With Afghanistan withdrawal at halfway point, US desperately seeking bases in region

While McKenzie gave no details, at the White House, national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that Pakistan, which shares a long southern border with Afghanistan, is a prime location.

“We have had constructive discussions in the military, intelligence, and diplomatic channels with Pakistan about the future of America’s capabilities,” Sullivan said, adding, “We are talking to a wide range of countries about how we build effective over-the-horizon capacity, both from an intelligence and from a defense perspective to be able to suppress the terrorism threat in Afghanistan on a going forward basis.”

PROTECTING THE EMBASSY AND AIRPORT: McKenzie is due to submit options to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin as soon as this week for the post-withdrawal security posture, including the need for hundreds of U.S. troops to guard the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and international forces to secure the airport.

“Our plans are very far advanced on what our posture is going to look like after we complete the withdrawal of USFOR-A and, of course, our NATO and other partners that are there,” McKenzie said, using the acronym for U.S. Forces Afghanistan. The embassy, he said, will be at the invitation of the Afghan government. “It will be first — and most important — their responsibility to protect that embassy, although we will always take whatever measures are necessary to protect our diplomats in any embassy anywhere in the world.”

The plans are being closely coordinated with the NATO nations that are also leaving. At a meeting at the Pentagon yesterday with Austin, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg indicated NATO would help to maintain “critical infrastructure,” such as the airport.

“We will continue to provide support to the Afghans with our continued civilian presence in Afghanistan, with continued funding for the Afghan security forces, and also looking into the possibility of providing out-of-country training for Afghan forces,” Stoltenberg said.

PROSPECTS FOR PEACE REMAIN DIM: While McKenzie praised U.S. ally Qatar for hosting “round after round” of peace talks, he conceded to date the efforts have come to naught.

“The government of Afghanistan is ready to talk. I think the Taliban need to show an equal commitment to talking very honestly and in a straightforward way to try to find a political solution as we go forward,” he said. “I think the government of Afghanistan is willing to do that. I’m not sure the Taliban is willing to do that. Now is the time, and unfortunately, time is now becoming very short.”

TALIBAN AVERSION TO PEACE TALKS COULD IMPERIL U.S. DIPLOMATS AND INTERPRETERS AFTER MILITARY LEAVES

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 Victor I. Nava. 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.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP OR READ BACK ISSUES OF DAILY ON DEFENSE

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: Secretary of State Antony Blinken is back on the Hill this morning, testifying at 10 a.m. before the Senate Appropriations Committee on the Biden administration $58.5 billion budget request for the State Department.

Blinken had back-to-back hearings yesterday, in which he touted the spending plan doubling down on the fight for democracy and reestablishing U.S. humanitarian leadership.

TARGETS ON THEIR BACKS: Blinken was grilled yesterday by House Foreign Affairs Committee lead Republican Rep. Michael McCaul about the fate of the 18,000 Afghans who have worked for the U.S. over the last two decades and who could face retribution from the Taliban if they take control of the country.

“These people will have a bullseye and a target on their back from the moment we leave the country,” said McCaul. “According to No One Left Behind, there have been 300 targeted killings of these people since 2014. And if we abandon them, we are signing their death warrants.”

“We are looking very actively at every possible contingency to make sure that we can accommodate and care for those who are seeking — who have helped us and are seeking to leave,” said Blinken, who noted there is a backlog of 5,500 pending applications for special immigrant visas that will take months to work through.

With U.S. forces on track to be out of Afghanistan by late summer, McCaul pressed Blinken for details of any plan to evacuate translators and other Afghan helpers to a third country where they could safely wait for the paperwork to be processed.

“We’re considering every option, yes,” Blinken replied, but also said he did not expect any immediate collapse of the government in Kabul. “We’re not withdrawing,” Blinken said of the diplomatic mission. “We’re staying. The embassy’s staying. Our programs are staying.”

“Whatever happens in Afghanistan, if there is a significant deterioration in security — that could well happen; we’ve discussed this before — I don’t think it’s going to be something that happens from a Friday to a Monday,” Blinken said. “So, I wouldn’t necessarily equate the departure of our forces in July, August, or by early September with some kind of immediate deterioration in the situation.”

‘THE CLOCK IS TICKING’: McCaul wasn’t satisfied with Blinken’s explanation, tweeting after the hearing: “I was frustrated w/@SecBlinken’s lack of a direct response to my question on evacuating #Afghans who risked their lives to assist us to a 3rd country. @DeptofDefense said they’re developing plans; @StateDept should tell Congress where they could be evacuated to.”

“The clock is ticking, and the Taliban are on the march,” McCaul said in his opening statement. “The time for platitudes and vague promises are over. We need action, and we need it yesterday.”

