A BOMBSHELL ACCUSATION: When President Donald Trump announced last October that he was ordering the Pentagon to “immediately” start testing nuclear weapons on an equal basis,” with “other countries” no one was sure exactly what he was referring to. A few days later Trump told CBS’s 60 Minutes, “ Russia’s testing nuclear weapons, and China’s testing ’em too. You just don’t know about it.”
“They test way underground where people don’t know exactly what’s happening with the test. You feel a little bit of a vibration,” Trump told CBS’s Norah O’Donnell. “We’re the only country that doesn’t test, and I don’t wanna be the only country that doesn’t test.”
On Friday, in remarks before the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, the administration’s top nuclear arms official formally accused China of conducting a secret underground tests — including detonating a nuclear explosive in 2020 — while employing sophisticated methods to avoid detection by seismic sensors.
“Today, I can reveal that the U.S. government is aware that China has conducted nuclear explosive tests, including preparing for tests with designated yields in the hundreds of tons,” said Thomas DiNanno, the undersecretary of state for arms control. “The PLA [Peoples Liberation Army] sought to conceal testing by obfuscating the nuclear explosions because it recognized these tests violate test ban commitments. China has used decoupling — a method to decrease the effectiveness of seismic monitoring — to hide their activities from the world. China conducted one such yield producing nuclear test on June 22 of 2020.”
‘VIOLATING THE SPIRIT OF THE CTBT’: If true, the Chinese tests would be in direct violation of the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which states that signatories agree “not to carry out, encourage, or support any nuclear weapon test explosion or other nuclear explosion.”
“Any violation of the CTBT would be a serious problem, Daryl Kimball, director of the Arms Control Association, posted on X. “If the USG has credible evidence that Russia or China are conducting n-test explosions, they should take the matter to the CTBTO and pursue technical talks on CBMs to detect & deter any violations, as the USG proposed in 2023.
While China and the United States are signatories to CTBT neither country has ratified the treaty, so the treaty has not yet entered into force.
“A NEW, BETTER ARMS CONTROL ARCHITECTURE’: DiNanno’s remarks came in the context of the Trump’s administration’s decision to reject Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer to extend the New START treaty — which limits the U.S. and Russia to 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads — for another year.
“I am here to tell you that President Trump wants to find a better agreement,” DiNanno, told the conference. “New START was signed in 2010 and its limits on warheads and launchers are no longer relevant in 2026 when one nuclear power is expanding its arsenal at a scale and pace not seen in over half a century and another continues to maintain and develop a vast range of nuclear systems unconstrained by New START’s terms.”
“Exactly zero Chinese nuclear weapons were covered by New START. And as we sit here today, China’s entire nuclear arsenal has no limits, no transparency, no declarations, and no controls,” he argued, calling for “A new architecture that addresses the threats of today, not those of a bygone era.
“This means taking into account all Russian nuclear weapons, both novel and existing strategic systems, and addressing the breakout growth of Chinese nuclear weapons stockpiles.” he said. “We aim to improve upon New START in order to achieve a new, better strategic stability and arms control architecture that makes the world safer and more secure.”
CHINA: END OF NEW START ‘REGRETTABLE’ China’s Foreign Ministry called the expiration of New START “truly regrettable,” but made clear Beijing has no interest in negotiating a three-way agreement with the U.S. and Russia.
“China’s nuclear strength is by no means at the same level with that of the U.S. or Russia. Thus, China will not take part in nuclear disarmament negotiations for the time being,” Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said last week.
“China always exercises utmost prudence and responsibility on issues concerning nuclear weapons.” Lin said. “China follows a defensive nuclear strategy and a policy of “no first use” of nuclear weapons, and pledged unconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states and nuclear-weapon-free zones. China keeps its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required by national security, and has no intention to engage in arms race with any country.”
Good Monday 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 Keely Bastow. 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: Pete Hegseth’s “Arsenal of Freedom” tour finds the secretary in Quonset Point, Rhode Island and Bath, Maine, to visit General Dynamics, Anduril, and Bath Iron Works. The Pentagon describes Hegseth’s visits to various defense contractors as “a call to action to revitalize America’s manufacturing might and re-energize the nation’s workforce.”
