Overnight Defense

Defense and National Security — McCarthy Signals Skepticism over Ukraine Aide

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) sent a warning shot that will be heard loudly in Kyiv, saying in a new interview that a GOP majority would not give a “blank check” to support Ukraine’s war against Russia. 

We’ll also explore how Russia’s use of Iranian drones is upping the geopolitical stakes for the U.S., as well as Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s latest warning about China’s threat to Taiwan.

This is Defense & National Security, your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. For The Hill, I’m Colin Meyn. A friend forward this newsletter to you?


McCarthy: No GOP ‘blank check’ to Ukraine

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said House Republicans will not write “a blank check” to Ukraine if they take control of the lower chamber next year.

The comments to Punchbowl News marked one of the clearest signs that aid to the war-torn country fighting off a Russian invasion will face a much tougher road in a GOP-led House.

“It’s not a free blank check. And then there’s the things [the Biden administration] is not doing domestically. Not doing the border and people begin to weigh that. Ukraine is important, but at the same time it can’t be the only thing they do and it can’t be a blank check,” McCarthy said.

Many Republicans in the House support military aid for Ukraine but are skeptical about nonmilitary humanitarian aid.

Republicans on the Hill have been frustrated at the Biden administration for not engaging enough with the GOP to justify their requests for the nonmilitary humanitarian aid requests. 

McCarthy comments are also noteworthy as support for Ukraine has been a rare area of bipartisan agreement- so far.

“I think people are gonna be sitting in a recession and they’re not going to write a blank check to Ukraine. They just won’t do it,” said McCarthy, who hopes to become Speaker if Republicans win the majority in the midterms.

Read the full story from Emily Brooks

Iranian drones in Ukraine raise steaks for US

Russia’s escalation of its attacks on Ukraine using Iranian kamikaze drones and targeting critical infrastructure ahead of winter is raising the stakes for the U.S. and its allies to quickly send air defense systems to the country.

The use of Iranian drones is also putting pressure on the U.S. and Europe to punish Tehran, even as they hold out hope to revive the comatose nuclear deal.

“It is clear that in the emerging cold war between the U.S., on the one hand, and Russia and China on the other, the Iranians have clearly chosen their camp,” said Ali Vaez, Iran project director with the International Crisis Group.

Upping pressure for air defenses: Russia’s escalating attacks on cities across Ukraine with the Iranian drones have killed more than a dozen civilians since last week, including a six-months-pregnant woman and her husband.

“The world can and must stop this terror,” Zelensky said in his evening address Monday. “In order to guarantee the protection of our skies, we need significantly more modern air defense systems. And this is not only Ukrainian interest. The fewer terrorist opportunities Russia has, the sooner this war will end.” 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also said that 30 percent of Ukraine’s power stations had been destroyed, causing massive blackouts across the country, with officials telling residents to conserve their electricity as much as possible and stock up on water.

German air defense systems arrived in the country last week, and Spain has committed to sending its own “Hawk” air defense systems. Counter-drone equipment from NATO and more U.S. air defense support is said to be on the way.

Sanctions and statements: The U.S. and allies have issued statements of condemnation against the use of Iranian drones and are reportedly readying targeted sanctions against military sales from Iran.

Read the full story from Laura Kelly. 

Blinken warns China’s Taiwan threat is accelerating

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday said China’s plans to annex the self-governed island of Taiwan that Beijing claims as its own are moving forward on a “much faster timeline” than previously expected.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday opened the Chinese Communist Party’s national congress on Sunday with a speech that affirmed his opposition to Taiwan’s independence.

Blinken called China’s push toward reunification under Xi a concern for both the U.S. and the international community.  

The balance between the two parties has been “a central component of managing the [U.S.] relationship with China for so long” and has been crucial to facilitating the significant commercial traffic that traverses the straits and impacts the global economy.

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That’s it for today. Check out The Hill’s Defense and National Security pages for the latest coverage. See you tomorrow!