In his conference call briefing yesterday, Gen. Frank McKenzie was asked if the U.S. would be able to evacuate Afghans even after the September withdrawal deadline.

“We will have the capability to exercise whatever orders were given,” McKenzie said. “Clearly, it’s easier at some times than others. But the United States military has remarkable capabilities for this type of thing. We can do whatever is going to be necessary whenever it would be necessary.”

REWARDING PUTIN: At yesterday’s hearing, McCaul was also sharply critical of President Joe Biden’s decision to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva next week.

“Vladimir Putin is not our friend. And just in the last year, SolarWinds hacked in my hometown of Austin. He and his cronies are responsible for at least three additional cyberattacks in the last two months,” McCaul said. “Yet, late last month, the Biden administration made the baffling assertion that waiving sanctions on NordStream 2 AG, a Russian Gazprom subsidiary, and its CEO and corporate officers is somehow in the U.S., quote, ‘national interest.’”

“Now, President Biden is rewarding Putin with a summit in Geneva next week,” he said. “This sends a very powerful and very dangerous message.”

WASHINGTON’S BLACK SEA ALLIES WORRY ABOUT BEING PAWNS IN BIDEN-PUTIN CHESS MATCH AS SUMMIT NEARS

“We do not regard a meeting with the Russian president as a reward, we regard it as a vital part of defending America’s interests and America’s values,” said national security adviser Jake Sullivan at the White House. “Joe Biden is not meeting with Vladimir Putin despite our countries’ differences, he’s meeting with him because of our countries’ differences. There is simply a lot we have to work through.”

BIDEN-PUTIN SUMMIT OF LITTLE IMPORTANCE IN THIS WAR-TORN UKRAINIAN VILLAGE

ALSO TODAY: Acting Air Force Secretary John Roth, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., and Chief of Space Operations Gen. John Raymond testify at 2 p.m. about the Air Force and Space Force budget for 2022 before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

And Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks participates in a fireside chat at the Center for a New American Security National Security Conference, which begins today at 11 a.m.

MORE THAN JUST MONEY: At yesterday’s Pentagon meeting with Jens Stoltenberg, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revealed that he will be accompanying President Joe Biden to next week’s NATO leaders summit in Brussels.

And he said the U.S. would continue to press alliance members to continue increasing the amount of money they spend on their own militaries, with an emphasis on NATO nations not only spending more but doing more when it comes to missions and exercises.

“Obviously, we’re focused on NATO’s top job — maintaining credible deterrence and being ready to fight and win if deterrence should fail,” Austin said.

“We can also be proud of our efforts to ensure our allies share equitably in the responsibility to procure, prepare, and provide ready forces and capabilities,” Austin said. “As a result of your leadership, Mr. Secretary-General, this is the seventh consecutive year of increased defense spending.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The Rundown

Washington Examiner: DOJ recovers most of ransom Colonial Pipeline paid to DarkSide hackers

Washington Examiner: Washington’s Black Sea allies worry about being pawns in Biden-Putin chess match as summit nears

Washington Examiner: Biden-Putin summit of little importance in this war-torn Ukrainian village

Washington Examiner: Taliban aversion to peace talks could imperil U.S. diplomats and interpreters after military leaves

Washington Examiner: Blinken won’t say how US will hold China accountable over Wuhan lab access

Reuters: Ahead Of Putin Meeting, Biden Tells Zelenskiy He Will Stand Up For Ukraine’s Sovereignty

AP: Putin Confirms Russian Exit From Open Skies Treaty

Wall Street Journal: Afghan Troops Gird for Taliban Attacks

AP: Senate report details sweeping failures around Jan. 6 attack

Defense News: U.S. Navy, Boeing Conduct First-Ever Aerial Refueling With Unmanned Tanker

Bloomberg: Boeing Charged Japan 1,500% Markup on Plane Part, Air Force Says

19fortyfive.com: The Great Ammo Shortage (And Price Spike) of 2021: When Will It End?

Air Force Magazine: Munitions Take Hit in 2022 Budget As USAF Keeps Eye on High-End Fight

Seapower Magazine: Ghost Fleet Overlord USV Program Completes Second Autonomous Transit to the Pacific

Foreign Policy: Pentagon Faces Tense Fight Over Pacific Pivot

19fortyfive.com: India: The Next Aircraft Carrier Superpower?

