REMAIN REJECTED, BRING ON BREXIT: To say that much of Europe is in shock this morning is to risk serious understatement. America’s closest ally is in uncharted waters, the PM is stepping down, the financial markets are roiled, the pound in plunging as voters in the United Kingdom defied pundits and polls choosing to leave the EU by a vote of 54 percent to 48 percent. The vote sends a “U.K. First” message, essentially that Britain no longer wants to be a global nation.
And Donald Trump is already tweeting that the vote’s a victory U.S. voters should emulate in November. Trump on twitter: “Just arrived in Scotland. Place is going wild over the vote. They took their country back, just like we will take America back. No games!” Trump on Facebook: “Come November, the American people will have the chance to re-declare their independence. Americans will have a chance to vote for trade, immigration and foreign policies that put our citizens first.”
The surprise vote may have the U.S searching for a new “best friend” when it comes to national security partnerships. Some analysts said that while Great Britain will no doubt remain a close ally, not being a member of the European Union could weaken its importance as it cedes power to influence other European allies.
Is a ‘Frexit’ next? Sarah Westwood reports that the push has already begun for France to be the next one to sortie the EU.
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GERMANY LAGGING: Sen. Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said at a hearing Thursday that it’s “more than offensive” that Germany relies on U.S. troops for security, but does not spend the 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense required by NATO.
“They are laggards as it relates to NATO,” Corker said. “And I just don’t think we’re strong enough in our discussion with them.” Contributions from NATO members, as well as how much they spend on defense, will undoubtedly be a much-debated topic at next month’s Warsaw Summit in Poland, which Defense Secretary Ash Carter will attend.
LOCUST, SAFFiR & LDUUV: LOCUST (Low-Cost Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Swarming Technology). SAFFiR (Shipboard Autonomous Firefighting Robot), and LDUUV-LD2 (Large Displacement Unmanned Undersea Vehicle) are among more than 50 breakthrough Office of Naval Research Technologies that will be displayed in the Pentagon Courtyard today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
COLORFUL CAS ANALYSIS: The Army’s top general Mark Milley made it clear that he doesn’t care what kind of plane carries out the close-air support mission, as long as it does its job, David Wilkes reports. “As a soldier, the only thing I care about is the effect on the target. I don’t give a rat’s ass what platform brings it in … I don’t care if the thing was carried in by carrier pigeons. I want the enemy taken care of.”
HEADS MAY ROLL: The Navy’s top officer, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, is expected to brief reporters at the Pentagon next Thursday about the results of an investigation into how 10 U.S. sailors accidentally navigated into Iranian waters in January, leading to their overnight detention by Iranian Revolutionary Guard troops. The briefing is scheduled nearly five months after the incident, which occurred hours before President Obama’s State of the Union address, ignoring a threatened subpoena from Sen. John McCain back in February if findings weren’t released by March 1. Fox News is reporting that the commodore in charge of the group will be fired, while the Washington Post reports that no courts-martial are likely.
AMERICA’S SECRET WIA: The Pentagon is under fire for a self-inflicted wound: its refusal to acknowledge that several U.S. special operations commandos were wounded in action in the war against the Islamic State. Carter says it’s all about protecting operational security and privacy, but the policy is in contrast to the full reporting of battlefield deaths.
MORE TROOPS FOR IRAQ?: Maybe, maybe not. A British general seemed to suggest a request for more U.S. trainers to help Iraqi security forces sustain momentum against the Islamic State could be forthcoming. But Pentagon officials insist no request is in the pipeline, and that the top U.S. commander has room under the current troop caps to bring in several hundred more troops if he needs them.
NORTH KOREA: NOT GIVING UP NUKES WITH GUN TO OUR HEAD: The top North Korean official for U.S. relations tells The Associated Press that his country is a nuclear threat to be reckoned with, and Washington can expect more nuclear tests and missile launches. “It’s like they are telling us to reconcile while they are putting a gun to our forehead,” Han Song Ryol, head of the department of U.S. affairs at North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, tells the AP.
THE MOTHER OF ALL CAPTION CORRECTIONS: The Marine Corps said yesterday that it misidentified one of the flag raisers in the iconic Iwo Jima photo, Gabriella Ciuffetelli reports. Turns it wasn’t Doc Bradley, the Navy corpsman whose son wrote “Flags of our Fathers.” It was actually Pfc. Harold Schultz, who never publicly took credit for being one of the six.
