CORONAVIRUS IMPACTING EXERCISES: With South Korea now reporting the second-highest number of coronavirus infections in the world, U.S. and South Korean commanders are moving to reduce the joint military exercises that had already been scaled back to support diplomatic efforts to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear arsenal.
At a news conference yesterday, Defense Secretary Mark Esper confirmed that U.S. Korea commander Gen. Robert Abrams and his counterpart Gen. Park Han-ki are concerned that an upcoming “command post” exercise, which would bring U.S. and South Korean troops into close contact inside buildings, could increase the chances of spreading the virus.
South Korea has experienced a spike in coronavirus cases, which now total 977, a 15-fold increase in a week, including 13 cases among the South Korean armed forces. “As you’re well aware, due to the coronavirus in Korea, the situation is quite serious,” South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-Doo told reporters at the Pentagon yesterday. “Because of that, currently the exercise and the Korean units are being curtailed… We will find out the situation and decide how we are going to conduct our exercises.”
ANTI-VIRUS FUNDS REQUESTED: The White House has sent Congress a request for $2.5 billion in emergency funds to address coronavirus outbreak, which is threatening to become a global pandemic.
“Today, the Administration is transmitting to Congress a $2.5 billion supplemental funding plan to accelerate vaccine development, support preparedness and response activities and to procure much needed equipment and supplies,” said White House budget office spokeswoman Rachel Semmel. “We are also freeing up existing resources and allowing for greater flexibilities for response activities.”
STILL READY TO FIGHT TONIGHT: Esper stressed that the adjustments in joint exercises with South Korea that are intended to limit the risk posed by the viral infection would not significantly impact the combat readiness of the combined U.S. and South Korea forces.
“As those two gentleman, officers address any concerns, I’m sure that we will remain fully ready to deal with any threats that we might face together,” Esper said.
FAR APART ON BURDEN SHARING: It was clear in yesterday’s joint news conference that the U.S. and South Korea are still at an impasse over the U.S. demand that South Korea increase its annual payment to the United States from less than $1 billion to $5 billion.
“The current Special Measures Agreement captures only a portion of the overall costs associated with the United States’ defense of South Korea. The United States believes it should cover more,” Esper said. “Shouldering the cost of our common defense cannot fall disproportionately to the American taxpayer… As a global economic powerhouse and an equal partner in the preservation of peace on the peninsula, South Korea can and should contribute more to its defense.”
Esper has given South Korea one month to make a deal before the U.S. military begins laying off up to 9,000 Korea workers at U.S. bases. “The minister and I are both hopeful that they’ll reach agreement soon, preferably before the end of March. Otherwise, beginning April 1st we will begin furloughing Korean national workers.”
South Korea has offered an increase in the annual payments, but nothing close to what the U.S. is asking for. Minister Jeong suggested South Korea might be willing to pick up the salaries of Korea workers to avoid layoffs, while negotiations continue.
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 Susan Katz Keating (@SKatzKeating). 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 us on Twitter: @dailyondefense.
Subscribe today to the Washington Examiner magazine and get Washington Briefing: politics and policy stories that will keep you up to date with what’s going on in Washington. SUBSCRIBE NOW: Just $1.00 an issue!
HAPPENING TODAY: A week packed with budget hearings begins in earnest today when Gen. Tod Wolters, U.S. European and supreme NATO commander and Gen. Stephen Lyons, U.S. transportation commander appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee at 9:30 a.m.
Tomorrow Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley testify before the House Armed Services Committee, and on Thursday that committee hears from acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday, and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger.
Check calendar below for links and livestream information.
UNFUNDED PRIORITIES: After the president submits his budget to Congress, the military services and supporting commanders get to weigh in with a list of things they would buy if they just had a little more money.
In a letter to House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Smith, Gen. Lyons, the TRANSCOM commander, says his top unfunded priority is aerial refueling, and he is seeking an additional $110 million to buy back 23 of the KC-10 and KC-135 tankers targeted for cuts, according to Air Force Magazine.
The proposed cuts would “creates a capacity gap with significant impacts to Combatant Command daily competition and wartime missions,” writes Lyons, who argues the gap “negatively impacts senior leader decision space for mobilization when confronted with a crisis.”
ANOTHER $4.2 BILLION: Meanwhile the Air Force has submitted a $4.2 billion unfunded priorities request, which includes roughly $3.2 billion for the Air Force and an additional $1 billion for the new Space Force, according to Air Force Magazine.
