BLINKEN’S UKRAINE MISSION: Secretary of State Antony Blinken wraps up his meetings with G-7 foreign ministers in London today and heads to Ukraine, where tomorrow he meets with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Blinken’s primary mission is to show solid support for Zelenesky’s government in the face of Russia’s recent military buildup along the country’s eastern border and the implicit threat of aggression.
But as Zelensky has lobbied for faster admission to the NATO alliance, his government last week fired Andriy Kobolyev, the chief executive officer of Naftogaz, the state-owned energy company, in a move that is seen by the United States as a step backward in the effort to battle government corruption.
“Any attempt to change governance and the selection procedures at government agencies is troubling,” said acting Assistant Secretary of State Philip Reeker at a briefing for reporters Friday. “Corporate governance is a critical part of a stable democratic society, and we will continue to call on Ukraine’s leaders and representatives to respect transparent corporate governance practices, particularly in the management of state-owned enterprises and particularly in the energy sector, which is so important in its economy.”
US MILITARY BEGINS MAJOR EXERCISES IN RUSSIA’S BACKYARD
BIDEN ‘HOPES’ TO GO TOE-TO-TOE WITH PUTIN: This week’s London meetings are a prelude the next month’s summit for leaders of the G-7 countries, and President Joe Biden will be traveling both to the United Kingdom and then on to NATO headquarters in Belgium for a meeting of alliance leaders.
Asked at the White House yesterday if Russian President Vladimir Putin had accepted his invitation to meet in person during his European trip, Biden said, “That is my hope and expectation. We’re working on it.”
“President Biden believes very strongly that it’s important to be clear and direct, and one of the best ways to do that is actually meeting face-to-face,” said Blinken in an interview with the Financial Times of London. “Diplomacy is all about actually engaging directly,” he said. “People sometimes seem to think that’s a problematic thing or some sign of weakness. Just because you engage with someone doesn’t take the word ‘no’ out of your vocabulary.”
“He’s had a couple of conversations with President Putin on the phone now, and there’s no secret; he has said to him, including from before he was elected president, he’s been very clear that if Russia engages in reckless, aggressive actions, we will respond,” Blinken said. “On the other hand, we do not seek to escalate. We’d prefer to have a more predictable relationship with Russia, but that is up to Mr. Putin.”
BIDEN HOPES AND EXPECTS TO MEET PUTIN IN EUROPE IN JUNE
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HAPPENING TODAY: Army chief of staff Gen. James McConville and John Whitley, the acting secretary of the Army, testify before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense at 12 p.m. They will be defending the Army’s budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
Both the Air Force and the Navy have argued that changes in the way future wars will be fought and the growing threat from China should dictate that a larger share of the defense budget should go to their services, for things such as hypersonic missiles and robot ships.
ARMY TRIES TO MUSCLE INTO PACIFIC AS BUDGET BATTLE LOOMS
ALSO TODAY: U.S. Strategic Commander Adm. Charles Richard will again make the case for keeping to an aggressive schedule to modernize all three legs of the nuclear triad when he speaks at 10:30 a.m. at an event sponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies Project on Nuclear Issues.
GUARD SOLDIER ARRESTED: A man charged in connection with his participation in the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol is the fourth arrest of a member of the U.S. military.
Abram Markofski, a private first class in the Wisconsin National Guard, was arrested Monday along with a friend and charged with “entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, violent entry or disorderly conduct, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building,” according to the Justice Department.
Markofski told the FBI that his interactions with police at the Capitol included an exchange with an officer inside the Capitol who told him and a friend, “I can’t make you guys leave. However, for your safety, you should leave.”
WHAT KEEPS GARLAND UP AT NIGHT: During his testimony yesterday before a House Appropriations subcommittee, Attorney General Merrick Garland was asked the standard question, “What keeps you up at night?”
His response: “We never want to take our eyes off of what happened on 9/11 and the risks that the country continues to face from foreign origin terrorist attacks on the homeland. Likewise, we have a growing fear of domestic violent extremism and domestic terrorism, and both of those keep me up at night,” Garland said. “Virtually every morning, I get a briefing from the FBI in one or the other or both areas.”
“The lethality of weapons available to these kinds of terrorists, both foreign and domestic, has increased. The consequence of the internet and encryption means that they can send information and make plans much more swiftly and in greater secrecy than could’ve been done before,” Garland said. “So we have an emerging and accelerating threat, and the department is putting its resources into defending the country with respect to both.”
AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL: The U.S. Central Command says that as of yesterday, the task of withdrawing all U.S. military forces from Afghanistan is somewhere between 2% and 6% complete.