Asia Times: UUV Swarms: A Sub Killer Lurks In The Deep

Military.com: Court-Martial Begins for Marine Raider Accused of Helping Murder Green Beret in Mali

Task & Purpose: Marine Dies During ‘Crucible’ Training At South Carolina Boot Camp

Washington Examiner: Opinion: Three reasons Biden must hold a post-summit press conference with Putin

Calendar

TUESDAY | JUNE 8

9 a.m. — American University holds a virtual media briefing on the first Biden-Putin meeting and the upcoming NATO, U.S.-EU and G-7 summits, with James Goldgeier, member of the State Department’s Historical Advisory Committee, professor at the AU School of International Service and senior visiting fellow at the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution; Ghiyath Nakshbendi, senior professorial lecturer at the AU Kogod School of Business; Michelle Egan, professor at the AU School of International Service and co-director of SIS’s Transatlantic Policy Center; and Garret Martin, professorial lecturer and co-director of SIS’s Transatlantic Policy Center https://american.zoom.us

9:30 a.m. G50 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing; “The United States’ strategic competition with China,” with Matt Pottinger, former assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser; distinguished visiting fellow, The Hoover Institution Stanford University; Evan Medeiros, distinguished fellow, U.S.-China studies Georgetown University; Sheena Chestnut Greitens, associate professor, University of Texas at Austin; and Bonnie Glaser, director, Asia Program, German Marshall Fund of the United States. https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings

9:30 a.m. — German Marshall Fund of the United States virtual discussion; “Priorities for a U.S.-EU Summit,” with Acting Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker; EU Ambassador to the United States Stavros Lambrinidis; and Ian Lesser, vice president and executive director of GMFUS Brussels. https://www.gmfus.org/events/priorities-us-eu-summit

10 a.m. 106 Dirksen — Senate Appropriations Committee hearing: “A Review of the FY22 State Department Budget Request,” with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings

10 a.m. — Woodrow Wilson Center Global Europe Program and Kennan Institute virtual discussion: “Biden’s First International Trip: Expectations and Realities,” with Daniel Hamilton, fellow at the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation; and Matthew Rojansky, director of the WWC Kennan Institute. https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event

11 a.m. — Center for a New American Security National Security Conference, with Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks; and Richard Fontaine, CEO, CNAS. https://www.cnas.org/2021-conference-registration

11 a.m. — House Armed Services Subcommittee Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces hearing: “Air Force Projection Forces Aviation Programs and Capabilities Related to the 2022 President’s Budget Request,” with Darlene Costello, acting assistant secretary of the Air Force, acquisition, technologies and logistics; Lt.  Gen. David Nahom, deputy chief of staff plans and programs; and Lt. Gen. S. Clinton Hinote, deputy chief of staff strategy, integration and requirements. https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings

11 a.m. — SETA Foundation at Washington D.C. virtual discussion: “U.S.-Turkey Relations: Previewing the Biden-Erdogan Meeting at NATO,” with Luke Coffey, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Foreign Policy; Burhanettin Duran, general coordinator at SETA; and Kilic Kanat, research director at SETA. https://setadc.org/events/u-s-turkey-relations

11 a.m. — United States Institute of Peace virtual discussion: “The Resurgence of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan,” with Amira Jadoon, assistant professor at West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center; Asfandyar Mir, postdoctoral teaching fellow at Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation; Tricia Bacon, assistant professor at American University’s School of Public Affairs; and Tamanna Salikuddin, director of South Asia programs at USIP https://www.usip.org/events/resurgence-tehrik-i-taliban-pakistan

1 p.m. — American Bar Association virtual discussion: “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Military: Racial Disparity in the Services,” with Col. Christopher Shaw, staff judge advocate at the Marine Corps Combat Development Command; retired Col. Will Gunn, principal at W. Gunn Consulting Services; Rachel VanLandingham, Law professor at Southwestern Law School; and Patricia Harris, member of the ABA Standing Committee on Armed Forces Law. https://americanbar.zoom.us/webinar/register

1:30 p.m. Pentagon Briefing Room — Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, briefs reporters on the states of the Guard

2 p.m. — Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing: “Air Force and Space Force Budget,” with John Roth, acting Air Force Secretary; Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., Air Force chief of staff; Gen. John Raymond, chief of space operations. https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/air-force-and-space-force-budget

2 p.m. — Association of the U.S. Army’s Thought Leaders webinar, with retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges to discuss his new book, Future War and the Defence of Europe. https://info.ausa.org

2:30 p.m. 222 Russell — Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower hearing “Navy and Marine Corps investment programs in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2022,” with Lt. Gen. Eric Smith, deputy commandant for combat development and integration; Vice Adm. James Kilby, deputy chief of naval operations for warfighting requirements and capabilities; and Frederick Stefany, acting assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development, and acquisition. https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings

3:30 p.m. — Washington Post Live virtual discussion: “UFOs and National Security,” with Luis “Lue” Elizondo, former director of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program. https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live

WEDNESDAY | JUNE 9

All Day — President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden travel to the United Kingdom for Biden’s first overseas trip.

