Trump Calls for Arms Control, Rips Own Defense Budget as “Crazy”
Paul McCleary | Breaking Defense
President Donald Trump injected a fresh dose of uncertainty over defense spending Monday when he derided 2019’s defense budget — which he readily signed and has praised for months — as “Crazy!” The sharp turn in sentiment came in another dreaded early-morning presidential tweet that often shift the talking points for entire segments of the federal government, even if policies don’t change drastically. The latest presidential missive was part of the president’s upbeat appraisal of his own performance at the G20 summit in Argentina over the weekend, where he met with Chinese president Xi Jinping and had an informal talk with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Back in Washington, Trump wrote he is certain the three can “start talking about a meaningful halt to what has become a major and uncontrollable Arms Race. The U.S. spent 716 Billion Dollars this year. Crazy!”
U.S. Lawmakers Tangle Over Nuclear Arsenal, Russia Treaties
Joe Gould | Defense News
Half of all Republican senators are urging President Donald Trump to take heed of Russia’s growing nuclear weapons capability as the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty’s expiration date approaches — just one of many partisan salvos this week in Washington’s fight over the nuclear arsenal and its scope. In a letter Thursday to Trump led by Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz, the 25 senators committed to funding the U.S. nuclear weapons modernization program with an eye toward maintaining “a true balance of nuclear capabilities between the parties to the Treaty.” The lawmakers argue Russia has developed nuclear torpedoes and tactical nuclear weapons, which are not covered by the accord and should be included if the treaty is revised.
U.S. Sets Two-Month Deadline on Russia Over 1987 Nuclear Treaty
Jonathan Stearns, Nick Wadhams, and Jennifer Jacobs | Bloomberg
The U.S. is giving Russia two months to get back in compliance with a 1987 treaty on nuclear weapons before carrying out President Donald Trump’s threat to withdraw from the accord, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo told NATO allies in Brussels on Tuesday. NATO partners agreed with the U.S. position that Russia has jeopardized the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty for years by deploying ground-launched missiles that fall within the banned range of 500 kilometers (311 miles) to 5,500 kilometers. While not echoing the two-month deadline, the 29-nation alliance said in a statement late Tuesday that the Kremlin needs to show compliance “urgently.” Russia denies that it’s violating the agreement
Trump Wants to Grant Kim’s Wishes, South Korea Says Ahead of New Round of Summits
Simon Denyer | Washington Post
President Trump has a “very friendly view” of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and will make his wishes “come true” if he gives up his nuclear weapons, according to South Korean President Moon Jae-in, although Moon also cautions that sanctions will remain in place in the meantime. In remarks released Monday, Moon expressed optimism that Kim would visit Seoul soon, marking a first for a North Korean leader and sending the world a message of Kim’s commitment to denuclearize. After meeting with Trump at the Group of 20 summit in Buenos Aires, Moon said the U.S. president had given him a message to deliver to Kim.
Iran Missile Tests may Breach UN Resolution, France and UK Warn
Patrick Wintour | Guardian
France and the UK have echoed warnings by Donald Trump’s administration that Iran may be in breach of United Nations obligations by testing medium-range ballistic missiles capable of carrying multiple warheads. The remarks from Paris and London will be seen by the US government as the first sign that its key European partners may yet be persuaded to view Iran’s broader behaviour as so dangerous that their support for the 2015 Iran nuclear deal can no longer be justified.
Japanese Mitsubishi to Scrap Turkey Nuclear Project: Report
Hurriyet Daily News
A Japan-led public-private consortium is set to abandon a Turkish nuclear power project due to soaring costs, Japanese business daily Nikkei reported on Dec. 4. The delayed project’s construction costs have ballooned to around 5 trillion yen ($44 billion), nearly double the original estimate, making it difficult for lead builder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and its partners to continue with the plans, it said. The increase was due to heightened safety requirements in the wake of the 2011 meltdown at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and the recent fall in the Turkish Lira has also contributed to the cost increases, it added.