RUSSIA ESCALATES ATTACKS: Russia has escalated its drone attacks on civilian and residential buildings in Ukraine, and in one of its latest attacks struck the building in Kyiv where a NATO country ambassador lives. Estonia’s ambassador to Kyiv, ANNELY KOLK, wasn’t harmed in the attack but it underscores the precariousness of Russia’s showdown with NATO over the war in Ukraine. It also spotlights how Moscow is indiscriminately targeting civilians as a deliberate wartime strategy to wear down Ukraine’s will to fight, said KRISTJAN PRIKK, Estonia’s ambassador in Washington. “These attacks are almost designed to be indiscriminate. The kind of message that these attacks are meant to send to people is that no one and nowhere is safe,” he said. EASTERN CONGO PEACE WAVERING: The State Department issued a warning today about violations of a cease-fire between militia groups in eastern Congo — a sign that the simmering conflict might reignite and plunge the long-troubled country back into major active warfare. The Rwandan-backed M23 militia group broke the cease-fire on Oct. 20. The State Department is now calling on the group, which has been fighting and operating in the eastern Kivu provinces since 2012 to “immediately cease hostilities and withdraw from its positions in Walikale territory, North Kivu Province.” On the other side, Washington called on Kinhasa to end its support for the sanctioned Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda militia. The U.S. also urged both Kinhasa and Kigali to recommit to a peace process currently being facilitated by Angola. The breach in the cease-fire in eastern Congo is a major blow for the Biden administration and Director of National Intelligence AVRIL HAINES, who helped broker a truce between Rwanda and Congo in 2023. Eastern Congo has been wracked by instability for decades and rising tensions could lead to full-out war between Congo and Rwanda and force millions from their homes. CHINESE INVASION? DIAL 118: Taiwan’s Coast Guard is taking a “whole of society” approach to detecting any incoming Chinese invasion, our own PHELIM KINE writes in. The agency today unveiled a new pitch for the island’s citizens: Report a “suspicious marine target…[and] win a generous bonus!” It also created a new Coast Guard tip line aimed to be a citizens’ early warning system for Chinese vessels that enter Taiwan’s waters. The new system comes as China ratchets up military exercises in the Taiwan Straits in recent weeks and threatens forceful reunification of the self-governing island with the mainland. “To eliminate all kinds of gray zone attacks, the Coast Guard calls on the people of Taiwan to raise their awareness…and to call the ‘118’ line to notify the Coast Guard when they find any suspicious situations,” the administration said in a statement on its website Friday. Rewards range from $93 for reporting a Chinese vessel under 20 tons and more than $6,000 for dropping a dime on more threatening incursions. DRINKS WITH NATSEC DAILY: At the end of every long, hard week, we like to highlight how a prominent member of the national security scene prefers to unwind with a drink. Today, we’re featuring TOMOAKI ISHIGAKI, the Japanese embassy in Washington’s Congressional minister, who is concluding his diplomatic tour in the United States this month. “As a Japanese diplomat I of course will mention how much I love a good sake or Japanese Suntory whisky,” he says laughing. Ishigaki also has a soft spot for Irish whiskey, going back to his days as a college student, when he visited Ireland and toured an Irish whiskey factory. “I have fond memories of trying this for the first time and still enjoy it,” he said. Of course, it would be undiplomatic for a diplomat to say which country’s whiskey they like better. We will venture a guess to say Japan’s. But regardless, cheers to that! IT’S FRIDAY! WELCOME TO THE WEEKEND: Thanks for tuning in to NatSec Daily! This space is reserved for the top U.S. and foreign officials, the lawmakers, the lobbyists, the experts and the people like you who care about how the natsec sausage gets made. Aim your tips and comments at rgramer@politico.com and ebazail@politico.com, and follow Robbie and Eric on X @RobbieGramer and @ebazaileimil. While you’re at it, follow the rest of POLITICO’s global security team: @dave_brown24, @HeidiVogt, @RosiePerper, @nahaltoosi, @PhelimKine, @connorobrienNH, @paulmcleary, @reporterjoe, @JackDetsch, @magmill95, @johnnysaks130, and @JGedeon1
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