“Since the President’s decision, the U.S. has retrograded the equivalent of approximately 60 C-17 loads of material out of Afghanistan and have turned over more than 1,300 pieces of equipment to the Defense Logistics Agency for destruction,” CENTCOM said in a news release.
In addition, the U.S. has turned over a military facility at New Antonik to the Afghan National Army.
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The Rundown
Washington Examiner: US military begins major exercises in Russia’s backyard
Washington Examiner: Antony Blinken warns China: ‘It would be a very serious mistake’ to attack Taiwan
Washington Examiner: Philippines’s Duterte rebukes top diplomat for profanity-laced message to China: ‘Only the president can curse’
Washington Examiner: EU-China deal ‘suspended’ in ‘slap down’ of Angela Merkel
Washington Examiner: China on campus: Confucius Institutes collapse nationwide
Washington Examiner: Alleged CIA headquarters intruder shot dead by FBI agents
Washington Examiner: Border fentanyl seizures soaring as cartels push dangerous drugs
Reuters: Taliban Launches Major Afghan Offensive After Deadline For U.S. Pullout
Foreign Affairs: Ashraf Ghani: Afghanistan’s Moment of Risk and Opportunity
Air Force Magazine: Space Force, Guard Closer on ‘Two-component’ Construct for the New Service
AP: Blinken brings anti-graft message, old Russia foe to Ukraine
Financial Times: Blinken Rejects Claims Of ‘Cold War’ Between U.S. And China
CNN: On Board A Small Ukrainian Patrol Boat Challenging Russian Naval Might
Washington Post: Man accused of assaulting officer pinned in Capitol invasion freed from jail pending trial
Washington Post: National Guard soldier is fourth service member charged in Capitol riot
USNI News: Sixth Active-Duty Sailor Dies From COVID-19 Complications
Air Force Magazine: C-17s Fly Equipment Out of Afghanistan as Withdrawal Continues
Air Force Magazine: Report: Militia Threats Forced U.S. Contractors to Leave Iraqi F-16 Base
19fortyfive.com: Forget the F-35: Will Turkey Build Its Own Stealth Fighter?
Defense News: Major Players Bid For Chance To Build U.S. Marine Corps’ Next Recon Vehicle
UPI: Pentagon Expands Program Inviting Hackers To Report Problems
The Debrief: Inspector General Launching Evaluation Into The Pentagon’s Actions With UFOs
19fortyfive.com: Is the New Air Force One Doomed?
Military.com: Why These Infantry Marines Have a New Obsession with Chess
19fortyfive.com: Opinion: Why Are U.S. Navy Warships and Coast Guard Boats Anywhere Near Iran?
Calendar
WEDNESDAY | MAY 5
10:30 a.m. — Brookings Institution webinar: “China’s Arctic Activities and Ambitions,” with State Department Coordinator for the Arctic Region James DeHart; former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Heather Conley, senior vice president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies; Camilla Sorensen, associate professor at the Royal Danish Defense College; and Bruce Jones, director of the Brookings Project on International Order and Strategy. https://www.brookings.edu/events/chinas-arctic-activities
10:30 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies Project on Nuclear Issues virtual Capstone Conference, with Adm. Charles Richard, commander of U.S. Strategic Command. https://www.csis.org/events/poni-capstone-conference
11 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee “Member Day” hearing, in which committee members testify on their national defense priorities for the FY22 NDAA, and can offer legislative proposals as amendments when the full House considers the bill. https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
11:30 a.m. — Woodrow Wilson Center Global Europe Program webinar: “Global Britain: The Future of the Kingdom’s Security, Defense, Development and Foreign Policy,” with U.K. Ambassador to the United States Karen Pierce. https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/global-britain-future
12 p.m. — House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing: “Fiscal Year 2022 United States Army Budget, with Gen. James McConville, chief of staff of the Army; and John Whitley, acting secretary of the Army. https://appropriations.house.gov/events/hearings
1 p.m. — National Security Institute and the Federalist Society virtual event: “Getting Out of Gitmo: Dangerous or Smart?” with Karen Greenberg, director of the Center on National Security at Fordham University School of Law; David Rivkin, partner at BakerHostetler; Stephen Vladeck, Charles Alan Wright chair in federal courts, University of Texas School of Law; and moderator Jamil Jaffer, founder and executive director of the National Security Institute at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. https://nationalsecurity.gmu.edu/getting-out-of-gitmo
2 p.m. — Government Executive Media Group webinar: “Zero Trust: Get Beyond the Buzzword with Real Time Data Instrumentation at the Edge,” with Air Force Chief Data Officer Eileen Vidrine; and Matthew Marsden, vice president of Tanium’s Technical Account Management Public Sector. https://www.govexec.com/feature/zero-trust
2:30 p.m. — House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies virtual hearing, with Karen Durham-Aguilera, executive director for Army National Military Cemeteries, Arlington National Cemetery. https://appropriations.house.gov/events/hearings