“The request, which is significantly higher than the extra $2.8 billion the Air Force wanted in fiscal 2020, asks for an additional $1.3 billion for 12 more F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and long-lead support items. If Congress approves that addition, USAF would buy 60 F-35As in 2021,” the magazine reports.
INDIA’S $3 BILLION BUY: During his 36 hour trip to India, President Trump announced that India had agreed to purchase more than $3 billion of advanced military equipment from the United States, including Apache attack and MH-60 Romeo Seahawk helicopters.
The MH-60R is a maritime helicopter made by Sikorsky, a division of Lockheed Martin. The sale had already been approved by the State Department almost a year ago.
The AH-64 Apache is made by Boeing, which calls it “the world’s most advanced multi-role combat helicopter.”
ETHICAL AI: The Pentagon officially adopted a series of ethical principles for the use of Artificial Intelligence based on recommendations from the Defense Innovation Board last October. The recommendations came after 15 months of consultation with leading AI experts in commercial industry, government, academia and the American public, the Pentagon said.
“AI technology will change much about the battlefield of the future, but nothing will change America’s steadfast commitment to responsible and lawful behavior,” said Defense Secretary Esper in a statement.
The Rundown
Washington Examiner: Xi Jinping admits ‘obvious shortcomings’ as coronavirus blame game persists
Stars and Stripes: U.S. Military Dependent Tests Positive for Coronavirus in South Korea
Stars and Stripes: U.S. Forces In Afghanistan, CENTCOM Monitoring Coronavirus Amid Reports Of Infections In The Region
New York Times: Spreading Across Continents, a Lethal Virus Tests a Fraying Global Order
Washington Examiner: African military chiefs: US winning war of influence by helping fight terrorism in Africa
Air Force Magazine: Roper Aims for 50 Percent Failure in Next ABMS Experiment
The Diplomat: U.S. to Test SM-3 Block IIA Missile Against ICBM Target By End of 2020
Air Force Magazine: DARPA to Design Two Unique New Missiles for USAF
National Defense Magazine: Black Hawk Replacement Program Enters New Phase
News Tribune: U.S. Navy Selects Superior’s Lake Assault To Build Up To 119 Boats
Defense One: Pentagon Defends Handling Of Traumatic Brain Injuries In Iranian Attack
Military Times: Jamming, Precision Artillery And Long Range Drone Strikes On Libyan Battlefield Offer Lessons Learned For U.S. Military
New York Times: U.S. Weighs Payback for Reporters’ Ouster
Washington Post: Julian Assange’s attorneys say he won’t receive a fair trial if extradited to U.S.
Talk Media News: US-South Korea defense parley word count: Robust, 4; Reaffirmed, 4; Ironclad, 2; Candid, 2; Unwavering, 1
Calendar
TUESDAY | FEBRUARY 25
9:30 a.m 216 Hart — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the U.S European Command and U.S Transportation Command, with Gen. Tod Wolters, U.S. European and Supreme NATO Commander and Gen. Stephen Lyons, U.S. Transportation Commander. https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/
11 a.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. — Brookings Institution discussion: “Global China: Assessing China’s Relations with the Great Powers,” with Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska. http://www.brookings.edu
8 p.m. Charleston, S.C. — Democratic presidential primary debate at Gaillard Center to be aired on CBS.
WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 26
8 a.m. Orlando, Fl. — Day one of the Air Force Association 2020 Air Warfare Symposium. Agenda at https://www.afa.org/events/airwarfare/agenda
8:45 a.m. 3301 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. — National Defense Industrial Association “U.S.-Finland Defense and Security Industry Seminar,” with Kirsti Kauppi, Finnish ambassador to the U.S.; Ellen Lord; Undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment; Jukka Juusti, permanent secretary in the Finnish Ministry of Defense. https://www.ndia.org/events
10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley testify before the House Armed Services Committee on “The Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Budget Request from the Department of Defense.” https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
12 p.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. — Hudson Institute discussion on “Prospects for a Stable Transformation of the Korean Peninsula,” with State Department Deputy Special Representative for North Korea Alex Wong; Jina Kim, research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses; Bruce Klingner, senior research fellow for Northeast Asia at the Heritage Foundation; Seong-hyon Lee, director of the Sejong Institute’s Center for Chinese Studies; Patricia Kim, senior policy analyst at the U.S. Institute of Peace; and Patrick Cronin, senior fellow at Hudson. https://www.hudson.org/events
12 p.m. 1000 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. — Cato Institute discussion on “The Failure of Forcible Regime-Change Operations,” with Lindsey O’Rourke, assistant professor at Boston College; Alexander Downes, associate professor of political science and international relations at George Washington University; Ben Denison, postdoctoral fellow at the Tufts University Center for Strategic Studies; and Christopher Preble, vice president for defense and foreign policy studies at Cato. Livestream at http://www.cato.org/live
5 p.m. 1521 16th St. N.W. — Institute of World Politics lecture on the impact of the Internet in “promoting disinformation, lies, propaganda, deep flakes, troll swarms, personal attacks, and conspiracy theories, with Donald Bishop, chair of strategic communications at the Marine Corps University. https://www.iwp.edu/events
THURSDAY | FEBRUARY 27
8 a.m. Orlando, Fl. — Day two of the Air Force Association 2020 Air Warfare Symposium, with Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett; U.S. Northern Commander Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy; Pacific Air Forces Commander Gen. Charles Brown; Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe; Air Combat Commander Gen. James Holmes, and others. Agenda at https://www.afa.org/events/airwarfare/agenda
8:30 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. — “Fiscal Note” CQ Roll Call discussion on the “Defense and the Federal Budget 2021,” with House Budget ranking member Steve Womack, R-Ark.; Matt Padilla, national security counsel in the office of Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M.; John Luddy, vice president of national security policy at the Aerospace Industries Association; John Nichols, partner at the Potomac Advocates; and John Donnelly, senior national security reporter at CQ Roll Call https://pages.fiscalnote.com
9 a.m. 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor, Md.— The American Conservative Union holds its annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Agenda: http://cpac.conservative.org/agenda
10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee hearing: “The Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Budget Request for the Department of the Navy, with acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday, and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger. https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
2 p.m. 2154 Rayburn — House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on National Security hearing on U.S. troops who say they were exposed to chemical and radiological hazards while deployed to Karshi-Khanabad (K2) Air Base in Uzbekistan after Sept. 11, 2001, with testimony from retired Air Force Master Sgt. Paul Widener, K2 Veteran; Kim Brooks, spouse of Army Lt. Col. Timothy Brooks; and retired Army Chief Warrant Officer Scott Welsch. Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/user/OversightDems
2:30 p.m. 2212 Rayburn — House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces hearing: “Strategic Forces Posture,” with John Rood, outgoing undersecretary of defense for policy; U.S. Space Commander Gen. John Raymond; and U.S. Strategic Commander, Adm. Charles Richard. https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
3:30 p.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces hearing: “Air Force Projection Forces Aviation Programs and Capabilities Related to the 2021 President’s Budget Request, with William Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force, acquisition, technology and logistics; and Lt. Gen. David Nahom, Air Force deputy chief of staff, plans and programs. https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 28
8 a.m. Orlando, Fl. — Day three of the Air Force Association 2020 Air Warfare Symposium, with, Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology And Logistics; Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett; Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein; and Elon Musk, SpaceX Chief Engineer and Lt. Gen. John Thompson, commander, Space and Missile Systems Center. Agenda at https://www.afa.org/events/airwarfare/agenda
9 a.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. — Brookings Institution discussion: “How a Modernized Navy will Compete with China and Russia,” with acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, and Michael O’Hanlon, senior fellow at Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/events
9 a.m. 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor, Md.— The American Conservative Union holds its annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Agenda: http://cpac.conservative.org/agenda
5 p.m. 1521 16th St. N.W. — Institute of World Politics book discussion on “To Catch a Spy: The Art of Counterintelligence,” with author Jim Olson, former chief of CIA counterintelligence. https://www.iwp.edu/events
MONDAY | MARCH 2
10 a.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. — Brookings Institution discussion: “Congress and defense policy: A conversation with Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas.” https://www.brookings.edu/events
10 a.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. — Brookings Institution discussion: “Defending NATO’s eastern flank: A conversation on Russia with Estonia’s minister of defense,” with Jüri Luik Estonian MoD. https://www.brookings.edu/events
WEDNESDAY | MARCH 4
9 a.m. 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. — McAleese Defense Programs Conference. Register at [email protected]
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“AI technology will change much about the battlefield of the future, but nothing will change America’s steadfast commitment to responsible and lawful behavior.”
Defense Secretary Mark Esper, on the Pentagon’s adoption of ethical principles for the use of Artificial Intelligence.
