months, including $106 million in tank ammunition and $147.5 million of parts needed to make 155 mm shells. The total packages, however, amount to thousands of precision-guided munitions and small diameter bombs among other lethal aid, WaPo reports. The weapons transfers “were processed without any public debate because each fell under a specific dollar amount that requires the executive branch to individually notify Congress,” the newspaper writes. Sen. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-Md.), who has been vocal about his concerns regarding U.S. arms transfers to Israel, said he’ll seek more information on these transfers and whether they were intended to evade congressional scrutiny. “While the State Department has no legal obligation to notify below-threshold arms transfers, using this process to repeatedly end-run Congress — as sales of this quantity suggest — would violate the spirit of the law and undermine Congress’ important oversight role,” Van Hollen told NatSec Daily. The deliveries underscore how the Biden administration has supported Israel’s military operation in the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 30,000 people, according to Gazan health officials. It also comes as Biden said “we need a cease-fire” between Israel and Hamas ahead of his State of the Union speech on Thursday. HOLDING RUSSIA ACCOUNTABLE: America and Europe can’t agree on how far they should go in forcing Russia to pay to rebuild Ukraine, our own GREGORIO SORGI and NAHAL TOOSI report. One suggestion that’s gaining serious momentum is the idea of confiscating assets belonging to the Russian state that were frozen when the Kremlin launched its invasion of Ukraine two years ago. Such a raid would potentially free up more than $272 billion. It's a plan the Biden administration is backing heavily but so far Europe’s most powerful governments in Paris, Berlin and Rome are unconvinced. Washington policymakers are piling pressure on their allies to ditch their hang-ups over what would be an unprecedented step fraught with legal, ethical and political difficulties. “It’s never been done before to seize a country’s reserves,” said CHARLES LICHFIELD, an analyst with the Atlantic Council and a leading expert on Russian frozen assets. “But crossing the threshold, the irreversible threshold, where you take them away and give them to Ukraine, while morally it may seem right … the Europeans are not yet comfortable with doing it without a more sound legal basis, which has not yet been found.” Washington's determination has alarmed European governments that worry such a move would spook investors in the euro. Others fear Moscow could retaliate by targeting European assets in Russia and launching cyberattacks against Western countries. Some say that however heinous Moscow’s behavior, a country shouldn’t be forced into reparations while war still rages. UKRAINE-RUSSIA FIGHTING IN SUDAN: Ukraine isn’t just fighting back against Russia within its own borders, The Wall Street Journal’s IAN LOVETT, NIKITA NIKOLAIENKO and NICHOLAS BARIYO report: The conflict has now extended into Africa. Sudan’s military ruler asked Ukrainian President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY for support following rebel forces besieging Khartoum. Lt. Gen. ABDEL FATTAH AL-BURHAN had been supplying Kyiv with weapons following Russia’s invasion and the Wagner mercenary group was mining in Sudan, which helped the Kremlin fund the war. Zelenskyy agreed to help, sending commandos to help Burhan push the rebels out of the Sudanese capital. “For Ukraine, sending troops to Africa is an audacious new venture — part of a strategy to disrupt Russia’s military and economic operations abroad, make the war more costly for Moscow, and position itself as a bulwark against Russian incursions, including in regions where the West has been reluctant to get directly involved,” the WSJ neatly summarized. A PLAN FOR HAITI: The Biden administration is pressuring Haiti’s de facto leader to step down and allow new leadership to pave the path to elections to help stabilize a country where gangs are threatening to seize full control, according to a report by The Miami Herald’s JACQUELINE CHARLES and MICHAEL WILNER. Prime Minister ARIEL HENRY received the message that he needs to quit from the State Department as he was attempting to head back to Haiti after being in Kenya, the United States and Puerto Rico. According to the Herald: “The U.S. proposal would have Henry usher in a new government structure in which a new prime minister and presidential board will lead a transition to elections and prepare for the Kenya-led mission. He would agree to step down once the new structure has been established, and a new prime minister is appointed or the security mission has deployed — whichever comes first.” What’s unclear is the exact wording of the U.S. request and the timeframe it has in mind for the transition plan. A White House National Security Council spokesperson, granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue, told NatSec Daily: “No, we are not asking the PM to resign.” But the spokesperson also said the U.S. is focused in part on “accelerating a peaceful transition of power via free and fair elections.” 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 X 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, @reporterjoe, and @JGedeon1.
