U.S. in talks to swap former Afghan aircraft for help hunting terrorists

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Sep 19, 2022 View in browser   By Lara Seligman and Lawrence Ukenye The Taliban have insisted the aircraft — a mixture of light attack planes and helicopters — are Afghan property and demanded them back. But Uzbek authorities say they are the property of the United States and will not be returned. | Rahmat Gul/AP Photo With help from Lee Hudson and Daniel Lippman  Subscribe here | Email Alex The U.S. is negotiating with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to trade nearly 50 military aircraft flown across the border as the Afghan government collapsed last summer for help hunting terrorists in Afghanistan, according to two people with knowledge of the talks. The fate of the U.S.-donated aircraft has been in limbo for more than a year, after Afghan air force pilots flew them to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan last August to escape Taliban capture. The Taliban have insisted the aircraft — a mixture of light attack planes and helicopters — are Afghan property and demanded them back. But Uzbek authorities say they are the property of the United States and will not be returned. Little has been said publicly about the issue, in part because of the sensitivity of Afghan-Uzbek relations and Russia's economic and military influence in Central Asia. But behind the scenes, U.S. officials have been quietly working to use the aircraft as leverage to gain a foothold in a region where the U.S. military no longer has a presence on the ground, according to a senior Defense Department official and a congressional aide with direct knowledge of the negotiations, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive talks. The U.S. is planning to conduct an assessment of the aircraft to see if they are flyable, the official said. The goal is to provide a number of aircraft to the Uzbek and Tajik governments in exchange for an informal agreement to "deepen our security relationships" on border security and counterterrorism, the official said. The deal could include anything from increased intelligence sharing to, in the long-term, basing troops or aircraft in those countries as a regional staging post for keeping an eye on terrorist activity in Afghanistan — something the Biden administration tried and failed to arrange before the withdrawal. Both countries border Afghanistan and are much closer than the American bases hundreds of miles away in the Middle East the U.S. military relies on for access to the country. But for now, it's more likely the agreement would involve access to information the Uzbeks and Tajiks have about terrorist networks in Afghanistan. "If I give you an airplane, then I call you and say, 'Hey, can you tell that guy who has a cousin in Afghanistan to go look at something' — that might be the nature of the relationship. That's a hypothetical," the senior DoD official said. "It might not be that I want to fly from there, but it might be, do I have access to networks of people that have access into Afghanistan?" The Biden administration touted the U.S. military's ability to conduct "over-the-horizon" counterterrorism operations after American troops left Afghanistan last August. The U.S. has since conducted only one counterterrorism strike since then, a drone mission that killed al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in July. As the Taliban overran Kabul last summer, Afghan air force pilots flew about 25 percent of the total usable aircraft — 46 total — to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, according to a 2022 report assessing the collapse of the Afghan government. The aircraft included C-208 utility aircraft, A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft, as well as Mi-17, Mi-25 and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, according to satellite images analyzed by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Most of the planes had been supplied by Washington to build up the capability of the Afghan air force. Both Central Asian countries are "certainly very interested" in keeping those aircraft, the senior DoD official said. Read Lara's full story here.   REGISTER FOR CEPA FORUM 2022. Between September 27-29, the Center for European Policy Analysis will host a dynamic series of discussions focusing on the transatlantic response to Russia's war in Ukraine and its implications for security and democracy. RSVP NOW.     