TRUMP DISPUTIN’ PUTIN: Dressed in military garb, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited an undisclosed command post this week to meet with his top general ostensibly to get an update on the war in Ukraine.
But clearly spooked by the prospect that President Donald Trump could eventually accede to Kyiv’s pleas and allow the deployment of Tomahawk cruise missiles to strike deep into Russia, Putin rattled his nuclear saber once again, this time touting a nuclear-powered, nuclear capable cruise missile, the Burevestnik, which Russia claims has “unlimited-range” and therefore could hit anywhere in the United States.
The missile, first introduced with much fanfare in 2018, was tested a week ago, according to an update provided by Russian Gen. Valery Gerasimov. “During the flight, the missile completed all prescribed vertical and horizontal maneuvers, showcasing a high capability to evade missile defense and air defense systems,” Gerasimov said, according to the official Kremlin transcript. “Burevestnik’s technical characteristics generally allow for its use with assured accuracy against highly protected targets at any range.”
“Obviously, substantial work has to be done in order to place this weapon on combat duty,” Putin said. “Nevertheless, as I understand it, the key objectives have been achieved.”
OPINION: PUTIN ATTEMPTS TO BLACKMAIL TRUMP WITH NUCLEAR MISSILE TEST
I’LL SEE YOUR MISSILES, AND RAISE YOU A SUBMARINE: Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump brushed off the threat of Russia’s new “super weapon” as Putin “playing games.”
“They know we have a nuclear submarine, the greatest in the world, right off their shores, so I mean it doesn’t have to go 8000 miles,” Trump said. “They’re not playing games with us, we’re not playing games.”
“We test missiles all the time, but you know we do have a submarine, a nuclear submarine, and we don’t need to go 8000 miles,” he said. “I don’t think it’s an appropriate thing for Putin to be saying either, by the way. You ought to get the war ended. A war that should have taken one week is now in its soon-to-be fourth year. That’s what you ought to do instead of testing missiles.”
On Saturday, en route to Asia, Trump told reporters he’s not going to meet with Putin until the Russian leader indicates he’s ready to end the war. “I’m going to have to know that we’re going to make a deal. I’m not going to be wasting my time.”
“I’ve always had a great relationship with Vladimir Putin, but this has been very disappointing,” he added.
TRUMP SAYS PUTIN SHOULD BE ENDING WAR, NOT ‘TESTING MISSILES,’ AHEAD OF JAPAN TRIP
ON THE OTHER HAND, READY TO MEET KIM: When asked about speculation he might meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, while in South Korea, Trump said he’d “love to” and seemed ready to acknowledge that North Korea, with its arsenal of at least 50 nuclear weapons, should be recognized as a nuclear power.
“When you say they have to be recognized as a nuclear power, well, they’ve got a lot of nuclear weapons, I’ll say that,” Trump said Friday, while inviting reporters to spread the word. “If he’d like to meet, I’m open to it. I’d do it. If you want to put out the word, I’m open to it,” Trump told reporters traveling with him on Air Force One.
“I’d love to meet with him if he’d like to meet. I got along great with Kim Jong Un. I liked him. He liked me,” Trump said. “He probably knows I’m coming, right? Yeah, I’d be open to it, 100%. I got along very well with Kim Jong Un.”
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Good Tuesday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Christopher Tremoglie. Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email and we’ll add you to our list. And be sure to follow me on Threads and/or on X @jamiejmcintyre.
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HAPPENING TODAY: President Trump is in Japan and seems to have bonded with the country’s newly elected, conservative prime minister Sanae Takaichi, who appeared alongside Trump as he addressed U.S. troops on a U.S. aircraft at the Yokosuka naval base.
“This woman is a winner,” Trump enthused as he welcomed Takaichi to the USS George Washington and said the alliance between the U.S. and Japan is “at the strongest level.”
Earlier, the two leaders signed agreements intended to usher in a “New Golden Age” for the U.S.-Japan Alliance and secure the supply of critical rare earth minerals.
In his nearly hourlong speech, Trump “weaved his way through some of his favorite topics,” according to the Associated Press, including crime in American cities and blaming Democrats for the government shutdown.
He also revived a pet peeve from his first term, railing against electromagnetic catapults on the new generation of U.S. aircraft carriers, suggesting he might sign an executive order mandating a change back to the old-fashioned steam catapults, which would be an enormously expensive and impractical exercise.
TRUMP HAILS JAPAN’S NEW PRIME MINISTER, SAYS US IS ‘ALLY AT THE STRONGEST LEVEL’
BAD FUEL? The Navy is still investigating the mysterious, almost simultaneous, loss of two military aircraft in the South China Sea on Sunday.
Both an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet and an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz went down within 30 minutes of each other, and observers initially wondered if they had been the victim of some electronic jamming weapon.
