Defense &
National Security
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Defense &
National Security
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Rubio doubts negotiations with Cuba possible |
Secretary of State Marco Rubio doubted that a negotiated deal with Cuba is possible, but noted that President Trump would prefer one as his administration ramps up pressure against the island.
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Rubio, a Cuban-American who has taken a hard line against the island's Communist leadership, said the president's preference is "always a negotiated agreement that’s peaceful. That’s always our preference. That remains our preference with Cuba."
“I’m just being honest with you, you know, the likelihood of that happening, given who we’re dealing with right now, is not high,” Rubio said in Miami before boarding the plane for Sweden.
Rubio, who also serves as Trump's national security adviser, said Cuba poses a national security threat to the U.S.
Separately, Trump said other presidents have considered meddling in Cuba, but that “it looks like I’ll be the one that does it.”
Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodríguez slammed the narrative that Havana is a threat to the national security of the U.S., categorically rejecting statements made by Rubio.
“The U.S. Secretary of State lies once again to instigate a military aggression that would provoke the shedding of Cuban and American blood,” Rodríguez wrote on social media.
Rubio and Trump's comments come a day after the Justice Department unveiled an indictment against former Cuban President Raul Castro, charging him with murder.
The U.S. military publicized the arrival of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and its ships in the Caribbean on Wednesday.
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Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I’m Filip Timotija — 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
the future:
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President Trump said on Thursday that the U.S. is sending 5,000 additional troops to Poland, a week after the Pentagon cancelled the long-planned deployment of 4,000 service members to the Central European country. Lawmakers have expressed deep frustration and concern over the move to halt the planned rotation, accusing the administration of making a last-minute move with no consultation with Congress. Trump appeared …
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At least 42 U.S. military aircraft have been lost or damaged during the Iran war, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service. The lost or damaged aircraft include fighter jets, helicopters and drones, the May 13 report notes. Among the losses are four F-15E fighter jets, one F-35A fighter, one A-10 ground-attack aircraft, seven KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft, one E-3 airborne early warning-and-control system …
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President Trump is nominating Jules “Jay” Hurst III to become the full-time Pentagon comptroller, according to a Wednesday notification to Congress. Hurst has been the acting Pentagon comptroller since August, supervising the Pentagon’s mammoth $1.5 trillion defense budget request, which includes $350 billion in a reconciliation package. Hurst, a former Army officer, would become the administration’s first Senate-confirmed …
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Charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro are fueling speculation that the Trump administration is creating a pretext for military action against the communist regime. The charges against Castro and five others come amid renewed tensions between Havana and Washington and just days after a U.S. official, speaking anonymously to Axios, warned of Cuba’s drone fleet posing a risk to U.S. national security. …
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Upcoming things we’re watching on our beat:
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- The Henry L. Stimson Center is hosting a discussion tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. ET on "Beneath the Surface: Addressing Information Challenges in Africa’s Critical Mineral Sector."
- The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is hosting a discussion tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. ET on "Military Human Spaceflight: A Key Component to American Space Superiority."
- The Center for Strategic and International Studies is hosting a discussion tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET on "What Are the Biggest Space Threats in 2026?"
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Branch out with a different read from The Hill:
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Read: DOJ’s indictment of Raúl Castro
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The Justice Department indicted former Cuban President Raúl Castro on murder charges Wednesday, a move that coincides with Cuba’s Independence Day and a threat from President Trump that he could invade the island. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche joined prosecutors in South Florida to announce …
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News we’ve flagged from other outlets:
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- Pentagon official’s Beijing visit in doubt over $14bn US arms package for Taiwan, The Financial Times reports.
- Boots on the moon needed to beat ‘belligerent’ China: Mitchell Institute, Breaking Defense reports.
- U.S. bears brunt of Israel’s missile defense, Pentagon assessments show, The Washington Post reports.
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Two key stories on The Hill right now:
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Senate Republicans have canceled plans to begin voting this week on a budget reconciliation package that would provide approximately $70 billion to … Read more
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A new Fox News poll shows President Trump’s approval rating has reached an all-time low with Republicans as the issues of affordability, job growth … 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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