“The ‘Arsenal of Freedom’ tour is more than a series of speeches; it is a movement to restore our nation’s industrial prowess and secure our freedom for generations to come,” The Pentagon said in a press release. “The tour will champion a new approach to defense acquisition, one that prioritizes and awards speed, innovation, and a “commercial-first” mindset. This includes cutting bureaucratic red tape, empowering program leaders, and providing the stable, long-term contracts necessary for industry to invest and expand.”
Hegseth is also scheduled to administer the oath of enlistment to new recruits at Seabees Museum.
ZELENSKY SAYS US MIDTERMS BEHIND TRUMP’S LATEST PRESSURE: In remarks to reporters that were released over the weekend Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he believes Trump’s push for an end to the war with Russia by the summer is driven in large part by Trump’s desire to be able claim success before the November elections, where control of Congress hangs in the balance.
“The elections are, for them, definitely more important. Let’s not be naive. They say they want to achieve everything by June, and they will do everything possible to ensure the war ends that way,” according to a transcript of a closed door briefing released Saturday. “We understand that they will devote all of their time to domestic processes, elections, a shift in the attitudes of their society.”
Zelensky also told reporters that Ukrainian intelligence sources have told him that Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev presented U.S. negotiators with a lucrative package of economic cooperation that could follow a peace deal. “Intelligence showed me the so-called ‘Dmitriev package’ that he presented in the U.S. It amounts to around $12 trillion,” he said.
“There are also various signals, both in the media and elsewhere, that some of these agreements could also involve issues related to Ukraine,” Zelensky said. “For example, our sovereignty or Ukraine’s security. We are making it clear that Ukraine will not support any such, even potential, agreements about us that are made without us.”
TRUMP GIVES RUSSIA AND UKRAINE JUNE DEADLINE TO END WAR: ZELENSKY
TRUMP: ‘NO RUSH’ TO BOMB IRAN: After Friday’s indirect talks in Oman between the U.S. and Iran, the best that can be said is both sides want to meet again. Iran is refusing to end its nuclear enrichment nor accept limits on its ballistic missile program, two key U.S. demands.
But late Friday, Trump told reporters on Air Force One he’s confident Iran will come around. “Well, I think a deal can be reached, Trump said. “We have plenty of time. If you remember Venezuela, we waited around for a while. And we’re in no rush.”
“We have, you know, very good talks going with Iran … We’re doing a lot of good talking and I think we had results today with Iran….. We’re going to meet again early next week,” Trump said. “They want to make a deal, Iran, as they should want to make a deal. They know the consequences. If they don’t.”
For the first time, the commander of U.S. forces in the region, Adm. Brad Cooper, head of the U.S. Central Command was part of the U.S. team led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
It was a not so subtle reminder that the “massive armada” — as Trump refers to the build up of naval forces in the region — is well within striking distance of Iran.
WITKOFF AND KUSHNER BOARD US AIRCRAFT CARRIER OFF IRAN’S COAST AFTER NUCLEAR TALKS
THE RUNDOWN:
Washington Examiner: US accuses China of secret nuclear testing as it seeks to include Beijing in new arms control treaties
Washington Examiner: Venezuela opposition figure kidnapped hours after release from prison
Washington Examiner: Trump says talks with Iran in Oman were ‘very good’
Washington Examiner: Witkoff and Kushner board US aircraft carrier off Iran’s coast after nuclear talks
Washington Examiner: Japan’s Takaichi wins big in snap election after Trump endorsement
Washington Examiner: Iran threatens to attack US bases ‘spread all over’ region if Trump orders strikes
Washington Examiner: Trump targets Iran’s ‘shadow fleet’ with new sanctions on Tehran oil network
Washington Examiner: Trump gives Russia and Ukraine June deadline to end war: Zelensky
Washington Examiner: Chagos handover in limbo after Trump softens on deal, bill pulled from UK Parliament
Washington Examiner: FBI arrests key participant behind Benghazi attack
Washington Examiner: Trump’s deportations may hurt, not help, GOP’s political math
Washington Examiner: Epstein files implode British politics with ‘biggest scandal’ in ‘over one century’
Washington Examiner: Reform defector explains party succeeds because it’s not embarrassed of ‘Rule Britannia’ nostalgia and culture
Washington Examiner: Gabbard denies hiding whistleblower complaint: ‘A blatant lie’
Washington Examiner: Canada swipes at Trump’s Greenland ambitions as Maple Leaf raised on island