The Inbox WHITE HOUSE CLARIFIES BIDEN COMMENTS AGAIN: The White House once again walked back President JOE BIDEN's comments after he vowed on 60 Minutes that U.S. troops would come to Taiwan's aid if invaded by China. The administration has reemphasized that Biden's remarks don't represent a change in policy, but perception is reality — and repeated presidential promises signal a potential messaging gap, highlighting a White House that would rather diffuse rising tensions than appear overly hawkish. In May, Biden claimed the U.S. would militarily defend Taiwan, prompting a similar response from the White House looking to clarify the president's remarks. Biden's comments come as Congress has ratcheted up its rhetoric toward Beijing following Speaker NANCY PELOSI's visit to the self-governing island in August, including an effort to increase defense ties with Taipei through the Taiwan Policy Act, despite misgivings from the White House. FRERICHS RELEASED IN U.S.-TALIBAN SWAP: MARK FRERICHS , an American captive in Afghanistan was released in exchange for HAJI BASHIR NOORZAI, a Taliban member imprisoned by the U.S. for drug charges, the White House announced Monday. Frerichs, a Navy veteran, was kidnapped in 2020 while working in Afghanistan as a civilian contractor. His release came after months of delicate negotiations. In April, the Biden administration secured the release of TREVOR REED, a former Marine who had been detained in Russia since 2019. Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN welcomed Frerichs' release and thanked U.S. partners in Qatar who assisted in negotiations. "Our commitment to bring Mark home never wavered, and it will never waver for the Americans who are held captive anywhere around the world," Blinken wrote in a statement. IT'S MONDAY: 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 award@politico.com, and follow Alex on Twitter at @alexbward. While you're at it, follow the rest of POLITICO's national security team: @nahaltoosi, @woodruffbets, @politicoryan, @PhelimKine, @BryanDBender, @laraseligman, @connorobrienNH, @paulmcleary, @leehudson, @AndrewDesiderio, @magmill95 and @Lawrence_Ukenye. A message from Lockheed Martin: F-35: Strengthening our supply chain. Securing our future. F-35 production supports 298,000 advanced manufacturing jobs in America and generates an economic impact of more than $65 billion annually across U.S. communities. Learn more.   Flashpoints PELOSI CALLS OUT AZERBAIJAN: Speaker Nancy Pelosi condemned Azerbaijan for recent "illegal and deadly" attacks against Armenia during her visit to the country's capital, Yerevan, Reuters reported. "We strongly condemn those attacks, we in our delegation on behalf of Congress, which threatens prospects for a much-needed peace agreement," Pelosi said in a press conference. The California Democrat led a congressional delegation to the country over the weekend to support Armenia's democracy amid recent tensions. Fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenia has reignited a decades-long conflict about the Nagorno-Karabakh region, where both sides are fighting over disputed territory. Although both countries agreed to a ceasefire before Pelosi's arrival, Azerbaijan claimed the Speaker's remarks were "unfair." Keystrokes PENTAGON ANNOUNCES SWEEPING AUDIT: The Pentagon will audit how it conducts clandestine warfare after social media companies removed accounts suspected of being run by the U.S. military, The Washington Post's ELLEN NAKASHIMA reported. Researchers last month disclosed that Twitter and Facebook removed more than 150 fake accounts, but did not directly attribute the accounts to the Pentagon. However, sources told the Washington Post that U.S. Strategic Command is facing criticism for activities on the platforms. Some of the accounts pushed anti-Russian posts and included a fake Persian media site that reposted content from Voice of America Farsi and Radio Free Europe.   SUBSCRIBE TO POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don't miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY.     The Complex SWISS PURCHASE LOCKHEED FIGHTERS: Switzerland signed paperwork today to buy 36 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters from Lockheed Martin but the deal has received pushback from other factions of the government. The F-35s will be delivered between 2027 and 2030 and up to 28 of the aircraft will be manufactured in Cameri, Italy. The fighters replace the Swiss fleet of F/A-18 Hornets and F-5 Tigers. The Swiss government selected the fighters in June in a competition that included Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet, the Rafale and the Eurofighter. The $6.2 billion deal includes weapons, ammunition, a logistics package, training, mission planning systems and training systems. DRONE