| | | | |  | | By Robbie Gramer and Eric Bazail-Eimil | |  Călin Georgescu has in various interviews and social media posts called the hosting of a U.S. missile defense system a “diplomatic disgrace” and praised Russian President Vladimir Putin. | Alexandru Dobre/AP | With help from Phelim Kine, Daniel Lippman and Jack Detsch Subscribe here | Email Robbie | Email Eric An ultranationalist and pro-Russia politician is favored to win Romania’s presidency in upcoming elections, amounting to a potential nightmare scenario for NATO, according to interviews with seven current and former U.S. and European officials. Romania is important to the alliance both for its military strength and strategic location on the Black Sea. CĂLIN GEORGESCU, the far-right and openly pro-Kremlin Romanian candidate who vaulted to the top of the country’s polls in its first round of presidential elections, doesn't look good for Romania’s future in that role. His campaign from relative obscurity to presidential frontrunner was fueled by a massive surge in following on TikTok, in a campaign that Romanian security officials now say bears the hallmarks of a Russian influence operation. Georgescu appears likely to win a runoff election on Dec. 8. U.S. and other NATO officials are paying close attention. Romania is viewed as a critically important NATO ally, gaining high marks from Washington for spending more than 2 percent of its GDP on defense and providing military support to Ukraine. It sits in a strategically important location for both Ukraine and the NATO alliance bordering Ukraine and the Black Sea and hosts a major military airbase and high-end U.S. Aegis missile defense system. If elected, Georgescu could roll all of Romania’s NATO commitments back at an uncertain time for the alliance: DONALD TRUMP is preparing to take office in the United States and Russian forces are slowly trying to grind down Kyiv’s military frontlines in eastern Ukraine. Georgescu has in various interviews and social media posts called the hosting of the U.S. missile defense system a “diplomatic disgrace,” praised Russian President VLADIMIR PUTIN and said the war in Ukraine is being “manipulated in the interest of starting a conflict that will financially help the U.S. military-industrial complex.” JOHN HERBST, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine now with the Atlantic Council think tank, said “Romania has been the NATO pillar on the Black Sea and therefore the impact of even a slightly pro-Russian policy in Bucharest would weaken notably the NATO position” in the region. A senior Romanian official, who like others was granted anonymity to speak about sensitive matters candidly, put the matter more bluntly: “A pro-Russian president in the sixth-largest EU country would mark a triumph for Vladimir Putin.” U.S. Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN met with the Romanian foreign minister, LUMINIȚA ODOBESCU, on Wednesday in Brussels on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers meeting, a U.S. official told NatSec Daily. Their meeting came within hours of Romania’s top security council declassifying a report on how “aggressive hybrid Russian attacks” influenced the elections. Still, it remains unclear how many votes were swayed by foreign-linked social media influence campaigns and general backlash and resentment against establishment parties among voters and whether Georgescu could get above 50 percent of the vote. If Georgescu wins, “it would be more evidence — as if we needed any — of rising anti-establishment tides in the West,” said another senior official from a NATO country. Biden administration officials have been in close contact with the Romanian government on the matter. “We have been very active on this behind the scenes and waiting until we had the strongest possible argument before going public,” said the U.S. official.
| | BIDEN’S LAP AROUND LOBITO: President JOE BIDEN gathered on Wednesday with the leaders of Tanzania, Zambia, Angola and Congo to celebrate progress on the Lobito Corridor, a major G7 investment in rail links between Africa’s Indian and Atlantic coasts. In addition to its importance for trade and regional development, some officials view the corridor as a key tool in U.S. competition with China, proving that Washington can compete with Beijing in major infrastructure and business projects in Africa. A senior Biden administration official told NatSec Daily that the infrastructure project offers a model for future U.S. engagement on the continent in a way that can compete with Chinese investment, though the person stressed the U.S. isn’t forcing African countries to choose. The trip to Lobito was the capstone of Biden’s visit to Angola — his first, last and only visit to Africa during his presidency. The Biden administration has faced scrutiny over advancing the Lobito Corridor project from human rights groups who said the administration hasn’t done enough to call out Angola’s checkered record on human rights. During his visit, Biden also held meetings on the sidelines with other African leaders, including Congolese President FELIX TSHISEKEDI to discuss the conflict in east Congo, where the Biden administration brokered a cease-fire last year, and Zambian President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA. WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOON: A day after South Korean President YOON SUK YEOL attempted to declare martial law in a potential “self-coup,” it’s looking increasingly likely that he might get away with it. The country’s opposition parties are looking to impeach Yoon for what they describe as gross violations of the South Korean constitution, but Yoon’s party is standing behind its leader. That could stymie domestic efforts to remove Yoon from power and hold him accountable. It’s unclear where the U.S., one of Seoul’s closest allies, stands on this. In a post on X, White House National Security Council spokesperson SEAN SAVETT wrote that South Korea “is demonstrating democratic resilience.” He added: “We are confident the people of Korea will resolve this episode peacefully, democratically, and constitutionally.” Washington has not taken a side either for or against Yoon’s removal from power. NO MORE UKRAINE AID IN SPENDING BILL: House Speaker MIKE JOHNSON has shot down a request from the Biden administration to include new additional funding for Ukraine in a short-term spending deal that Congress needs to pass later this month. “There are developments by the hour in Ukraine. … It is not the place of Joe Biden to make that decision now,” Johnson told reporters, as our own JORDAIN CARNEY reports. “We have a newly elected president and we’re going to wait and take the new commander-in-chief’s direction on all of that.” IT’S TUESDAY: 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, @jessicameyers, @RosiePerper, @nahaltoosi, @PhelimKine, @connorobrienNH, @paulmcleary,@reporterjoe, @JackDetsch, @samuelskove, @magmill95, and @johnnysaks130.