Washington Examiner: NASA delays Artemis II, but deep-space return still on track
AP: Trump turns to US military leaders for diplomatic efforts on Iran and Ukraine
AP: US gave Ukraine and Russia a June deadline to reach agreement to end war, Zelenskyy says
Politico: Russian Offensive Appears to Be Slowing After Musk Blocks Starlink Access, Ukraine Says
Wall Street Journal: Ukraine Seeks a War Plan Beyond Killing as Many Russian Soldiers as Possible
AP: Zelensky Says Ukrainian Air Force Needs to Improve as Russian Drone Barrages Take a Toll
Kyiv Post: Russia Pitched US $12 Trillion Economic Deal, Zelensky Says
Foreign Policy: Europe Is Getting Ready to Pivot to Putin
Space News: China Launches Reusable Spaceplane on Fourth Secretive Orbital Mission
Breaking Defense: New ‘America First Arms Transfer Strategy’ to Create a List of Priority Weapons to Sell
Bloomberg: Army Seeks Payment From Northrop Grumman for Late Ukraine Ammo
Defense News: Singapore Is in Line to Get Its First F-35 Fighters Later This Year
The War Zone: Hunt for Container Launchers Packed with Drones Kicked Off by Pentagon
Washington Post: Pentagon cuts academic ties with ‘woke’ Harvard to focus on training ‘warriors’
Washington Post: John Phelan, Trump’s Navy secretary, listed in Epstein flight logs
The Atlantic: No One Was Supposed to Leave Alive
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force Academy Leaders Ousted in Shake Up
Breaking Defense: Army’s New Space Career Field Won’t ‘Encroach’ on Space Force: Official
DefenseScoop: Air Force Bans Meta AI Glasses over OPSEC Concerns, While Other Services’ Policies Vary
Air & Space Forces Magazine: GAO: Pentagon and Services Need to Get on Same Page When It Comes to Tech Priorities
Military Times: F-22s Pulled from Super Bowl Flyover Due to Operations, Planner Says
Task & Purpose: These Are the Troops Competing in the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force’s Anticipated William Tell Weapons Meet Postponed
THE CALENDAR:
MONDAY | FEBRUARY 9
10 a.m. — Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies virtual discussion of new report: “Strategic Attack: Maintaining the Air Force Capacity to Deny Enemy Sanctuaries,” with Mark Gunzinger, director, future concepts and capability assessments, Mitchell Institute; retired Air Force Lt. Gen. David Deptula, dean, Mitchell Institute; retired Gen. Tim Ray, former commander, Air Force Global Strike Command; and Heather Penney, director of research at the Mitchell Institute https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/events/strategic-attack
12 p.m. — Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft virtual book discussion: Canceling Russia: The Ukraine War and the Rise of the Western Hawks, with Andrei Tsygankov, professor, Russian and international politics, San Francisco State University; Anatol Lieven, director, Quincy Institute Eurasia Program and chair in American diplomatic history at the Quincy Institute https://quincyinst.org/events/canceling-russia-the-ukraine-war
12 p.m. — Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies virtual discussion: “Transatlantic Relations in the Era of Great Power Competition,” with Giovanna De Maio, adviser on transatlantic relations and French policy planning and adjunct professor, U.S. foreign policy at SciencesPo Paris; Nathalie Tocci, professor, practice at SAIS Europe; and Andrew Winner, adjunct professor at SAIS Europe and professor emeritus at the U.S. Naval War College https://sais.jhu.edu/campus-events
4:30 p.m. 7950 Baltimore Ave., College Park, Md. — Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland discussion: “Venezuela at a Crossroads: How it Got There and What Comes Next,” with Angelo Rivero Santos, director, academic affairs at Georgetown University Center for Latin American Studies https://cissm.umd.edu/events/venezuela-crossroads
TUESDAY | FEBRUARY 10
9 a.m. 1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace discussion: “Bluff or Death: How to Assess Nuclear Threats,” with Jon Finer, fellow at Yale Law School Tsai Leadership Program; and George Perkovich, senior fellow, CEIP Nuclear Policy Program https://carnegieendowment.org/events/2026/01/bluff-or-death
10 a.m. 310 Cannon — House Homeland Security Committee hearing: “Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security: ICE, CBP, and USCIS,” with testimony from Todd Lyons, senior official performing the duties of the director, Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Rodney Scott, commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Joseph Edlow, director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services http://homeland.house.gov
10 a.m. 2172 Rayburn — House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing: “Syria at a Crossroads: U.S. Policy Challenges Post-Assad,” with testimony from James F. Jeffrey, fellow, Washington Institute for Near East Policy; Andrew J. Tabler, senior fellow, Washington Institute for Near East Policy; Nadine Maenza, former chair, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom; and Mara Karlin, professor, practice at the Johns Hopkins University-School of Advanced International Studies and visiting fellow, Brookings Institution http://foreignaffairs.house.gov
