 Defense &
National Security |
Defense &
National Security |
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Putin in China as US slams Beijing for supporting Ukraine war |
Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Beijing as his forces have mounted a major new assault in Ukraine and amid U.S. criticism of China for supporting that war with nonlethal assistance. |
Putin touched down early Thursday morning local time and is expected to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during his two-day visit. The heads of state are likely to discuss pressing international issues and celebrate diplomatic relations between China and Russia. Putin's state visit, the first in his new term, comes as Russian forces launched a major offensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region, forcing the evacuation of thousands of civilians and putting more pressure on an ammunition-starved Ukrainian force. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Kyiv this week and stressed the U.S. would keep standing by Ukraine amid the attack, announcing that the U.S. was sending the country another $2 billion for weapons and equipment. In a press conference Wednesday, Blinken also called out China for supplying Russia with nonlethal aid, saying when he visited Beijing he saw that the "overwhelming majority" of machine tools and microelectronic chips for Russia come from Chinese sources. "These are going directly to strengthening that defense industrial base that, over the last year, has been able as a result to churn out more tanks, more armored vehicles, more missiles — all used in the aggression against Ukraine," he said. "What we are deeply concerned about is the support that China's providing to Russia to rebuild its defense industrial base in ways that are materially contributing to and making a difference in its aggression against Ukraine," Blinken added. Blinken also said the U.S. is prepared to unveil more sanctions against any entities found to be responsible for supporting the Russian war effort. He argued that China cannot seek closer relations with Europe "while on the other hand remain responsible for fueling the biggest threat to Europe's security since the end of the Cold War." Read the full report at TheHill.com. |
Welcome to The Hill's Defense & National Security newsletter, I'm Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. |
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How policy will affect defense and national security now and in
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House Democrats are lining up to oppose a Republican proposal to reverse President Biden's recent pause on the delivery of certain weapons to Israel, saying it's merely a messaging "stunt" designed to divide Democrats without actually helping Israel defend itself. |
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President Biden said he was “alarmed” after the Wednesday shooting of Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico put the European leader in critical condition. “We condemn this horrific act of violence,” Biden said in a statement. “Our embassy is in close touch with the government of Slovakia and ready to assist.” Fico was shot multiple times after a meeting in the town of Handlova in central Slovakia … |
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President Biden is planning to send another $1 billion worth of arms to Israel, according to a congressional source, moving ahead with weapons support for the nation in the war against Hamas — even as he is holding up high-payload bombs over concerns about their use in Gaza. The latest package for Israel is expected to include tank rounds, tactical vehicles and artillery rounds. Biden is still … |
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Upcoming things we're watching on our beat: |
Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith will testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on the Navy's posture and FY2025 budget request tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. American Enterprise Institute will have a discussion on "No Invasion Necessary: A Discussion of How China Can Employ a Coercion-Based Strategy to Take Taiwan Without a War," tomorrow at 3 p.m.
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Branch out with a different read from The Hill: |
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Immigration advocates urge Schumer to abandon reconsideration of border deal |
More than 100 immigration and civil rights organizations are urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to abandon his plans to bring a bipartisan Senate immigration deal to the floor after it was cast aside by the GOP earlier this year. In a Thursday letter, the groups said the bill "constitutes … |
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Events in and around the defense world: |
The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party will hold a hearing on "All Roads Lead to Beijing?" with testimony from outside experts at 9:30 a.m. The Stimson Center will have a virtual discussion on "Connecting the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific: Northeast Asia's Growing Cooperation with NATO," with former European Union Ambassador to South Korea Michael Reiterer, at 9:30 a.m.
The Center for a New American Security will host an online talk on "One Year In: Defense Innovation Unit 3.0 and the Path Forward," at 10 a.m.
- Government Executive Media Group will have a virtual conversation on "The role of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance in modern conflict, how the Air Force is training ISR operators, and how emerging tech is improving operations," with Air Force Lt. Gen. Leah Lauderback, deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and cyber effects operations, at 2 p.m.
The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe will hold a hearing on "Closing the Skies, Liberating Ukraine," at 2 p.m.
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News we've flagged from other outlets: |
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Two key stories on The Hill right now: |
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Former President Carter's oldest grandson said Tuesday that his grandfather is "coming to the end" after spending more than a year in hospice care. … Read more |
| Michael Cohen, a star witness in the Manhattan district attorney's hush money criminal case against former President Trump, has given perhaps the most … Read more |
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Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill: |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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