| | A TRUMP APPOINTEE BARRAGE: The transition news is in full swing as Trump unveiled a flurry of new nominees and appointees for national security posts set to join his administration on Wednesday. Trump named DANIEL DRISCOLL as Army Secretary and JARED ISAACMAN as NASA administrator. As our own PAUL McLEARY and SAM SKOVE report, Driscoll is a close friend of Vice President-elect JD VANCE. Isaacman, meanwhile, has praised tech mogul and fellow space aficionado ELON MUSK and was the first private citizen to complete a spacewalk in September. Trump also plans to replace Amb. ROGER CARSTENS, the U.S. special envoy for hostage affairs credited with securing the release of Americans TREVOR REED and BRITTNEY GRINER and contributing to the 2024 prisoner swap that saw the release of Wall Street Journal reporter EVAN GERSHKOVICH and PAUL WHELAN. As Eric reports, Trump announced that he will appoint ADAM BOEHLER, former chief executive of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and a top negotiator in the Trump administration’s Abraham Accords, to the role. The role, with ambassador rank, will be subjected to a Senate confirmation. And lastly (for now, at least): Trump shared on Truth Social that Fox News commentator MONICA CROWLEY, who served as a deputy national security adviser and a spokesperson for the Treasury Department, is his pick to be the next U.S. chief of protocol at the State Department. Crowley was accused in 2017 of plagiarizing sections of her doctoral dissertation at Columbia University.
| | SULLIVAN’S ARCTIC ASSERTIONS: U.S. military planners are neglecting Alaska’s key role in supporting strategic objectives in the Indo-Pacific, Sen. DAN SULLIVAN (R-Alaska) said at a Hudson Institute event today. As our own PHELIM KINE writes in, Sullivan said Indo-Pacific Command’s focus on bolstering U.S. forces on Guam without doing likewise at military facilities in Alaska is worsening U.S. vulnerabilities. “We don't want a conflict with China, but if there is one, they're going to lob some missiles and crater all the runways on Guam, and then what are we going to do [with] 8000 Marines on Guam…we need to get them to Alaska and other places in the Pacific and create a much broader dilemma for our adversaries.” Sullivan added. Doing so would also help counter the growing frequency of Chinese and Russian military activity around Alaska, said Sullivan.
| | | HEGSETH HANGS ON: Fox News host PETE HEGSETH is back on the Hill as the odds of him becoming Pentagon chief grow longer. Hegseth met with incoming Senate Republican leader JOHN THUNE and the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. ROGER WICKER (R-Miss.). He’ll also meet with Sen. JONI ERNST (R-Iowa), a veteran who has championed efforts to reduce sexual assault and misconduct in the U.S. military and has not yet committed to supporting him. His renewed push comes as reports emerged Tuesday night that Trump was eyeing other candidates, including Florida Gov. RON DESANTIS and Sens. BILL HAGERTY (R-Tenn.) and Ernst. Despite the swirl around him, Hegseth seems undeterred. He wrote an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal today and appeared in an interview with his mother on Fox and Friends this morning, insisting in both that he'll keep fighting and that he should still be confirmed as Pentagon chief. FIRST IN NATSEC DAILY — A FAMILIAR FACE: If you thought you spotted a former senator among Hegseth’s gaggle on Capitol Hill, your eyes weren’t deceiving you. Former Sen. NORM COLEMAN, another Minnesota native who served for one term from 2003 to 2009, has been working in an unofficial role as a “sherpa” escorting Hegseth around the Hill, one Trump transition aide told DANIEL LIPPMAN and JACK DETSCH. Hegseth worked with Coleman when the latter was head of the Republican Jewish Coalition, the person said. Coleman is attending Hegseth’s meetings with senators, but is mostly "listening and providing guidance," the aide said, speaking on condition of anonymity to talk about personnel matters. Our own JOE GOULD has seen Coleman go into meetings with Wicker and Sen. TOMMY TUBERVILLE (R-Ala.). But Coleman’s presence behind Hegseth raised eyebrows among some. Since being defeated in his bid for re-election to the Senate more than a decade ago, Coleman has chaired GOP-linked super PACs and worked as a lobbyist, most notably representing Saudi Arabia. Coleman’s law firm, Hogan Lovells, is representing Saudi Arabia for more than $200,000 a month. As senior counsel, the former senator wrote the lobbying agreement between both parties. The Pentagon plays an integral role in processing U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia, raising questions about whether Coleman's presence as "sherpa" could represent a conflict of interest. Hogan Lovells declined to comment. Coleman did not respond to a request for comment.