JUST … NO: Thomas Pickering, a former Clinton administration official who lobbied Congress and wrote op-eds in favor of the Iran nuclear deal, was on Boeing’s payroll when he did it, Maria Biery reports. Boeing later inked a $25 billion deal to sell airplanes to Iran. “In Pickering’s case, he has a direct connection to Boeing, which I think should be disclosed,” said Neil Gordon, investigator for the Project on Government Oversight. “I think it’s necessary for the public debate. It’s necessary for the public to fully realize the participants’ financial interests. Some of them might have a direct financial stake in a particular outcome.”
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS, NAVY?: Adm. Phil Davidson, the commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, is at the Center for Strategic and International Studies this morning to talk about the significant changes and challenges the Navy will face in the next 10 years under tight budgets, rapid technological innovation and strategic adjustments. Davidson has led Fleet Forces Command since 2014 and previously headed up U.S. 6th Fleet in Europe and Africa.
AF CHIEF WELSH RETIRES: Carter and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joe Dunford speak at a retirement ceremony for Air Force Chief Gen. Mark Welsh at Joint Base Andrews at 10 a.m.
PATRIOT GAINS: The Pentagon announced yesterday that Raytheon IDS nabbed a $523 million contract to sell six Patriot fire units to Kuwait.
THE RUNDOWN
Defense News: Airbus Looks To the US in Search of A400M Buyers
Defense One: Don’t Learn the Wrong Lessons from Rapid Acquisition
USNI News: Navy ‘Committed’ To Directed Energy Weapons; Supporting Air Force System Development
Defense News: Long Live JLENS? NORTHCOM Scrambles on Cruise Missile Defense
UPI: U.S., Estonia strengthening defense technology collaboration
Foreign Policy: Exclusive: Prominent GOP Neoconservative to Fundraise for Hillary Clinton
Military Times: Russia’s attack on U.S.-backed rebels in Syria puzzles, frustrates the Pentagon
Wall Street Journal: U.S.-Backed Forces Enter Key Syrian City Held by Islamic State
USNI News: Marines Taking 30 Hornets From Boneyard, Navy Inventory To Address Readiness Crisis
Task and Purpose: When Does A Cyber Attack Constitute An Act Of War? We Still Don’t Know
War on the Rocks: NATO’S open door leads to an identity crisis
Associated Press: Iraqi forces focus on militants in north and west Fallujah
Navy Times: Fallen SEAL hero awarded Silver Star for beating back 100 ISIS fighters
Fox News: Kim says missile launch gives North Korea ‘capability’ to attack US in Pacific
Military.com: Last-Minute Senate Fight Snares Repeal of VA Fertility Treatment Ban
War on the Rocks: Norway’s gender-neutral draft
Calendar
FRIDAY | JUNE 24
7:30 a.m. 10 Thomas Circle NW. Truman Center hosts its annual Truman conference at nexus of security and politics at the Washington Plaza Hotel. trumanproject.org
10 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. CSIS and the U.S. Naval Institute discuss challenges facing the Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. usni.org
MONDAY | JUNE 27
10 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. CSIS hosts a panel of experts to discuss Russia’s nuclear intentions as the world’s largest holder of nuclear weapons. csis.org
10:30 a.m. 1030 15th St. NW. The Atlantic Council hosts a panel to discuss how to restore NATO’s power and purpose. atlanticcouncil.org
TUESDAY | JUNE 28
9:30 a.m. Hart 216. Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on strategic integration at the Pentagon. armed-services.senate.gov
9:30 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. CSIS hosts Assistant Attorney General John Carlin to discuss a whole-government approach to national security cyber threats. csis.org
10 a.m. Dirksen 419. Brett McGurk, Special Presidential Envoy for the global coalition to counter ISIL, testifies at the Senate Foreign Relations committee. foreign.senate.gov
WEDNESDAY | JUNE 29
10 a.m. 529 14th Street NW. Arab Center D.C. hosts a panel of think tank experts at the National Press Club to discuss the impact of the presidential elections on U.S. Middle East policy. arabcenterdc.org
11:45 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. The Hudson Institute hosts a panel to discuss the future of North Africa in light of current unstable conditions. hudson.org
THURSDAY | JUNE 29
12:30 p.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW. Stimson hosts former Rep. Mike Rogers to discuss U.S. intelligence, foreign policy, and national security. stimson.org