However, President Trump said he’s been told the problem might have been “bad fuel” and ruled out foul play, adding there was “nothing to hide.”
All three crew members from the helicopter and the two pilots from the fighter jet were “safely recovered” by search and rescue assets assigned to Carrier Strike Group 11, according to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. “All personnel involved are safe and in stable condition. The cause of both incidents is currently under investigation.”
HEGSETH IN THE REGION: War Secretary Pete Hegseth is also in Japan, as we know from his X account, as the Pentagon has largely stopped posting news on the official DOW website due to the government shutdown.
In an email to reporters Sunday, the Pentagon said Hegseth’s travel this week would include stops in Hawaii, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and South Korea.
“Key themes will include America’s focus on the Indo-Pacific, the Department’s priority theater; the importance of allies stepping up their defense spending and contributions to our collective defense; and the Department’s commitment to working closely with those that do,” the statement said.
In South Korea, Hegseth will co-chair the 57th U.S.–ROK Security Consultative Meeting and applauded “Seoul’s willingness to step up on defense spending and assume greater responsibility for the Alliance’s deterrence and defense.”
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THE RUNDOWN:
Washington Examiner: Trump hails Japan’s new prime minister, says US is ‘ally at the strongest level’
Washington Examiner: Trump strikes critical mineral deals with Asian nations despite Chinese restrictions
Washington Examiner: Chinese Foreign Ministry affirms ‘respect’ for US but insists ‘multipolar world is coming’ ahead of trade talks
Washington Examiner: Trump says Putin should be ending war, not ‘testing missiles,’ ahead of Japan trip
Washington Examiner: Opinion: Putin attempts to blackmail Trump with nuclear missile test
Washington Examiner: EU postpones Russian asset seizure scheme with Belgium afraid of being left holding the bag
Washington Examiner: Private donation only amounts to drop in bucket needed to pay US troops during shutdown
Washington Examiner: Courts battle one another over National Guard as Trump’s Portland deployment faces trial
Washington Examiner: Federal workers’ union calls on Democrats to pass GOP funding bill
Washington Examiner: Trump administration quietly purges ICE leaders in five cities: Sources
Washington Examiner: ICE says it no longer has to allow Democrats access to facilities due to shutdown
Washington Examiner: Trump administration pledges to ‘surge’ ICE operations after recruitment spike
Washington Examiner: US expands Gaza reconstruction team with Steven Fagin as chief of civilian operations
Washington Examiner: US Navy fighter jet and helicopter crash in South China Sea
The Telegraph: Putin fears another coup as Russia finally begins to buckle
National Defense Magazine: New Think Tank Focuses on US-Ukraine Military Tech Cooperation
Bloomberg: Pentagon Frets Over ‘A House of Dynamite’ Nuclear Doomsday Film
Task & Purpose: Hegseth won’t meet troops with beards during South Korea trip
Washington Post: Hurricane Melissa Collides with US Military Mission in Caribbean
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force B-1s Fly Near Venezuela Again in Latest Bomber Show of Force
Breaking Defense: China’s Presence Is Growing in the Middle East, but It’s Not a Security Challenge to US—Yet
Defense News: Turkey Signs $10.7 Billion Deal with UK for 20 Eurofighter Jets
Breaking Defense: Castelion Wins First Platform Integration Contracts for Blackbeard Hypersonic Missile
DefenseScoop: Trump Nominates Cyber Expert for Coast Guard Commandant
Military.com: Congress Eyes New Cyber and Communications Powers for the National Guard
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Airman Charged in M18 Shooting Death Found Dead
The Intercept: Newly Released Data Reveals Air Force Suicide Crisis After Years of Concealment
Task & Purpose: Female drill sergeants will soon wear the Army’s iconic campaign hat
Military Times: How Long Can Military Commissaries Stay Open if Shutdown Continues?
THE CALENDAR:
TUESDAY | OCTOBER 28
9 a.m. 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation China Forum: “Navigating the New Era: Confronting Beijing’s Evolving Threats in a Season of Change,” with Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI) chairman, House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party; Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party; and former Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) https://victimsofcommunism.org/event/china-forum
9:30 a.m. G-50 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the nominations of Marc Berkowitz to be an assistant secretary of defense; Joseph Jewell to be an assistant secretary of defense; James Caggy to be an assistant secretary of defense; and Brendan Rogers to be an assistant secretary of the Navy. http://www.armed-services.senate.gov
10 a.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW — Henry L. Stimson Center book discussion: Flashpoint: The Inside Story of America Failure to Disarm North Korea, with Joel Wit, fellow for Asian and security studies at the Stimson Center; Jenny Town, senior fellow and director at the Stimson Center Korea Program and 38 North; Nick Schifrin, foreign affairs and defense correspondent, PBS NewsHour https://www.stimson.org/event/how-america-failed-to-disarm-north-korea/
11 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion: “Demining Ukraine: Outcomes from the 2025 Ukraine Mine Action Conference,” with Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Olga Stefanishyna; Takehiro Shimada, deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of Japan; Ihor Baranetskyi, minister-counselor for economic issues at the Embassy of Ukraine; and Chris Whatley, executive director, HALO Trust https://www.csis.org/events/demining-ukraine-outcomes
2 p.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion: “Unpacking the CRINK (China, Russia, Iran and North Korea) Axis,” with Andrea Kendall-Taylor, director, Center for a New American Security Transatlantic Security Program; Bonnie Lin, director, CSIS China Power Project; Maria Snegovaya, senior fellow, CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program; Mona Yacoubian, director, CSIS Middle East Program; Henrietta Levin, CSIS chair in China studies; and Victor Cha, CSIS Korea chair https://www.csis.org/events/unpacking-crink-axis
2 p.m. — Defense One and Booz Allen Hamilton virtual discussion: “Swarming the High Seas: How Autonomy Could Determine Mission Success,” with Dave Leffler, founder and president of Passway Solutions; and Ayodeji Coker, Booz Allen Hamilton director https://events.defenseone.com/swarming-the-high-seas/
2 p.m. 805 21st St. NW — George Washington University Korea Policy Forum: “The U.S.-ROK Alliance Under the Trump and Lee Administrations.” https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-us-rok-alliance
2:30 p.m. 226 Dirksen — Senate Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee hearing on “Politically Violent Attacks: A Threat to Our Constitutional Order.” http://judiciary.senate.gov
WEDNESDAY | OCTOBER 29
11 a.m. Charlottesville, Virginia — University of Virginia Miller Center in-person and virtual discussion: “AI, national security, and democratic accountability,” with Ashley Deeks, Miller Center faculty senior fellow, and vice dean of the University of Virginia School of Law; Brian Lessenberry, senior national security practitioner; and Philip Potter, Miller Center faculty senior fellow https://millercenter.org/news-events/events/ai-national-security-and-democratic-accountability
11 a.m. 37th and O Sts. NW — Georgetown University discussion: “Current topics important to the transatlantic relationship, including trade and American-European cooperation on Ukraine,” with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola https://events.georgetown.edu/sfs/event/35388-a-conversation-with-roberta-metsola
4 p.m. 600 Pennsylvania Ave. SE — Progressive Policy Institute discussion: “Is the Ukraine War Spilling into Europe?” with Estonia Ambassador to the U.S. Kristjan Prikk; Tamar Jacoby, director, PPI New Ukraine Project; Dalibor Rohac, senior fellow for foreign policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute; and Laura Kelly, foreign policy reporter at The Hill https://www.progressivepolicy.org/event/is-the-ukraine-war-spilling-into-europe
4 p.m. 1400 L St. NW — Atlantic Council discussion: “The Challenge of Supply Chain Resilience for Aerospace and Defense,” with Cordell Hull, executive vice president and head of U.S. public affairs at Samsung Electronics America; Ian Pain CEO of RENK America; Elisabeth Smith, president and CEO of Acutec Precision Aerospace; Tressa Guenov, director of programs and operations and senior fellow, Atlantic Council Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security; and Steven Grundman, senior fellow for forward defense at Atlantic Council Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/supply-chain-resilience-for-aerospace-and-defense/
THURSDAY | OCTOBER 30
9:30 a.m. G-50 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the nomination of Vice Adm. Richard Correll to be commander, U.S. Strategic Command. http://www.armed-services.senate.gov
10: 30 a.m. — Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies virtual discussion: “Middle East Security and Europe Role After the Gaza Plan,” with Sanam Vakil, adjunct professor, SAIS Europe; and Nathalie Tocci, professor of practice, Johns Hopkins SAIS Europe and director, Isituto Affari Internazionali https://sais.jhu.edu/campus-events?
11 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute discussion: “How Long Can Russia Weakening Economy Support Putin War on Ukraine?” with Volodymyr Lugovskyy, professor, Indiana University; Anders Aslund, adjunct professor, Georgetown University; and Thomas Duesterberg, Hudson senior fellow https://www.hudson.org/events/how-long-can-russias-weakening-economy-support-putins-war
4:30 p.m. 125 E St. NW — American Academy of Political and Social Science Daniel Patrick Moynihan Lecture: “Ukrainian Humanity: Rethinking How History Is Told,” with Ukraine Ambassador to the U.S. Olga Stefanishyna; Timothy Snyder, chair in modern European history at the University of Toronto; Angela Stent, professor emeritus of government and foreign service at Georgetown University and senior fellow, American Enterprise Institute; and Alexa Chopivsky, executive director, Women Foreign Policy Group https://2025moynihanlecture.rsvpify.com/
