Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story Putin, Xi meet in Moscow to discuss ongoing Ukraine war Chinese leader Xi Jinping is in Russia for a three-day visit, with Russian President Vladimir Putin signaling he is open to working with China to resolve…
Author: Ellen Mitchell
Finland, but not Sweden, step closer to joining NATO
Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story Finland, but not Sweden, takes step closer to joining NATO Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said his nation’s parliament will ratify Finland’s application to the Western security alliance in an agreement that for now would leave…
What Xi and Putin want to gain from their joint meeting
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to travel to Moscow next week to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin – his first visit to Russia since Kremlin troops invaded Ukraine. The March 20 to 22 visit, also Xi’s first foreign trip since winning a third term as president, is seen by the West as a show of…
Army investigates female soldier’s death at Fort Hood
The Army is investigating the death of another female soldier who complained of sexual harassment at Fort Hood, Texas, the same base where Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen was murdered three years prior. Pvt. Ana Basalduaruiz, 20, a combat engineer who had served with the 1st Calvary Division for the past 15 months, was found dead on Monday, according…
Questions abound over US drone downing
Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story Questions abound over downing of US drone Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley on Wednesday said U.S. officials don’t yet know if it was an intentional hit when a Russian fighter jet a day…
Service member found dead in Pentagon parking lot
A service member was found dead in the Pentagon parking lot Tuesday, according to the Defense Department. Around 3:30 p.m., “the Pentagon Operations Center received a call requesting a welfare check on a military service member,” press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement. When Pentagon police officers responded to the building’s North…
Russia’s downing of US drone sparks fears of escalation
Russia’s apparent attack of a U.S. drone in international airspace on Tuesday quickly sparked concerns, spurring anxiety in Washington and drumming up fear across the nation of a wider escalation between the two countries. The Biden administration and lawmakers have blasted Russia for what they called an unprofessional and unsafe maneuver in which two Russian…
Pentagon budget puts focus on munitions production
Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story Pentagon budget puts focus on munitions production The Pentagon is looking to grow its munitions industrial base as Russia’s war in Ukraine has rapidly depleted U.S. stockpiles of missiles and ammunition. © AP The details of the…
Pentagon budget puts focus on munitions production as war in Ukraine hits stockpiles
The Pentagon is looking to grow its munitions industrial base as Russia’s war in Ukraine has rapidly depleted U.S. stockpiles of missiles and ammunition. The details of the Defense Department’s $842 billion budget request for fiscal 2024, revealed Monday, boosts arms makers with $30.6 billion for missiles and munitions — nearly 12 percent more than what was enacted last…
US intel leaders say China chief among global threats
Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story US intelligence chiefs: China ranks atop worldwide threats China’s power and ambitions for influence are bleeding into nearly every threat that U.S. intelligence agencies are tracking, the five directors of the most senior intelligence agencies told…