10:30 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute discussion: “Year One of Trump Foreign Policy,” with Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX) https://www.hudson.org/events/year-one-trumps-foreign-policy
11 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “What are the implications of the 2026 National Defense Strategy for the Korean Peninsula?” with Victor Cha, CSIS Korea chair; and Adam Farrar, CSIS nonresident senior associate https://www.csis.org/events/impossible-state-live-podcast
11:30 a.m. 14th and F Sts. NW — National Press Club discussion: “How Allied Command Transformation is helping ensure the Alliance remains ready for the challenges ahead,” with NATO Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation Adm. Pierre Vandier https://www.press.org/events/npc-headliners-admiral-pierre-vandier
1 p.m. 1957 E St. NW — George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs discussion: “From Revolution to Rivalry: U.S.-Iran Relations, 47 Years On,” with Sina Azodi, GWU assistant professor, Middle East politics; Alan Eyre, Middle East Institute fellow; Naysan Rafati, Iran senior analyst at the Crisis Group; and Barbara Slavin, Stimson Center fellow https://calendar.gwu.edu/event/from-revolution-to-rivalry
1:30 p.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute discussion: “France’s Strategic Vision and Adapting Land Forces for High-Intensity Conflict,” with French Army Chief of Staff Gen. Pierre Schill https://www.hudson.org/events/gen-pierre-schill-frances-strategic-vision-adapting-land-forces-high-intensity-conflict
2 p.m. — House Armed Services Subcommittees on Seapower and Projection Forces, Readiness joint hearing “V-22 Osprey Program Update,” with testimony from Vice Adm. John Dougherty, commander, Naval Air Systems Command; Marine Brig. Gen. David Walsh, program executive officer, Air Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault and Special Mission Programs, Naval Air Systems Command; and Diana Moldafsky, director, defense capabilities and management, Government Accountability Office https://armedservices.house.gov/calendar
3:30 p.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute discussion: “Rebooting America Defense Industrial Base,” with Michael Cadenazzi, assistant secretary of defense secretary for industrial base policy https://www.hudson.org/events/assistant-secretary-war-michael-cadenazzi
6 p.m. 14th and F Sts. NW — Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft discussion: “Why Serve? What Drives Americans to Military Service in a Changing World,” with Yvette Bourcicot, former principal deputy assistant Army secretary for manpower and reserve affairs; Bishop Garrison, former vice president for policy, Intelligence and National Security Alliance; Jeremy Thompson, former all source intelligence analyst with the first battalion for the Army Special Force 20th Special Forces Group; and Adam Weinstein, deputy director, Quincy Institute Middle East Program https://quincyinst.org/events/why-serve-what-drives-americans-to-military-service
WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 11
8:30 a.m. 14th and F Sts. NW — We Think Big discussion: “How Acquisition Reform Will Reshape U.S. Power,” with Michael Duffey, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment; Mackenzie Eaglen, American Enterprise Institute senior fellow; Carlton Haelig, fellow, Center for a New American Security’ Defense Program; and Lewis Muller, CEO, Think Big https://www.press.org/events/how-acquisition-reform-will-reshape-us-power
9 a.m. EST Brussels, Belgium — NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte holds press conference at NATO headquarters ahead of Thursday meeting of defense ministers https://www.nato.int/en/news-and-events
10 a.m. 2362-A Rayburn — House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing: “Potential DHS Shutdown Impacts,” with testimony from Adm. Thomas Allan, acting vice commandant of the Coast Guard; Madhu Gottumukkala, acting director, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; Ha Nguyen McNeill, acting administrator, Transportation Security Administration; Matthew Quinn, deputy director, U.S. Secret Service; and Keith Turri, acting associate administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency Office of Response and Recovery http://appropriations.house.gov
10 a.m. 2172 Rayburn — House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing: “Restoring Mission Focus at the State Department: Authority, Accountability, and the Role of the Foreign Service” with testimony from Jason Evans, undersecretary of state for management http://foreignaffairs.house.gov
