Thursday Morning Brief (22-24 July)

Secret Service chief resigns, growing partnerships in the Pacific, plus more...

Author

Nicholas Weber
July 25, 2024

Curated foreign policy and national security news for professionals.

Good morning. Welcome to another Thursday morning edition of The Intel Brief. This edition has more high-level updates than usual, so I recommend giving yourself a little more time to get up to speed.

Reporting Period: 22-24 July

Bottom-Line Up Front:

1. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has resigned. Her resignation came a day after the hearing with the Oversight Committee.

2. Both SecDef and SecState are travelling to the Indo-Pacific for high-level visits. Both will go to Japan and the Philippines, but SecState has a bit more on his plate.

3. NATO member Slovakia received its first two F-16 Block 70’s this week. Slovakia placed the order way back in 2018, but experienced delays due to Ukraine.

4. Russia and North Korea quietly signed a series of agreements to deepen cooperation on law, crime, and cyber. Some think it could lead to greater cyber warfare threats.

5. Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Congress to generate support for the American-Israeli partnership. His speech was boycotted by 40 members of Congress and saw mass protests outside the Capitol.

(Missed previous publications? Sunday SITREP, Monday’s brief).

Hearing Ends, Secret Service Chief Resigns
22/23 July 2024

On 22 July, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability held a hearing on the assassination attempt of former president Donald Trump. Republicans and Democrats questioned U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, and exposed security lapses and negligence.

The Oversight Committee published questions they felt Cheatle failed to answer:

1. Did the Secret Service deny President Trump’s campaign additional security? If so, when and how many times?

2. Why did Secret Service fail to secure a rooftop in proximity to the rally site and with a clear view of President Trump’s podium?

3. Were agents positioned at the rally site affiliated with Secret Service or another Department?

4. How were Secret Service resources deployed at the rally site?

5. Was their advanced planning by Secret Service leading up to the campaign rally?

On 23 July, Cheatle resigned as director of the Secret Service.

Why This Matters

Cheatle’s testimony suggests total negligence and incompetence. It also suggests that our Secret Service professionals were not given the proper resources, time, or authority to effectively conduct their duties.

Want To Read More?

SecDef, SecState To Visit Indo-Pacific And Bolster Partnerships
22 July 2024

On 22 July, the U.S. government announced that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III and Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to the Indo-Pacific to meet with counterparts and further progress joint security goals.

Austin’s 10-day trip will take him to Japan and the Philippines. Austin will also meet with South Korea’s Minister of National Defense in Japan.

Blinken’s 8-day trip will take him to Vietnam, Laos, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Mongolia. Blinken will join Austin in Tokyo (JP) and Manila (PH) for defense talks. Blinken will meet with a Chinese counterpart in Laos.

Countries hosting our officials.

Why This Matters

Following President Biden’s announcement that he will not seek reelection, these high-profile visits assure U.S. allies that we are committed to our economic and security partnerships in the region.

A piece by The Diplomat summarizes why that is important:

❝

European pundits often argue that the world’s future will be shaped by events in Europe, such as the ongoing war in Ukraine... However, the real battleground for global influence and stability may well be in the Indo-Pacific. The dynamics in the region, particularly involving China and but also the Korean Peninsula, have direct and significant implications for both regional and global security.

The Diplomat

Austin’s visits aim to improve interoperability (e.g. more joint exercises) and information sharing (e.g. intelligence integration).

For Blinken, his visits aim to close a massive rift between the U.S., Beijing, and the Southeastern Asian states who don’t know, metaphorically, which wing to roost under. Blinken will attend an annual meeting of Southeast Asia’s foreign ministers which also host officials from China, Russia, India, and sometimes North Korea.

TL;DR: Austin is progressing the security posture while Blinken perpetuates the idea of a diplomatic solution to tension in the region.

Want To Read More?

NATO Member Slovakia Receives First F-16s From U.S.
22 July 2024

In a post on LinkedIn, Lockheed Martin announced that Slovakia has received their first two F-16 Block 70s. Slovakia has limited air power. The previous administration (led by Zuzana Kaputova) had donated Russian MiG-29s to Ukraine.

Slovakia first ordered the F-16s in 2018. The remaining F-16s are expected to be delivered by the end of 2025. Slovakia is the first European country to receive F-16 Block 70s.

Why This Matters

Slovakia currently lacks any air-to-air combat assets. Due to Slovakia’s position at Europe’s eastern fringes, the Slovaks are an important geographic and military asset to NATO.

The F-16 Block 70s are considered the most advanced 4th generation fighter to date. Upgrades, notably the APG-83 AESA Radar, are 5th generation upgrades. Slovakia’s F-16s are a big increase to NATO’s air power in Europe.

Want To Read More?

Russia And North Korea Sign New Agreement, Deepen Law Enforcement And Cyber Ties
23 July 2024

In Pyongyang, Russian and North Korean officials signed agreements that deepen their cooperation in law enforcement, anti-crime collaboration, and cyber.

This move reflects a broader deepening of ties between the two nations underscored by a recent, historic military assistance agreement between their leaders, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un.

Why This Matters

Analysts suggest this partnership could enhance their capabilities in cyber warfare, potentially increasing the threat they pose and prompting heightened security coordination among the US, Japan, and South Korea.

Russia has been known to sponsor hacker groups that have resulted in some of the world’s most notorious cyberattacks, such as the Colonial Pipeline attack.

NATO has also warned that Russia’s slow progress in Ukraine has inspired greater hybrid warfare activity across Europe. This deal with North Korea could proliferate such strategies.

Want To Read More?

Israeli PM Netanyahu’s Address To Congress
24 July 2024

On 24 July, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered his fourth address to Congress. Netanyahu spoke about Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. Netanyahu likened the October 7 attacks on Israel to Pearl Harbor and 9/11. He appealed to the American-Israeli partnership.

Netanyahu also addressed support for Hamas and Gaza in the U.S., referencing the this Spring’s college campus riots. He called those protestors “Iran’s useful idiots.”

Netanyahu’s speech was boycotted by some 40 Democrats. Hundreds of protestors were outside the Capitol. Netanyahu’s speech received criticism inside the chamber. Police said six people inside the chamber were arrested.

Why This Matters

The U.S. has given Israel $14 billion in military aid for their war with Hamas. With Biden not seeking reelection, the American-Israeli relationship is in question. Many feel that Israel is too involved in American politics, but for different reasons.

Both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are expected to meet with Netanyahu.

Want To Read More?

End Brief

Thanks for sticking around for another brief!

What do you think of the content?

Let me know what you think! Send me a comment too.

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Reminder, new briefs are coming:

  • Sunday SITREP @ 0630 ET

  • Monday morning brief @ 0630 ET

P.S. This newsletter is still growing thanks to the support from subscribers.

If you think this is a good product, please consider sending it to a friend, family member, or colleague who would enjoy it.

It takes less than 30 seconds - All you need to do is hit the “share” button!