PUTIN’S IMPUNITY UNIMPEDED: As President Donald Trump continues to threaten, but fails to deliver, tough new sanctions in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rejection of Trump’s peace overtures, members of his party are calling on him to take action.
Tuesday night was another night of drone and missile attacks, in what has been a major escalation of Russian air assault since the summit meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska nearly four weeks ago. Overnight, at least eight Russian drones lost their way and ended up being shot down by Polish and NATO fighter jets after they crossed into Polish airspace. At least one house was hit, but no injuries were reported.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a post on X, accused Russia of intentionally attacking Poland with the goal of humiliating the NATO member. “Increasing evidence indicates that this movement, this direction of strike, was no accident,” Zelensky alleged while noting that if NATO jets can shoot down drones over Poland, why not over Ukraine, where Russia targets civilians with impunity. “Ukraine has long proposed to its partners the creation of a joint air-defense system to ensure the guaranteed downing of ‘Shaheds,’ other drones, and missiles through the combined strength of our combat aviation and air defenses.”
POLAND SCRAMBLES AIRCRAFT TO DESTROY RUSSIAN DRONES VIOLATING ITS AIRSPACE
TRUMP ‘HAS BEEN TERRIBLE ON RUSSIA’: As Putin continues to thumb his nose at Trump, Republicans in Congress are growing weary of Trump’s constantly moving “two-week” deadlines to impose a cost on Russia for failing to engage in meaningful negotiations. “He’s been weak on Russia,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) told CNN’s Manu Raju Tuesday morning. “I think he’s been great on Iran, but he has been terrible on Russia.”
“We’ve tried to be hoping the president would get to the right spot on Russia and Ukraine, and he’s not,” Bacon said. “And, you know, Biden was weak. And Biden’s actions in Afghanistan helped fuel this thing with Ukraine. But what I see with this president is even worse.”
In a later appearance on CNN, Bacon said Trump is “being ill-served by leaders within the DOD,” particularly when it comes to Trump administration plans to end security assistance to Baltic countries on NATO’s eastern flank. “He’s got people in his administration pulling the wrong way, and it’s time for fellow Republicans like me to be calling these guys out,” Bacon said. “I’m going to, we’re going to fight and make the case for keeping funding for the Baltic Security Initiative, but also to ensure that our friends in Ukraine receive the weapons they need, that we do the sanctions against Russia.”
PUTIN ‘IS DIRECTLY TESTING OUR RESOLVE’: While many Republicans are hesitant to criticize the president, Bacon is not a lone voice. “Putin is no longer content just losing in Ukraine while bombing mothers and babies, he is now directly testing our resolve in NATO territory,” Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) posted on X Tuesday night. “Russia is attacking NATO ally Poland with Iranian Shahed drones less than a week after President Trump hosted President Nawrocki at the White House. This is an act of war.
“I urge President Trump to respond with mandatory sanctions that will bankrupt the Russian war machine and arm Ukraine with weapons capable of striking Russia,” Wilson wrote. “Putin stated that ‘Russia knows no borders.’ Free and prosperous nations will teach Russia about borders.”
On Sunday, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) posted on X, “President Trump met with Putin 3 weeks ago. Since then, Putin met with his fellow authoritarians to conspire against the US. Then he returned to Moscow to authorize the largest airstrike on Ukraine since the start of his illegal invasion. It’s time to stop this liar and murderer.”
“The president has done a number of things to demonstrate that he was being patient. But now is the time to actually put Putin in a position where he is going to fail,” Tillis said in an appearance on CNN. “I don’t believe that that man deserves a seat at the table, and I believe that the Ukrainians deserve our full support and the support of the Western world.
“I really believe if you don’t have a counterweight to a growing threat of totalitarianism, and the litmus test is in Ukraine, we fail in Ukraine, we’re going to put far more American lives at risk, having to regain the foothold that we have for democracy in Europe,” Tillis said. “So, now is the time.”
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Good Wednesday 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 Christopher Tremoglie. 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 me on Threads and/or on X @jamiejmcintyre
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HAPPENING TODAY: TRUMP ‘UNHAPPY,’ AGAIN: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dealt a fatal blow to Trump’s effort to broker a final settlement of the war with Hamas and may have sealed the fate of the remaining Israeli hostages when he ordered an airstrike on the Hamas negotiators who had assembled in Doha, Qatar, to begin another round of negotiations to consider a U.S. proposal to end the fighting.
Israel notified the United States of the strike as it was apparently already getting underway, and the U.S. tried to warn Qatar, but the heads-up came too late for Qatar to do anything. Five “lower-ranking” members of the Hamas negotiating team and a security official reportedly died in the attack, according to Hamas.
Qatar, a major U.S. ally that hosts a sprawling U.S. air base and recently gifted a luxury jet to Trump for use as Air Force One, felt humiliated, and Trump was angry. “I was very unhappy about” the strike, Trump told reporters. “Very unhappy about every aspect.”