10 a.m. 1310 Longworth — House Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party Committee hearing: “Lies, Lawfare, and Leverage: The CCP Gaslighting and Manipulation to Marginalize Taiwan,” with testimony from Julian Ku, professor, constitutional law, Hofstra University; Shirley Kan, independent specialist in Indo-Pacific security affairs; and Mira Rapp-Hooper, partner, Asia Group https://selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov
10 a.m. Munich, Germany — Politico virtual discussion: “What to Expect at this Year’s Munich Security Conference,” with Paul McLeary, Politico Pentagon reporter; Laura Kayali, Politico defense correspondent; Jacopo Barigazzi, Politico senior defense correspondent; Felicia Schwartz, Politico diplomatic correspondent; and Jack Detsch, Politico defense reporter https://www.politico.eu/munich-security-conference-2026
10 a.m. — National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations virtual discussion: “The Outlook for Peace or Conflict in the Gulf,” with Nawaf bin Mubarak Al Thani, president of the Council on International mediation; Joseph Kechichian, senior research fellow, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies’ Office of the Chairman; Kenneth Katzman, Soufan Center senior fellow; Abbas Kadhim, director, Arab Gulf States Institute Iraq Program; and Amin Tarzi, adjunct professor at George Mason University School of Policy and Government https://www.youtube.com/watch?
11 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute discussion: “The National and Economic Security Implications of Fusion Energy.” https://www.hudson.org/events/national-economic-security-implications-fusion-energy
2 p.m. 2172 Rayburn — House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee hearing: “South Asia: U.S. Foreign Policy in the Region,” with testimony from S. Paul Kapur, assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs http://foreignaffairs.house.gov
3 p.m. 222 Russell — Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee hearing: “Senior Enlisted Leaders on Servicemember and Family Quality of Life,” with testimony from Fleet Master Chief David Isom, senior enlisted adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer; Master Chief Petty Officer John Perryman; Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Carlos Ruiz; Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Wolfe; and Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force John Bentivegna http://www.armed-services.senate.gov
3:30 p.m. 2168 Rayburn — House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats hearing: “Trump Betrayal of America Afghan Allies,” with Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), ranking member, House Foreign Affairs Committee South and Central Asia Subcommittee; Zia Ghafoori, co-founder and CEO of the Interpreting Freedom Foundation, interpreter and cultural adviser for the U.S. Special Forces and former Special Immigrant Visa recipient; retired Navy Cmdr. Catalina Gasper, former Navy special duty information warfare and intelligence officer; Jessica Bradley Rushing, chief of staff at AfghanEvac and former deputy director for communications and engagement at the State Department Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts; and retired Marine Corps Maj. Kyleanne Hunter, CEO, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America https://democrats-foreignaffairs.house.gov/2026/2/trump-s-betraya
6:30 p.m. 1307 L St. NW — New York University, Washington, D.C. film screening and discussion: “Maduro: The Indestructible,” with Nick Spicer, NPR Europe editor; Rodrigo Diamanti, Venezuelan human rights activist, director and president of Un Mundo Sin Mordaza and secretary of the Organization of American States Independent Expert Panel; Claire Meynial, U.S. correspondent for Le Point; and Laura Ospina, senior program officer at Justice for All for the Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies at NYU Center on International Cooperation https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/democracy-on-screen
THURSDAY | FEBRUARY 12
2 a.m. EST (8 a.m. CET) Brussels, Belgium — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte makes brief remarks upon arrival at NATO Headquarters for Defense Ministerial nato.int
2:50 a.m. EST (8:50 a.m CET) — Brussels, Belgium — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte makes brief remarks with Elbridge Colby, U.S. undersecretary of war for policy nato.int
3 a.m EST (9 a.m. CET) — Opening remarks by the NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Defence Ministers’ Session nato.int
6:30 a.m. EST (12:30 p.m. CET) — Remarks by the NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov nato.int
9 a.m. EST (3 p.m. CET) — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte holds closing press conference nato.int