| | | FIRST IN NATSEC DAILY — GROWING GABBARD WORRIES: A group of more than 100 former national security and intelligence officials are voicing their concerns about Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence, former Hawaii member of Congress TULSI GABBARD. And it’s not just about her positions on Syria, Russia and Ukraine. In a letter organized by the advocacy group Foreign Policy for America, shared first with NatSec Daily, the former officials warn that beyond Gabbard’s past statements on global hotspots, her inexperience working with the intelligence community and her lack of management bona fides raise questions about her ability to oversee the constellation of U.S. intelligence agencies and protect human sources and other intelligence-gathering methods. It’s a new line of attack against Gabbard, as criticism of the Democrat-turned-Trump booster has to date focused much more on her statements of support for Syrian President BASHAR AL ASSAD and her claims that NATO provoked Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Gabbard has no executive experience as a former congress member and Hawaii legislator and did not serve on the House Intelligence Committee (she did serve on the Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees). BRIAN P. MCKEON, who served as deputy secretary of State for management and resources, argued that the role of director of national intelligence “requires not only deep expertise in intelligence but also proven management capabilities to lead a vast, interagency apparatus.” “Ms. Gabbard’s limited experience in intelligence and her lack of a demonstrated track record in managing large organizations raise serious questions about her preparedness for this essential role,” he added.
| | — HANNAH THOBURN is now EUCOM strategy director at Anduril Industries. She previously was a senior professional staff member for Europe and Eurasia for Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. — Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister DMYTRO KULEBA is joining The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School as a senior fellow. — PAT THOMPSON, a Senate Armed Services Committee professional staff member handling Army and Marine Corps programs, is joining government relations firm CR Federal. — MICHAEL GARCIA is now associate chief of policy at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA. He was previously the deputy associate chief for policy at CISA. — Lockheed Martin named KEVIN O’ CONNOR, the former senior vice president and chief legal officer for Carrier, as its senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. Effective Jan. 13, O'Connor will succeed MARYANNE LAVAN, who plans to retire. — RONALD S. MOULTRIE, a former under secretary of defense for intelligence and security, has joined the aerospace company LeoLabs as an outside director on its board of directors. — The investment firm Softbank Group has named JEFF DRESSLER as its head of government affairs. Dressler previously served as a commissioner for the Afghan War Commission and as a national security adviser to then-House Speaker PAUL RYAN and then-majority leader KEVIN McCARTHY.
| | — LENA MASRI, DEBORAH NELSON, MAGGIE MICHAEL, STEVE STECKLOW, RYAN MCNEILL, JAIMI DOWDELL and BENJAMIN LESSER, Reuters: An elaborate global system exists to prevent famine. It’s failing. — MARK MONTGOMERY and JOHN HARDIE, Foreign Policy: Trump should make Putin wince before they sit down to talk — JAMIE DETTMER, POLITICO: Erdoğan’s risky play in Syria
| | — McCain Institute, 8:45 a.m.: Washington Forum, with the theme "Democracy, Human Rights, & Leadership In Action" — Center for Strategic and International Studies, 9:30 a.m.: Examining People's Republic of China activities in the Arctic — House Select Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party Committee, 9:30 a.m.: Rebuilding the arsenal of democracy: The imperative to strengthen America's defense industrial base and workforce — Heritage Foundation, 10 a.m.: The Pacific pivot: American strategy for the Pacific islands — Middle East Institute, 10 a.m.: The geopolitical implications of closer ties between Central Asia and the Middle East — Wilson Center's Mexico Institute, 10:30 a.m.: The next president of the United States: Challenges and recommendations for the US-Mexico relationship. — Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 10:30 a.m.: Implementation of the global Magnitsky Laws — Hudson Institute, 11 a.m.: Taiwan's security needs for the next U.S. administration — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 11 a.m.: Trump 2.0 and global criminal justice: International accountability and what's next for the U.S — Wilson Center Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies, 2 p.m.: Geopolitical shifts and new alliances in Eurasia — Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, 2:30 p.m.: The role of Belarus in Russia's crimes — Atlantic Council, 4 p.m.: Discussion with former Ukrainian President PETRO POROSHENKO on the Russo-Ukrainian war Thanks to our editor, Heidi Vogt, who we would like to impeach for her violations of the NatSec Daily constitution. Thanks to our producer, Gregory Svirnovskiy, who is drafting articles of impeachment against Heidi. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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