3 p.m. — House Armed Services Subcommittees on Strategic Forces and International Development, International Organizations and Global Corporate Social Impact hearing: “Creating a Framework for Rules Based Order in Space,” with Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting, commander, Space Operations Command, U.S. Space Force; John Hill, performing the duties of assistant secretary of defense for space policy; Bruce Turner, senior official, State Department Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance; Jonathan Moore, principal deputy assistant secretary bureau of oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs, State Department. https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
THURSDAY | MAY 6
9:30 a.m. EDT NATO Headquarters, Brussels — Lt. Gen. Brice Houdet, SHAPE vice chief of staff, will deliver a virtual media briefing on exercise “Steadfast Defender 2021.” https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-media-briefing
11 a.m. — Association of the U.S. Army “Thought Leaders” webinar, with British Army Deputy Chief Lt. Gen. Christopher Tickell, who will discuss the implications of the U.K. Integrated Security and Defence Review for the British army as it transforms into a modern, expeditionary force. https://info.ausa.org
11:35 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies Project on Nuclear Issues virtual Capstone Conference panel discussion: “Deep Dive into Hypersonic Missiles and Artificial Intelligence,” with James Johnson, assistant professor, School of Law and Government, Dublin City University and non-resident fellow, Modern War Institute, West Point; Aaron Kennedy, graduate systems engineer, Lockheed Martin; Julia Balm, Ph.D. candidate, King’s College London; Shahrukh Nasim, project manager, Department of Energy; and Raymond Wang, Ph.D. student, Massachusetts Institute of Technology https://www.csis.org/events/poni-capstone-conference
12 p.m. — Government Executive Media Group “Genius Machines” forum on “How Humans and AI Are Working Together,” with Philip Root, deputy director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Defense Sciences Office. https://events.nextgov.com/genius-machines
1:30 p.m. — U.S. Navy Memorial virtual discussion with Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday. https://www.navymemorial.org/new-events
3 p.m. — House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness hearing: “Ship and Submarine Maintenance: Sustainment Considerations for a Changing Fleet,” with Vice Adm. William Galinis, commander Naval Sea Systems Command; Rear Adm. Eric Ver Hage, director, surface ship maintenance and modernization, Naval Sea Systems Command; and Rear Adm. Howard Markle, deputy commander, logistics, maintenance, and industrial operations, Naval Sea Systems Command. https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
FRIDAY | MAY 7
9:30 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies webinar: “Reordering Priorities: Republic of Korea-U.S. Alliance in the Indo-Pacific Century,” with former South Korean Minister and Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn; Ji Seong-ho, member of the South Korean National Assembly; former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert, Korea chair at CSIS; and Victor Cha, senior vice president of CSIS. https://www.csis.org/events/reordering-priorities-rok-us
11:30 a.m. — Brookings Institution webinar: “The Future of Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Modernization,” with Adm. Charles Richard, commander of U.S. Strategic Command https://www.brookings.edu/events/the-future-of-strategic-deterrence
12 p.m. — House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing: “Fiscal Year 2022 United States Air Force and Space Force Budget,” with Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., chief of staff of the Air Force; Gen. John Raymond, chief of operations, U.S. Space Force; and John Roth, acting secretary of the Air Force. https://appropriations.house.gov/events/hearings
1 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies webinar: “Project Overmatch,” the Navy’s Joint All Domain Command and Control implementation program, with Rear Adm. Douglas Small, commander of Naval Information Warfare Systems Command. https://www.csis.org/events/project-overmatch
3:30 p.m. — Woodrow Wilson Center Polar Institute webinar: “Understanding the New Dimensions of Trans-Atlantic Arctic Security,” with Capt. J.F. French, deputy commander of Joint Task Force North; Col. Petteri Seppala, defense attache at the Embassy of Finland; Col. David Hanson, commander of the 821st Air Base Group; retired Maj. Gen. Mats Engman, military fellow at the Institute for Security and Development Policy; and retired Rear Adm. Lars Saunes, professor at the U.S. Naval War College https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/arctic-security-dialogues
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Diplomacy is all about actually engaging directly … Just because you engage with someone doesn’t take the word ‘no’ out of your vocabulary.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, arguing that President Joe Biden’s desire to meet face to face with Russian President Vladimir Putin is not a sign of weakness.