9 a.m. Women Foreign Policy Group virtual discussion: “Greenland: Examining Arctic Geopolitics and the Transatlantic Relationship,” with Sherri Goodman, fellow, Atlantic Council Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative and Transatlantic Security Initiative; Julia Nesheiwat, fellow, Atlantic Council Global Energy Center; Heather Conley, nonresident senior fellow, American Enterprise Institute; and Michelle Jamrisko, White House and national security editor at Bloomberg News https://wfpg.memberclicks.net/greenland#/
9:30 a.m. — Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies virtual discussion: “Transatlantic Turbulence: What Next for Europe?” with Justin Frosini, SAIS Europe adjunct professor; Michael Plummer, SAIS Europe professor, international economics; and Nathalie Tocci, SAIS Europe professor, practice https://sais.jhu.edu/campus-events
9:45 a.m. EST (3:45 p.m. CET) Brussels, Belgium — United Kingdom and Germany convene the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting at NATO Headquarters, following a meeting of NATO defense ministers https://www.nato.int
11 a.m. 1400 L St. NW — Atlantic Council discussion: “Deterring Aggression Against Taiwan,” with Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI), chairman of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/congressman-john-moolenaar
12 p.m. — Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft virtual discussion: “Will Carney Davos Speech Help Build a Better International Order?,” with Canadian Ambassador to the U.N. David Lametti; and Zachary Paikin, deputy director, Quincy Institute Better Order Project and research fellow in the Quincy Institute Grand Strategy Program https://quincyinst.org/events/will-carneys-davos-speech
2 p.m. Government Executive Media Group Defense One virtual discussion: “From Skies to Seas: How Drones are Reshaping the INDOPACOM Mission,” with Ed Barnabas, vice president and Indo-Pacific chief technologist at Booz Allen https://events.defenseone.com/from-skies-to-seas
2 p.m. 37th and O Sts. NW — Georgetown University book discussion: Decoding Iran Foreign Policy, with author Ross Harrison, Middle East Institute senior fellow https://events.georgetown.edu/sfs/event/37010-book-talk
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 13
Munich, Germany — The 62nd Munich Security Conference at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof and Rosewood Munich, with nearly 50 heads of state and government attending. The conference runs through Sunday, February 15 https://securityconference.org/en/msc-2026/
10 a.m. — Georgetown University Center for Jewish Civilization virtual discussion: “Israel and the Middle East: Understanding a Changing Strategic Landscape,” with Ksenia Svetlava, executive director, Regional Organization for Peace, Economics and Security; and Hesham Youssef, senior adviser, European Institute of Peace https://events.georgetown.edu/event/37574-israel-and-the-middle-east
3:30 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “Golden Dome One Year In,” with Melissa Dalton, nonresident senior adviser, CSIS Aerospace Security Project; Daniel Karbler, nonresident senior adviser, CSIS Missile Defense Project; Kari Bingen, director, CSIS Aerospace Security Project; and Tom Karako, director, CSIS Missile Defense Project https://www.csis.org/events/golden-dome-one-year
WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 18
10 a.m. — Center for European Policy Analysis Zoom press briefing discussing two reports, “Ukraine 2036: How Today Investments Will Shape Tomorrow Security” and “Wartime Assistance to Ukraine.” with Marianna Fakhurdinova, coordinator, EU–Ukraine Partnership Program, Transatlantic Dialogue Center; Uliana Movchan, Ax:son Johnson Fellow, Center for European Policy Analysis; Kseniya Sotnikova, Ax:son Johnson Fellow, Center for European Policy Analysis; and moderator: Elina Beketova, fellow, Democratic Resilience, Center for European Policy Analysis https://cepa.rsvpify.com/cepapressbriefingukraine
TUESDAY | MARCH 3
226 Dirksen — Senate Judiciary Committee hearing: “Oversight of the Homeland Security Department,” with testimony from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem http://judiciary.senate.gov
WEDNESDAY | MARCH 4
10 a.m. 2154 Rayburn — House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing: “Oversight of Fraud and Misuse of Federal Funds in Minnesota: Part II,” with testimony from Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) http://oversight.house.gov
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Ukrainians desperately want peace, but not at any price. If the impulse for a real peace and to stop the killing is truly felt by the U.S. president, he should ensure that it is done right the first time, even if it takes a little longer than the March / June deadlines. As the saying goes, ‘If you want it bad, you get it bad.’” Military analyst retired Australian Army Maj. Gen. Mick Ryan, writing on Substack