SERIES: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is offering four new drones under its Gambit project as part of the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft, marrying autonomous systems with combat planes. The company has developed a long-range air-sensing version, an air-to-air attack variant, a drone for red air training and an intel air-to-ground option. The key is that the four versions have a "common core" making it more affordable for the Air Force compared to developing four distinct aircraft for those roles, DAVID ALEXANDER, GA-ASI president told our own LEE HUDSON. None of the Gambit drones have flown but Alexander says to expect the first flight "very soon." On the Hill SCHUMER CALLS FOR MORE UKRAINE FUNDING: Senate Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER wants to provide Ukraine with another $12 billion in aid. "We have seen, as Ukraine has gained ground, that Russian forces have been reckless and ruthless," Schumer said. "Mass graves, attacks that target civilians, and other unspeakable acts reinforce how critical aid like this is, and how it actually helps change what is happening on the ground in a way that can save innocent lives." Lawmakers have two weeks to negotiate a deal to keep the government funded through the end of the fiscal year in October. A vote could come this week. Schumer's call for additional funding comes as the Pentagon announced an additional $600 million military aid drawdown from U.S. inventories for Kyiv last week, bringing Washington's contributions to nearly $16 billion. Broadsides U.S. CARRIER TO VISIT SOUTH KOREA: The USS Ronald Reagan will visit South Korea for joint drills on Friday, marking the first time a U.S. aircraft carrier has visited the country since 2018, Reuters reported. The exercises will support readiness between both naval forces and come amid increased missile tests from North Korea. The U.S. and South Korea participated in live-fire exercises in late August which marked the largest joint drill in five years between both countries. The carrier's arrival represents a tougher line that President JOE BIDEN and South Korean President YOON SUK-YEOL have drawn against North Korea. Both their predecessors explored diplomatic relations with the isolated regime that put some joint exercises on hold. Pyongyang unveiled a new nuclear doctrine earlier this month that claimed the regime would respond with immediate nuclear retaliation if KIM JONG UN was incapacitated in an attack.     Transitions FIRST IN NATSEC DAILY — JESSICA JENNINGS has started as the spokesperson for USAID, DANIEL LIPPMAN reports. She was most recently chief of communications for D.C. Public Schools and is an alum of the Biden-Harris inauguration, Democratic National Convention, and the Clinton 2016 campaign. What to Read — MICHAEL KOFMAN and ANYA LOUKIANOVA FINK, War on the Rocks: Escalation Management and Nuclear Employment in Russian Military Strategy — STEPHEN FIDLER, The Wall Street Journal: Vladimir Putin's Energy War With Europe Seems to Falter — MARK TOTH and JONATHAN SWEET, The Hill: Hey, Russia — it's Putin, stupid! Tomorrow Today — The Air and Space Forces Association, 8:15 a.m.: "2022 Air, Space and Cyber Conference" — Senate Armed Services Committee, 10 a.m.: "United States Nuclear Strategy and Policy." — The United States Institute of Peace, 10 a.m.: "Russia's Actions in Ukraine and the Crime of Genocide." — The Center for Strategic and International Studies 11 a.m.: "Current Challenges to the Defense Industrial Base" — New America, 12 p.m.: "Global Views on Ukraine: What Does Security Look Like From Different Vantage Points?" — The Middle East Institute, 12 p.m.: "Greco-Turkish Tensions: What It Means for NATO Unity and Regional Peace." — The East-West Center in Washington, 3:30 p.m.: "Taiwan Matters for America - America Matters for Taiwan." Have a natsec-centric event coming up? Transitioning to a new defense-adjacent or foreign policy-focused gig? Shoot me an email at award@politico.com to be featured in the next edition of the newsletter. And thanks to our editor, Ben Pauker, who really should take the hint that it's time to close his own fake social media accounts. A message from Lockheed Martin: F-35: Strengthening our supply chain. Securing our future. The F-35 unites allies and partners, powers small businesses, and creates high-tech jobs. With 1,650 suppliers in 48 states, the F-35 program brings together the best of the industry to drive our competitiveness and help secure our world. Learn more.     Follow us on Twitter Alex Ward @alexbward   Follow us

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