10 a.m. 192 Dirksen — Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee hearing: “A Review of the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Submission for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Bureau of Reclamation,” with Jamie Pinkham, acting assistant secretary Army (civil works); Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon, chief of engineers and commanding general, David Palumbo, deputy commissioner of operations, Bureau of Reclamation. https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings

10 a.m. — Middle East Institute virtual Cyber Conference, with pre-recorded remarks from Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va. https://www.mei.edu/events/meis-second-annual-cyber-conference

12:15 p.m. — New America virtual discussion: “Bringing Americans Home 2021: A Non-Governmental Assessment of U.S. Hostage Policy and Family Engagement,” with former Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller; and State Department Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens. https://www.newamerica.org/international-security/events

2:15 p.m. — Atlantic Council virtual discussion: “Competition and Deterrence in Europe,” with Air Force Gen. Tod Wolters, commander of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event

2:30 p.m. — Senate Select Committee on Intelligence confirmation hearing for Christine Abizaid to be director of the National Counterterrorism Center, and Robin Ashton to be inspector general for the Central Intelligence Agency. https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/hearings

3 p.m. — House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness hearing: “Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Request for Military Readiness, with Gen. Joseph Martin, vice chief of staff of the Army; Adm. William Lescher, vice chief of naval operations; Gen. David Allvin, vice chief of staff of the Air Force; Gen. Gary Thomas, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps; and Gen. David Thompson, vice chief of staff space operations. https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings

3 p.m. — American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research web event, “Transforming the U.S. Army,” with Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville; Gen. John Murray, commander, Army Futures Command; and Mackenzie Eaglen, Resident Fellow, AEI. https://www.aei.org/events/transforming-the-us-army

4:30 p.m. 232A Russell — Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces hearing: “Missile defense strategy, policies, and programs in review of the Defense Authorization Request for fiscal year 2022 and the Future Years Defense Program,” with Vice Adm. Jon Hill, director Missile Defense Agency; Lt. Gen. Daniel Karbler, commander U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Joint Functional Component Command For Integrated Missile Defense; Gen. Glen VanHerck, commander United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command; Leonor Tomero, deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and missile defense policy; Ankit Panda, senior fellow, Nuclear Policy Program Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Robert Soofer, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and missile defense policy. https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings

THURSDAY | JUNE 10

TBA — President Joe Biden meets with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his visit to the United Kingdom.

9:30 a.m. G50 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing: “Department of Defense budget posture in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2022, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin; Gen. Mark Milley; and Michael McCord, undersecretary of defense (comptroller). https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings

11 a.m. — House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces hearing: “FY22 Budget Request for Nuclear Forces and Atomic Energy Defense Activities,” with Melissa Dalton, acting assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans, and capabilities; Charlie Verdon, acting administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration; Vice Adm. Johnny Wolfe, director, Strategic Systems Programs; and Air Force Lt. Gen. James Dawkins, deputy chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration. https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings

11 a.m. — Center for a New American Security National Security Conference panel: “Protecting Democracy, Protecting National Security,” with Rep. Peter Meijer R-Minn; Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich; Carrie Cordero, CNAS senior fellow, and Jonathan Swan, Axios national political correspondent. https://www.cnas.org/2021-conference-registration

12 p.m. — McCain Institute virtual book discussion on “The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare,” with author Christian Brose, head of strategy at Anduril Industries; and former National Counterterrorism Center Director Nicholas Rasmussen, executive director of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/authors-insights

FRIDAY | JUNE 11

All Day — President Joe Biden attends the G7 Summit in Cornwall, U.K., and takes part in bilateral meetings with fellow G7 leaders.

11 a.m. — House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations hearing: “FY22 Defense Intelligence Enterprise Posture Hearing,” with David Taylor, performing the duties of the undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security; Gen. Paul Nakasone, director, National Security Agency; and Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, director Defense Intelligence Agency. https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings

SUNDAY | JUNE 13

TBA — President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden meet with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle, before departing for Brussels, Belgium.

MONDAY | JUNE 14

All Day — President Joe Biden participates in the NATO Summit and a separate U.S.–EU Summit.

WEDNESDAY | JUNE 16 

All Day — In Geneva, Switzerland President Joe Biden will meet face to face with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time since assuming office.

THURSDAY | JUNE 17

10 a.m. 106 Dirksen — Senate Appropriations Committee hearing: “A Review of the FY 2022 Department of Defense Budget Request.” https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings