Who will be the Pentagon's No. 2?

December 2, 2024

Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec Newsletter

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Defense &
national security

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Amid deadly conflicts, global arms trade will surge in 2023

A new study shows that the world's top 100 arms producers increased their sales of weapons and military products last year, as countries react to a more volatile and dangerous geopolitical environment sparked by wars in Europe and the Middle East. increased by 4.3%. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) announced in a report on Monday that sales of the world's major arms producing countries reached $632 billion in 2023. Those…

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Democrats press Biden to limit Trump's ability to use domestic military

Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts) and Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut) this week wrote a letter asking for policy direction to prevent misuse of the military at home after expressing concerns about President Biden. It was sent to President Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. -President Trump's vague threat that he might use the military against domestic enemies. In a Nov. 26 letter, the senators said Biden…

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Taiwanese president meets with US officials in Hawaii as China condemns visit

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-de arrived in Hawaii over the weekend and spoke by phone with former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), as China condemns the U.S. visit to Taipei and sales of weapons parts. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) welcomed Lai to the state on Saturday as the Taiwanese leader spent two days in the Aloha State. Lai reportedly spoke with Pelosi and several other U.S. officials via phone and video calls.

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About our radar

What we're looking forward to:

NATO Secretary General mark rutte A press conference will be held prior to 2-day NATO foreign ministers meetingbegins Tuesday at 4:30 a.m. ET in Brussels, Belgium.

In other news

Read something different than The Hill.

MSNBC writer says Kash Patel as FBI director “would be a cross between Alex Jones and J. Edgar Hoover”

MSNBC opinion writer Hayes Brown said Sunday that President-elect Trump's pick for FBI director, Kash Patel, is “a cross between Alex Jones and J. Edgar Hoover.” . “Kash Patel as FBI Director will be a cross between Alex Jones and J. Edgar Hoover in the way he approaches…

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On tap tomorrow

Happenings in and around the defense industry:

of United States Army Association will be held Forum on “land fires” large-scale combat operationsat 8 a.m.
hudson institute I will host Discussion on “How the Trump Administration Can Help” reform the diplomatic service” at 10 a.m.
of Stimson Center will have “In competition, crisis and conflict: Build America's Combat Navy”Meeting with Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti at 3 p.m.
hudson institute will also be held Conversation about “”Moldova’s Euro-Atlantic future” 3:00 p.m. Meeting with Moldova's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popsoy and Moldova's National Assembly President Igor Grosu
of Center for Strategic and International Studies discuss “Protecting intellectual property for national security”, in conversation with Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas) at 3:30 p.m.
atlantic council will be held Special panel talk onfuture of ukraine” At 5 p.m.

what we are reading

News reported by other media outlets:

Drone Ranger: Trump World Declaring war on fighter pilots (politiko)
Congress will hold its next session There are more veterans than there were two years ago. (military era)
Defense contractors say 'significant risk' “Sacrificial Lamb” In the midst of Mr. Musk's tweets (inside defense)

today's trends

Two important stories about The Hill today:

Several Democrats condemn Biden's decision to pardon Hunter

President Biden's decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden further hurt a party already reeling from a hard loss in the election. read more

5 things to know about Kash Patel

President-elect Trump on Saturday nominated Kash Patel, a longtime ally, to head the FBI, a man who has promised to reform the agency. While doing… read more