A second Trump administration won’t be ‘automatic disaster’ for Ukraine, NATO: Analysts

A second Trump administration won’t be ‘automatic disaster’ for Ukraine, NATO: Analysts
A second Trump administration won’t be ‘automatic disaster’ for Ukraine, NATO: Analysts

New NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte already publicly congratulated President-elect Donald Trump, praising his push to get more members towards spending more on defense.

US Senate ratifies Sweden, Finland NATO membership

US Senate ratifies Sweden, Finland NATO membership
US Senate ratifies Sweden, Finland NATO membership

“Enlarging NATO is exactly the opposite of what Putin envisioned when he ordered his tanks to invade Ukraine,” Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said ahead of the vote.

‘Our own neighborhood:’ China’s influence is showing up closer to home

‘Our own neighborhood:’ China’s influence is showing up closer to home
‘Our own neighborhood:’ China’s influence is showing up closer to home

Lawmakers’ concerns echoed similar worries brought up earlier this month during a hearing with the heads of US Central Command and US Africa Command.

Wormuth Defends Army Budget, Missile Programs

Wormuth Defends Army Budget, Missile Programs
Wormuth Defends Army Budget, Missile Programs

The nominee for Army Secretary also aims to end “friction” between civilian acquisition officials and Army Futures Command, she told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

GOP Press Pentagon Nominee On Nukes, Mean Tweets

GOP Press Pentagon Nominee On Nukes, Mean Tweets
GOP Press Pentagon Nominee On Nukes, Mean Tweets

The nuke issue has been bubbling since Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was vague during his own confirmation hearing, telling senators he has to “look under the hood and see exactly what we’re doing with our nuclear forces.”

Senate Armed Services Stands By Afghanistan & Taiwan

Senate Armed Services Stands By Afghanistan & Taiwan
Senate Armed Services Stands By Afghanistan & Taiwan

“Seems Washington wants to stick around” in Afghanistan, said AEI’s MacKenzie Eaglen, “even if veterans themselves are increasingly the ones calling for the full end of troop presence in-country.”

Austin Easily Clears Waiver Votes, Could Be In Pentagon By Friday

Austin Easily Clears Waiver Votes, Could Be In Pentagon By Friday
Austin Easily Clears Waiver Votes, Could Be In Pentagon By Friday

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith issued a statement this morning saying, “while we hoped to hold an open hearing with the Secretary-designate and he had agreed to do so, procedural issues have prevented a hearing,” since the HASC has yet to finalize its member roster.

Gen. Milley Pledges To Speak Truth To Trump

Gen. Milley Pledges To Speak Truth To Trump
Gen. Milley Pledges To Speak Truth To Trump

“Arlington is full of our comrades, and we understand absolutely full well the hazards of our chosen profession … and we are not going to be intimidated into making stupid decisions. We will give our best military advice, regardless of the consequences to ourselves.”

Congress Applauds VP Pence’s Surprise Nixing Of Truman Retirement

Congress Applauds VP Pence’s Surprise Nixing Of Truman Retirement
Congress Applauds VP Pence’s Surprise Nixing Of Truman Retirement

The Pentagon and Navy leadership say the USS Harry S. Truman must retire so modernization might live. The White House wants to blow that plan up.

Senate NDAA Moves Ahead; North Korea Launches, Again

Senate NDAA Moves Ahead; North Korea Launches, Again
Senate NDAA Moves Ahead; North Korea Launches, Again

WASHINGTON: It was fitting that North Korea launched another missile over northern Japan just hours after Sen. John McCain appears to have won a substantial victory with today’s cloture vote apparently clearing the way for passage of the Senate version of the defense policy bill. Among the most interesting changes, one that was not unexpected,…

The Russians Are Coming: The Army’s Best Case For Modernization

The Russians Are Coming: The Army’s Best Case For Modernization
The Russians Are Coming: The Army’s Best Case For Modernization

WASHINGTON: The US Army has blown billions on weapons that never got built, so Congress is understandably wary of funding Army modernization. A senior Hill aide told us today that if the service wants money to modernize, it must convince Congress that its requests are in response to a specific threat the legislators care about, namely…

SecNav Nominee Spencer Soft-Pedals Trump’s 355-Ship Navy, Touts Robots

SecNav Nominee Spencer Soft-Pedals Trump’s 355-Ship Navy, Touts Robots
SecNav Nominee Spencer Soft-Pedals Trump’s 355-Ship Navy, Touts Robots

CAPITOL HILL: Amidst a bipartisan lovefest of a confirmation hearing, Navy Secretary nominee Richard  Spencer quietly and consistently downplayed the idea of a 355-ship fleet. The Navy now has 276 ships from supercarriers to minesweepers, President Trump promised 350 on the campaign trail, and the Chief of Naval Operations has officially assessed that he needs 355.…

Lawmakers’ Letters Endorse McCain Plan To Reinforce Pacific, Assist Asian Allies

Lawmakers’ Letters Endorse McCain Plan To Reinforce Pacific, Assist Asian Allies
Lawmakers’ Letters Endorse McCain Plan To Reinforce Pacific, Assist Asian Allies

A bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives is urging Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to budget $1.5 billion a year to reinforce US forces in the Pacific to better support Asian allies, stiffening their spines against Chinese intimidation. Known as the Asia-Pacific Stability Initiative and endorsed by the editorial page of The Wall Street Journal, it’s a proposal…

Mattis Signals Strong Commitment To Allies, Especially NATO; Announces Weapons Review

Mattis Signals Strong Commitment To Allies, Especially NATO; Announces Weapons Review
Mattis Signals Strong Commitment To Allies, Especially NATO; Announces Weapons Review

Presumptive Defense Secretary James Mattis sent a clear signal to America’s allies — and to his presumptive boss, President-Elect Trump — that the NATO alliance is “enormously” important and that America “must also take no ally for granted.” If approved by the Senate, Mattis said, in written answers to questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee,…