| | | | YOUR GUIDE TO EMPIRE STATE POLITICS: From the newsroom that doesn’t sleep, POLITICO's New York Playbook is the ultimate guide for power players navigating the intricate landscape of Empire State politics. Stay ahead of the curve with the latest and most important stories from Albany, New York City and around the state, with in-depth, original reporting to stay ahead of policy trends and political developments. Subscribe now to keep up with the daily hustle and bustle of NY politics. | | | | | | | | | ‘FINISH THE PROBLEM’: Former President DONALD TRUMP, on a glidepath to the Republican nomination following his Super Tuesday victories and NIKKI HALEY’s campaign suspension, called on Israel to “finish the problem” in Gaza. “You had a horrible invasion that took place that would have never happened if I was president,” he said Tuesday on Fox News of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. He refused to say whether or not he supports any kind of cease-fire, which the Biden administration is pursuing as part of a hostage deal. Still, it was the most definitive assessment Trump has yet offered on the months-long conflict. Until that interview, he had studiously avoided the issue, save for boasting of his pro-Israel bona fides. But the issue for Trump is he has often staked out anti-war positions, namely calling on Ukraine and Russia to stop fighting –– a stance that would lock in Russia’s territorial gains from the invasion. It’s unclear how he will square that general position with his call for Israel to continue its military campaign.
| | | TICK TOCK FOR TIKTOK: Rep. MIKE GALLAGHER (R-Wisc.) argued today that TikTok could have a future in the United States if it divests from its Chinese owner ByteDance. There is a path forward for TikTok as outlined in the bipartisan bill he introduced on Tuesday, Gallagher told reporters. It would block U.S. users from accessing the platform unless it severs ties to ByteDance. Gallagher, who chairs the House Select Committee on China, introduced it with ranking member RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI (D-Ill.). “If there is a separation, the app can remain in the United States,” the Wisconsin Republican said. The social media platform punched back after the bill was unveiled: It’s “an outright ban of TikTok, no matter how much the authors try to disguise it. This legislation will trample the First Amendment rights of 170 million Americans and deprive 5 million small businesses of a platform they rely on to grow and create jobs,” the company wrote on X. Listen: The latest POLITICO Tech podcast on the AI behind Israel’s strikes on Gaza with our own STEVEN OVERLY and JOSEPH GEDEON (as they unpack more details following POLITICO’s report on Israel’s AI use).
| | CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM: It’s been more than a month since Iran-backed militia groups attacked U.S. troops in Iraq, Syria or Jordan, and our own LARA SELIGMAN reports U.S. officials hope it’s a sign that previous airstrikes — and the threat of more — are working. “But the Pentagon says it’s not getting complacent, as nearby in the Red Sea, the Yemen-based Houthis, another Iranian proxy, continue launching missiles and drones on international shipping,” Lara wrote. Two people were killed and six injured today when a Houthi missile struck a Liberian-owned ship, the MV True Confidence, the first deaths of the Houthis’ campaign. Meanwhile, a U.K.-owned ship the Houthis struck last month, the MV Rubymar, sank on Saturday, the first vessel lost in the attacks. But in Iraq and Syria, a tenuous cease-fire appears to have taken hold. The last time Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria launched an attack on American forces in the region was Feb. 4, according to Defense Department spokesperson Lt. Col. BRYON MCGARRY. In total, the groups attacked U.S. troops there 170 times since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel, spiking tensions in the region. Three U.S. soldiers died on Jan. 28 in a drone strike in Jordan, sending shockwaves through the Pentagon and prompting Biden to launch a strong response. REPLICATE THIS: Deputy Defense Secretary KATHLEEN HICKS will brief lawmakers next week in a closed session to discuss the Pentagon’s aim to build low-cost drones under a plan known as Replicator, as Congress puts the finishing touches on the fiscal 2024 defense appropriations bill. As our own LEE HUDSON reports (for Pros!), this marks the latest push in the Pentagon’s efforts to inform Congress after receiving criticism from staffers, lawmakers and industry executives over a perceived lack of details on the Replicator initiative, including how it will meet its August 2025 delivery deadline or pay for the project. “First of all, I get the concern that we have an initiative that they want to know more about, and for the Hill, all cleared staffers have had ample opportunity to learn about that,” Hicks said in an exclusive interview with Lee. Yet the Pentagon wants lawmakers and staff to feel they have been fully briefed and that the Defense Department is transparent, Hicks said. “Like any other program in DOD, the only way it works is working with Congress, so that’s our strategy.”
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, the newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world, including WEF in Davos, Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to UNGA in NYC and many more. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | | REVIVE TRUMAN: Six Senate progressives are calling for the revival of a committee to investigate alleged war profiteering by some of America’s top defense contractors, per a letter released today but obtained by Alex and JOE GOULD on Tuesday night. Sen. BERNIE SANDERS (I-Vt.) and his colleagues want leaders to reestablish the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program, a panel led during World War II by then-Sen. HARRY TRUMAN (D-Mo.). The panel, known as the “Truman Committee,” looked into the defense industry’s profits to ensure they weren’t ripping off the government during an era-defining fight. The six progressive senators contend major defense contractors, namely Lockheed Martin and RTX Corporation, overcharged the government and used the cash influx to reward shareholders. The senators want Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER to revive the Truman Committee as the U.S. hands out military contracts to support the war in Ukraine. “There’s a name for all this: war profiteering. These companies’ greed is not just fleecing the American taxpayer; it’s killing Ukrainians. A contractor padding its profit margins means that, for the same amount of federal spending, fewer weapons reach Ukrainians on the front lines,” wrote Sanders alongside Sens. RON WYDEN (D-Ore.), ELIZABETH WARREN (D-Mass.), ED MARKEY (D-Mass.), JEFF MERKLEY (D-Ore.) and PETER WELCH (D-Vt.). Contractors dispute the charge. “Supporting the United States government, allies and partners to help deter and respond to an ever-changing 21st-century threat environment remains our number one priority,” Lockheed said in a statement, “and we look forward to continuing to partner with our customers to further their national security objectives.” A spokesperson for RTX declined to comment.
| | | |   | | | | | ‘DANGEROUS MANEUVERS’: The State Department criticized what it calls aggressive tactics by Chinese Coast Guard units in Philippine waters in the South China Sea, our own PHELIM KINE writes in. On Tuesday, Chinese ships “employed dangerous maneuvers and water cannons” against Philippine vessels carrying provisions to Filipino service members stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre, State Department spokesperson MATTHEW MILLER said in a statement today. The incident caused multiple collisions, damaging at least one Philippine vessel, injuring Filipino service members, and jeopardizing the safety of the Filipino crew, Miller added. Beijing pushed back. Miller’s statement “disregards the fact and confuses right with wrong,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson MAO NING said in a statement today. It’s the latest in a series of spats between the Philippines and Beijing. Chinese officials have accused Manila of violating its territorial sovereignty in waters that an international tribunal ruled in 2016 was Philippine territory, raising concerns about Beijing’s increased aggression in the Indo-Pacific.
| | — DONALD BLERSCH is now SVP of government innovation at Clearspeed. He previously was senior coordinator for security infrastructure in the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security. — ROSS GUCKERT is now EVP of defense programs at J.A. Green & Company. He previously was U.S. Army program executive officer at Enterprise Information Systems.
| | — MAX BERGMANN, MICHAEL KIMMAGE, JEFFREY MANKOFF, and MARIA SNEGOVAYA, Foreign Affairs: America’s new twilight struggle with Russia — STEPHEN KINZER, The Boston Globe: The Gaza war is widening rifts even in Latin America — YAIR ROSENBERG, The Atlantic: Biden’s new doomsday option against Israeli settlers
| | — Hudson Institute, 9 a.m.: Growing expectations for the U.S.-Japan alliance — Center for Strategic and International Studies, 9 a.m.: Operating in the cave: medicine amidst conflict in Syria — Senate Armed Services Committee, 9:30 a.m.: The posture of U.S. Central Command and U.S. Africa Command in review of the Defense Authorization Request for FY2025 and the Future Years Defense Program — Demand Progress Education Fund and Friends Committee on National Legislation, 10 a.m.: The Israeli case for a permanent cease-fire — Atlantic Council, 12:30 p.m.: Special operations forces in an era of strategic competition — Advanced Technology Academic Research Center, 1:30 p.m.: Climbing the mountain: a new era for government cybersecurity — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 4 p.m.: Evaluating the West's Ukraine strategy in 2024: a conversation with Ukraine’s deputy prime minister — Hudson Institute, 4:30 p.m.: Aiding America's frontline allies: the view from Israel and Ukraine Thanks to our editor, Emma Anderson, who engages in a “full-blown confrontation” with us daily. We also thank our producer, Gregory Svirnovskiy, who is our closest ally.
| | 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 | | | | |  |
