| FLY VS. DRIVE: While a 72-hour ceasefire appears to be holding, the British government has begun to evacuate British nationals from Sudan aboard military flights from an airfield outside the capital Khartoum, the United Kingdom government announced today. "Flights will be open to those with British passports and priority will be given to family groups with children and/or the elderly or individuals with medical conditions," according to the statement tweeted by the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. "At this stage we will contact those who are eligible for evacuation directly and British nationals should not make their way to the airfield unless called." Meanwhile, the Pentagon says the security situation in Khartoum is too uncertain for a U.S. military airlift of Americans and dual nationals trapped in the city, as two warring generals fight over a plan to combine their rival military factions. "We're going to do everything we can to help guide people, get them the information they need to get out safely, but it is not safe right now, for another evacuation attempt that would actually put Americans in more danger, not less," said NSC spokesman John Kirby on CBS. Instead, the Biden administration is telling Americans who want to get out of Khartoum to consider an arduous 500-mile drive overland to Port Sudan. "We just entered a period of a ceasefire, we hope it holds, but because of the violence we've seen in the last few days, our best advice to most Americans who are still in Sudan, despite the warnings to leave, is to shelter in place, stay somewhere safe and secure before moving about," said Kirby on CNN last night. "We are providing information to all of those Americans we can reach, and who want to stay in touch with us, about these convoys that might be leaving towards Port Sudan over ground," Kirby said. "What the United States military is doing is providing overwatch, unmanned aerial assets of these convoys so that we can have some level of situational awareness and stay informed about their progress as they make this very, very long journey." "American citizens have begun arriving in Port Sudan, and we are helping facilitate their onward travel," said national security adviser Jake Sullivan at the White House. "We anticipate that this route will continue to be available for Americans who are looking to leave, and convoys continue to get organized, depart Khartoum, and arrive at the Port of Sudan." WARRING SIDES IN SUDAN AGREE TO THREE-DAY CEASEFIRE, BLINKEN ANNOUNCES ECHOES OF AFGHANISTAN: In an appearance on CNN yesterday, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) said the U.S. should be taking advantage of the ceasefire to get as many Americans out as possible. "There was a cease-fire for just a couple of days during the religious holiday that enabled us to get the embassy employees out. The problem is, we have 16,000 Americans left behind who are given the message that you're sort of on your own right now." "I have talked to many officials in the State Department. I know that they are working very hard to get these Americans out," McCaul said. "I am again hearing about Americans being left behind. It reminds me so much of the Afghanistan situation. I hope this is a very different scenario. I think getting extension on the cease-fire is going to be critical to saving these American lives, who are going to be really in harm's way." As was the case in Afghanistan, the State Department says it doesn't have a good handle on how many Americans are in Sudan and how many want to leave. "In Sudan, as you know, in any country around the world, whether it's Sudan or anywhere else, we never know with any precision how many Americans may be there at any given time because Americans are not required to register with the embassy," said Secretary of State Antony Blinken yesterday. "We're in regular communication with American citizens," Blinken said. "I would say some dozens have expressed an interest in leaving." "Now, keep in mind as well that the overwhelming majority of American citizens in Sudan are dual-nationals who have made their lives there, been living there for years, for decades, for generations, and many want to continue to do that," he added. US IS 'IN TOUCH WITH HUNDREDS' OF AMERICANS LEFT IN SUDAN AMID WORSENING CONFLICT NAVY SHIPS ON STANDBY: The Pentagon announced that two U.S. Navy ships in the region have been directed to move to Port Sudan for possible use in evacuating Americans who can make it overland to the Red Sea port, a 19-hour drive northeast of Khartoum. "We've got the USS Truxtun, which is off the coast of Sudan near Port Sudan. It will stay there awaiting further orders, should it be needed to support," said Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder. "Also en route is the USS Puller. So again, those capabilities will be there should we need to use them in support of State Department efforts." "Truxtun is a Arleigh Burke-class destroyer," said Ryder. "The idea here is to have these capabilities off-shore, available, should we need, for example, to transport citizens to another location, should we need to provide medical care, those kinds of things." The USS Lewis B. Puller is an expeditionary sea base, a relatively new class of ship designed to serve as a floating staging base for a variety of missions. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER 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 Conrad Hoyt. 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 TOMORROW: President Joe Biden will welcome South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to the White House for a state visit that will include private talks between the two leaders and a joint press conference where Biden will announce new efforts to bolster the U.S.-South Korean alliance in the face of North Korea's increasingly aggressive missile tests. "What I will say is that we believe that the statement will send a very clear and demonstrable signal of the United States' credibility when it comes to its extended deterrence commitments to the Republic of Korea and to the people of Korea," national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters at the White House. The announcement comes as the United States and South Korea conducted their biggest field exercises in years last month, and North Korea's Kim Jong Un has conducted nearly two dozen missile tests so far this year, including one that appears to be a new solid fuel ICBM. "He has demonstrated a whole bunch of different capabilities, all of which could lead to a second-strike capability," U.S. Korea Commander Army Gen. Paul LaCamera told Congress this month. "I mean he is clearly focusing on the theater ballistic missile capability, not just on the peninsula regionally but globally." BY GEORGE, BIDEN TAPS NEW ARMY CHIEF: Biden has reportedly nominated Gen. Randy George, vice chief of staff of the Army, to succeed Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville, who is scheduled to retire this summer. As of this morning, the White House has not put out an official announcement, but Defense News reported the pick, citing the congressional register, which indicated the Senate received George's nomination late last week. "Gen. George is honored to be considered and will wait for the results of the confirmation process before commenting on the nomination publicly," Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Loni Ayers told Defense News in a statement confirming the nomination. George "is a combat proven leader who is the right person at the right time and will guide the Army into the future," McConville told Defense News in a separate statement. RUSSIA LICKING WOUNDS, AWAITING UKRAINE'S NEXT MOVE: The latest intelligence update from the British Defense Ministry suggested Russia has pretty much abandoned its offensive operations, having suffered heavy casualties, and now is concentrating on efforts to blunt Ukraine's expected counteroffensive. "Russia's losses have highly likely reduced as their attempted winter offensive has failed to achieve its objectives, and Russian forces are now focused on preparing for anticipated Ukrainian offensive operations," the U.K. Defense Ministry said in today's tweet. "Over April 2023, Russia's average daily casualty rate has highly likely fallen by around 30 per cent. This follows exceptionally heavy Russian casualties over January-March 2023." The lower casualty rate is the result of reduced operations, the U.K. surmised. "Over the past year, Russia's temporary territorial gains have come with enormous losses. Hundreds of thousands of Russians have fled their country, in addition to the casualties. They are trying to avoid fighting in Putin's war," said Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley in Germany last week. "Russia has resorted to tightening conscription laws as they indiscriminately feed their citizens into the chaos of war, and so far, they've been quite ineffective in their coordination or direction of combined arms maneuver on the battlefield." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The Rundown Washington Examiner: Warring sides in Sudan agree to three-day ceasefire, Blinken announces Washington Examiner: US is 'in touch with hundreds' of Americans left in Sudan amid worsening conflict Washington Examiner: Russia's Lavrov condemned while chairing United Nations Security Council Washington Examiner: Paul Whelan's sister confronts Russia's Lavrov at UN Security Council Washington Examiner: China attempts to downplay diplomat's comment on ex-Soviet republics' sovereignty Washington Examiner: ISIS using Afghanistan for planning attacks, classified leak suggests Washington Examiner: Border Patrol under fire for failing to vet immigrant posing as child who murdered Floridian New York Times: China Tries To Curb Harm From Envoy's Gaffe AP: UN chief and West berate Russia's top diplomat over Ukraine Bloomberg: U.K. Urges China To Explain 'Biggest' Peacetime Military Buildup Breaking Defense: Zero Trust Is the Pentagon's New Cyber Buzzword. It Might Not Have Stopped the Discord Leaks. 