Shortly after the strike, Trump vented on his Truth Social page, “This was a decision made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, it was not a decision made by me. Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals.
“I view Qatar as a strong Ally and friend of the U.S., and feel very badly about the location of the attack. I want ALL of the Hostages, and bodies of the dead, released, and this War to END, NOW!” Trump wrote. “I also spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu after the attack. The Prime Minister told me that he wants to make Peace. I believe this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for PEACE. I also spoke to the Emir and Prime Minister of Qatar, and thanked them for their support and friendship to our Country. I assured them that such a thing will not happen again on their soil.”
TRUMP FUMES OVER ISRAEL’S ATTACK ON DOHA AND ASSURES QATAR IT WON’T HAPPEN AGAIN
‘POTENTIALLY THE END OF THE ROAD FOR THE HOSTAGES’: Netanyahu has expressed no regrets or reservations about the attack, even as it completely upends the prospects for any negotiated settlement and puts the lives of remaining hostages in jeopardy.
“Today’s action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation,” he said in a statement released by his office on Facebook. “Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility.”
Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), senior Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, said on CNN, “This certainly diminishes the prospects of returning the hostages and particularly those who are still alive. Because what Hamas is saying right now is that the United States lured these people into Qatar in order to set up the Israeli strike. So that undercuts our ability to be an interlocutor and someone that can help moderate a peace. And it certainly increases their disbelief in whether Netanyahu is serious about a ceasefire and a release of the hostages.”
Former NATO Commander retired Adm. James Stavridis said on CNN, “I think it’s potentially the end of the road for the hostages. I certainly hope not. But their situation is going to be dire in the days ahead. Operationally, I think this will kind of greenlight the Israeli operations in Gaza, continuing to drop major apartment complexes, subdue the entire Gaza City. That’s a tall order. But this is showing the Israelis’ intent to do that.”
OPINION: WHY ISRAEL’S STRIKE ON HAMAS LEADERS IN QATAR MATTERS
US AND INDIA TALKING AGAIN: After a period when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was reportedly refusing to take Trump’s calls and was seen warmly embracing Chinese President Xi Jinping and Putin at a summit in China, Trump seemed to be writing off the erstwhile U.S. ally. “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Friday. “May they have a long and prosperous future together!”
But as of Wednesday morning, it appears the old pals have patched things up.
“I am pleased to announce that India, and the United States of America, are continuing negotiations to address the Trade Barriers between our two Nations. I look forward to speaking with my very good friend, Prime Minister Modi, in the upcoming weeks,” Trump posted on Truth Social Tuesday night. “I feel certain that there will be no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion for both of our Great Countries!
“India and the US are close friends and natural partners. I am confident that our trade negotiations will pave the way for unlocking the limitless potential of the India-US partnership,” Modi responded on X Wednesday morning. “Our teams are working to conclude these discussions at the earliest. I am also looking forward to speaking with President Trump. We will work together to secure a brighter, more prosperous future for both our people.”
HAS TRUMP LOST INDIA? PUNITIVE TARIFFS AND NOBEL PEACE PRIZE INSULTS ERODE ONCE-CLOSE RELATIONS
THE RUNDOWN:
Washington Examiner: Poland scrambles aircraft to destroy Russian drones violating its airspace
Washington Examiner: Trump fumes over Israel’s attack on Doha and assures Qatar it won’t happen again
Washington Examiner: Israel targets Hamas leadership in ‘precise’ Qatar strike
Washington Examiner: Maduro claims early Christmas again as Venezuela-US tensions rise
Washington Examiner: McCaul told Israel about ‘bad optic’ of war continuing
Washington Examiner: Israel targets Hamas leadership in ‘precise’ Qatar strike
Washington Examiner: Taiwanese president says Trump is bolstering support for island amid China’s expansionism
Washington Examiner: Taiwan’s diplomats yearn for direct talks with Trump amid tariff negotiations
Washington Examiner: Republicans inch closer to short-term funding deal as time is running out
Washington Examiner: Trump says Princeton student released by Kataib Hezbollah after months of torture
Washington Examiner: Opinion: Why Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar matters
AP: EU commission president seeks sanctions, partial trade suspension against Israel over war in Gaza
Task & Purpose: Air Force Special Ops Troops Practice Airfield Seizures Amid Caribbean Build-Up
Washington Post: Senators ramp up pressure on Trump to abandon threats to send troops into U.S. cities
AP: Trump is upsetting the US allies needed to counter China
Defense One: The Homeland Is in the Pacific: INDOPACOM Commander Says He’s Unconcerned About DC Shift
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Space Force Marks ‘Transition Point’ with New Officer Training Course
Air & Space Forces Magazine: SDA Readies for Prime Time with First Operational Satellite Launch
Breaking Defense: Skunk Works, BAE Systems Pack EW ‘Punch’ to Codevelop Autonomous Air Systems Family
Defense News: Vendors Team Up on Sensors, Comms Systems for GCAP Next-Gen Fighter
Washington Times: Rep. Greg Steube Opinion: U.S. intelligence is sitting idly by
DefenseScoop: Pentagon to Officially Implement CMMC Requirements in All Contracts by Nov. 10
War on the Rocks: Opinion: Denial Won’t Do: Europe Needs a Punishment-Based Conventional Counterstrike Strategy
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Little Caesars at 6,000 Feet: A Day Hauling Cargo on the C-130
THE CALENDAR:
WEDNESDAY | SEPTEMBER 10
8:30 a.m. Washington Convention Center — Billington CyberSecurity Summit through Sept 12, with Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff https://billingtoncybersummit.com/
8:45 a.m. 151 St. George Blvd, Oxon Hill, Md. — Defense Strategies Institute Military Tactical Communications Summit, discussion: “Enhancing the Army’s Tactical Networks to Enable a Leaner, More Lethal and Better Equipped Force” taccom.dsigroup.org
1 p.m. — Heritage Foundation virtual discussion: “The Muslim Brotherhood Threat, National Security, and America’s Global Leadership,” with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX); Victoria Coates, vice president, Heritage Institute for National and former deputy national security adviser https://www.heritage.org/terrorism/event/senator-cruz
THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 11
8:30 a.m. Washington Convention Center — Association for Talent Development Government Workforce Conference, with Army Col. Kris Saling, director of innovation and Army talent innovation at the Office of the assistant Army secretary for Manpower and Reserve Affairs https://governmentworkforce.td.org/
8:40 a.m. — National September 11 Memorial and Museum 24th Anniversary Commemoration, https://911memorialmuseum.brightcovegallery.com
8:50 a.m. Pentagon, 9/11 Memorial — Pentagon 9-11 observance ceremony with President Donald Trump https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/36733
9:15 a.m. G50 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to consider the nomination of: Marine Gen. Christopher Mahoney to be vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings
9:45 a.m. 6424 Lincoln Highway, Stoystown, Pa.— National Park Service “Moment of Remembrance” event at the Flight 93 National Memorial, Memorial Plaza, Wall of Names, Stoystown, Pa. https://www.nps.gov/flni/planyourvisit/september-11-events-schedule.htm
12 p.m. 1400 L St. NW — Atlantic Council discussion: “U.S.-Iraq security partnership after Operation Inherent Resolve,” with former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq James Jeffrey; Victoria Taylor, director, Atlantic Council’s Iraq Initiative and Middle East Programs; and Renad Mansour, senior research fellow at Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa Programme and director of Chatham House Iraq Initiative https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/us-iraq-security-partnership
12 p.m. — Washington Institute for Near East Policy virtual forum, “The Abraham Accords at Five Years: Resilience and Roadblocks,” with former Israeli Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Amir Hayek, nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council; Victoria Coates, vice president, Heritage Foundation’s Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy; former U.S. Ambassador to Jordan Yael Lampert; and Ahdeya al-Sayed, former president, Bahrain Journalists Association https://washingtoninstitute-org.zoom.us/webinar/register
3 p.m. — Center for a New American Security virtual discussion: “Europe with Less U.S.: Preventing Russia Opportunistic Aggression in Europe,” with retired Air Force Gen. Phillip Breedlove, former commander, U.S. European Command and former supreme allied commander Europe; retired Navy Adm. James Foggo, former commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and former commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples; Andrea Kendall-Taylor, program director and senior fellow at the CNAS Transatlantic Security Program; and Jim Townsend, adjunct senior fellow at the CNAS Transatlantic Security Program https://www.cnas.org/events/brussels-sprouts-live-understanding-russias-calculus
4 p.m. 400 block of E St. NW, — National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund 9/11 memorial program https://nleomf.org/event/9-11-ceremony-to-honor-the-fallen-2/
FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 12
8:30 a.m. Washington Convention Center — Billington CyberSecurity Summit, with Douglas “Doug” Matty, chief digital and AI officer at the Pentagon Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office; Matthew “Matt” Turek, deputy director, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Information Innovation Office https://billingtoncybersummit.com
10 a.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW — Brookings Institution discussion: “U.S.-China Trade Wars,” with Michael Froman, president, Council on Foreign Relations; Suzanne Maloney, vice president and director, Brookings Foreign Policy Program; and Ryan Hass, director, Brookings China Center and senior fellow in the Brookings Foreign Policy Program and Brookings Center for Asia Policy Studies https://www.brookings.edu/events/u-s-china-trade-wars-a-conversation-with-michael-froman/
10:30 a.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE — Heritage Foundation discussion: “Taiwan’s Strategy for Peace, Prosperity, and Partnership with the United States,” with Taiwan Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-Cheng https://www.heritage.org/china/event/taiwans-strategy
THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 2511 a.m. — Arms Control Association annual meeting, hosted at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, with former Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif; former Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification Mallory Stewart; Senior International/Defense Researcher at RAND Kingston Reif; and Fifth General Secretary of the Friends Committee on National Legislation Bridget Moixhttps://www.armscontrol.org/2025AnnualMeeting