19fortyfive.com: 19fortyfive.com: The U.S. Army Won't Buy Anymore Switchblade 300 Kamikaze Drones 19fortyfive.com: Putin's Nightmare Comes True: 2,000 Tanks Destroyed in Ukraine Air & Space Forces Magazine: SASC Chair Says There's Bipartisan Support to Build Up Munitions Production Military Times: As Military Maintenance Projects Languish, Funds Often Go Unused Air Force Technology: Australia's Defence Strategic Review rejects B-21 Raider Military.com: US Took Its 'Eyes off the Ball,' Space Force Intel Chief Says as Service Adds New Squadrons Air & Space Forces Magazine: Kadena Receives More F-15Es as Eagles Set to Leave By September Air & Space Forces Magazine: So Long, myPers: Airmen and Guardians Have Until April 30 to Retrieve Records Air & Space Forces Magazine: New PACAF Commander Tapped, Among Several Key Air Force Moves Marine Corps Times: Here's How The Corps Will Accommodate A Sikh Recruit In Boot Camp 19fortyfive.com: Opinion: The Russian Navy Is a Joke Calendar TUESDAY | APRIL 25 7 a.m. 2425 Wilson Blvd. — Association of the U.S. Army "Coffee Series" in-person event with Lt. Gen. Kevin Vereen, deputy Army chief of staff for installations; Sgt. Maj. Michael Perry, his senior enlisted adviser https://www.ausa.org/events/coffee-series/ltg-vereen-sgm-perry 1 p.m. — Government Executive Media Group virtual discussion: "Building Tomorrow's Workforce," with Brig. Gen. Scott Cain, director of air, space, and cyberspace operations at Air Force Materiel Command; and R. Dan Aldrich, deputy director of the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center's Detachment https://events.govexec.com/tomorrows-workforce/ WEDNESDAY | APRIL 26 9:30 a.m. G50 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing: "Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration Atomic Energy Defense Activities," with testimony from Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm; and Jill Hruby, administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings 10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee hearing: "Department of the Navy FY2024 Budget Request," with testimony from Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro; Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday; Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger http://www.armedservices.house.gov 10 a.m. — SETA Foundation at Washington D.C. virtual discussion: "Turkiye-Iran Relations and the Regional Dynamics," with Hakki Uygur, president of the Center for Iranian Studies; Alex Vatanka, founding director of the Middle East Institute's Iran Program; and Kdir Ustun, executive director of SETA https://tinyurl.com/mrxks9v7 10 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute forum: "A New Architecture for Northern Eurasia: The Sixth Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum," with a debate on "Free Russia vs. Post-Russian Independent States: After Putin or After" https://www.hudson.org/events/new-architecture-northern-eurasia 10:30 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee hearing: "U.S. Military Posture and National Security Challenges in Europe," with testimony from Celeste Wallander, assistant defense secretary for international security affairs; and Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commander, U.S. European Command https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings 2 p.m. 2212 Rayburn — House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing: "FY2024 National Security Space Programs," with testimony from John Plumb, assistant defense secretary for space policy; Frank Calvelli, assistant Air Force secretary for space acquisitions and integration; Christopher Scolese, director of the National Reconnaissance Office; and Navy Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth, director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings 2:30 p.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee hearing: "FY2024 Army Modernization Programs," with testimony from Douglas Bush, assistant Army secretary for acquisition, logistics, and technology; Gen. James Rainey, commanding general of the Army Futures Command; and Lt. Gen. Erik Peterson, deputy chief of staff (G-8) of the Army https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings/tal 2:30 p.m. 232A Russell — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing: "Air Force Modernization in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2024," with testimony from Lt. Gen. Richard Moore, deputy Air Force chief of staff for plans and programs; Lt. Gen. S. Clinton Hinote, deputy Air Force chief of staff for strategy, integration, and requirements; Lt. Gen. James Slife, deputy Air Force chief of staff for operations; and Andrew Hunter, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings 3 p.m. 222 Russell — Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee hearing: "Public Integrity and Anti-corruption Laws at the Defense Department," with testimony from retired Army Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, former special assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Danielle Brian, executive director and president of the Project On Government Oversight; Peter Beshar, Air Force general counsel; John Coffey, Navy general counsel; Carrie Ricci, Army general counsel; and Caroline Krass, DOD general counsel https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings 4 p.m. 4131 Campus Dr., College Park, Md. — University of Maryland Physics Department discussion: "The Future of Nuclear Deterrence and Arms Control," with former White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director John Holdren; Richard Garwin, fellow emeritus at the Thomas J. Watson Research Center; Frank von Hippel, senior research physicist at Princeton University; and Roald Sagdeev, former director of the USSR space agency IKI https://umdphysics.umd.edu/events THURSDAY | APRIL 27 7 a.m. 7920 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, Va. — Potomac Officers Club 2023 Industrial Space Defense Summit, with Assistant Air Force Secretary for Space Acquisition and Integration Frank Calvelli; Vice Adm. Jon Hill, director of the Missile Defense Agency; and Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for Space and Missile Defense John Hill https://potomacofficersclub.com/events/poc-2023 10 a.m. — German Marshall Fund of the U.S. virtual discussion: "The Elections in Turkey and Poland: How Domestic Corruption Undermines Democracy," with Cassandra Emmons, democracy data analyst at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems; Lisel Hintz, assistant professor of European and Eurasian studies at the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies; and Josh Rudolph, senior fellow for malign finance at the GMFUS Alliance for Securing Democracy https://www.gmfus.org/event/elections-turkey-and-poland 12 p.m. — Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments report release webinar: "Air Power Metamorphosis: Rethinking Air Force Combat Force Modernization," with author Chris Bowie, CSBA non-resident senior fellow; Thomas Mahnken, CSBA president and CEO; and moderated by air power analyst Jeremiah Gertler https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register 12:30 p.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee hearing: "Department of the Air Force FY2024 Budget Request," with testimony from Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall; Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown; and Space Force Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings 1 p.m. 2020 Rayburn — Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe hearing: "Church, State, and Russia's War on Ukraine," with Epiphanius I, metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine; Most Rev. Yevstratiy Zoria, metropolitan of Bila Tserkva; Most Rev. Borys Gudziak, archbishop of Philadelphia of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church; Rev. Dr. Igor Bandura, vice president of international affairs at the Baptist Union of Ukraine https://www.youtube.com/watch 3:20 p.m. — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin welcomes South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to the Pentagon FRIDAY | APRIL 28 10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Committee hearing: "Department of the Navy FY2024 Budget Request," with testimony from Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro; Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday; Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings 4 p.m. 2212 Rayburn — House Armed Services Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee hearing: "A Review of the Defense Intelligence Enterprise's Posture and Capabilities in Strategic Competition and in Synchronizing Intelligence Efforts to Counter the People's Republic Of China," with testimony from Ronald Moultrie, undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security; Gen. Paul Nakasone, commander, U.S. Cyber Command and director, National Security Agency; and Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, director, Defense Intelligence Agency https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings/iso | | | "The safety and security of British nationals continues to be our utmost priority … The roughly 2,000 British nationals registered with us already are being sent, sometimes with great difficulty, at least daily updates by text and email. This step helps enable us to remain in contact with them whilst we find a safe passage from Sudan."
| Andrew Mitchell, U.K. minister for international development and Africa, in remarks to the House of Commons as Britain begins a military airlift of British nationals out of Khartoum.
|
|
| | 
Comments
Post a Comment