| | | |  | | By Eric Bazail-Eimil | | Presented by |  | | | | 
“There is no perfect solution, but it answers the three big questions the region is asking,” Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said. | Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images | With help from Phelim Kine, John Sakellariadis and Daniel Lippman Subscribe here | Email Robbie | Email Eric Ahead of talks in the Middle East to broker a permanent end to the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israel’s opposition leader is pitching a fresh proposal to both redevelop the war-torn enclave and thwart growing economic instability inside one of Israel’s most important Arab partners. Speaking at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank in Washington today, former Israeli Prime Minister and current opposition leader YAIR LAPID outlined an ambitious plan to have Egypt assume a “guardianship” over the Gaza Strip for 8 to 15 years. During that time, he says, the territory will be redeveloped, Hamas demilitarized and the international community will work to bolster the capacity of the embattled Palestinian Authority to eventually become a governing force in the enclave. His plan wouldn’t see Palestinians involuntarily displaced from Gaza either. In exchange, Egypt would receive relief for its burgeoning foreign debt, which exceeds $150 billion as of the end of 2024 per the country’s central bank, as it battles a looming economic crisis. “There is no perfect solution, but it answers the three big questions the region is asking,” Lapid said. “Who will manage Gaza? How do we ensure Gaza doesn't end hopes for normalization between Israel and the Saudis and the creation of an anti-Iranian coalition, and how do we ensure the stability of Egypt and its continued role as a security partner and strategic help?” It’s worth noting that Lapid’s influence as opposition leader to Netanyahu is decidedly limited, given that Netanyahu is far more concerned with placating the various factions within his fragile coalition than working with the opposition. Plus, while Israelis largely want to bring all remaining hostages home, many feel that one of the core objectives of the war, defeating Hamas, has not yet been met. Middle East watchers on both the left and the right were quick to find fault in the plan. Veteran Middle East peacemaker AARON DAVID MILLER told NatSec Daily the proposal “seems untethered from reality” and “a plan for a galaxy far far away, not to realities back here on planet Earth.” “The notion that Egypt would again rule Gaza for 8 years is just short of crazy,” said Miller, who is now a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Miller added the suggestion that Egypt’s military deploying their troops potentially in conjunction with Israel and putting themselves in a position where they would be killing Palestinians was also “crazy.” Yet a few things about the plan caught our attention. First, Lapid unveiled it in Washington and not to fellow leaders in Israel, which can in equal measure be interpreted as a reflection of his limited influence in the Knesset and his efforts to convince the U.S. to back his plan amid contentious peace talks. Second, it emphasizes alleviating the bubbling economic crisis in Egypt, which analysts have warned for months could trigger a new wave of instability in the Middle East akin to the Arab Spring. It’s also hard to ignore the timing. U.S. special envoy STEVE WITKOFF is headed to the region this week, where he’ll push for an extension to the current cease-fire agreement. The deal brokered at the end of the Biden administration is scheduled to elapse next week and a permanent cease-fire that would see Israel withdraw completely from the Gaza Strip and all hostages and prisoners exchanged is not expected at this time. Meanwhile, Netanyahu is under considerable pressure from ultranationalists in his coalition to resume the war in Gaza and reject future hostage release deals, which has seen Hamas stage ceremonies featuring deceased and living hostages that Israel has decried as “humiliating” and Israel block Palestinian prisoner releases in response. Opposition parties on Sunday pledged to back Netanyahu if far-right parties ultimately impede a deal to release all remaining Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity, a lifeline Netanyahu may be forced to take in the face of outrage from firebrand Finance Minister BEZALEL SMOTRICH and Diaspora Minister AMICHAI CHIKLI. One big unknown, though, is how the proposal will land in Cairo and at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Per Lapid, he said he assumes the Egyptians learned about his proposal the minute he began workshopping it with officials in Gulf countries. And he insists the plan does not conflict with President DONALD TRUMP’s vision for redeveloping the Gaza Strip. But the Egyptian Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment. National Security Council spokesperson BRIAN HUGHES told NatSec Daily in a statement that “President Trump stands by his current plan to rebuild Gaza and looks forward to discussing plans with our Israeli and Arab partners in the region.”
| | | | A message from Saronic: The U.S. Navy has declared the need for a hybrid fleet – one that integrates vast numbers of unmanned systems operating alongside traditional manned ships. Achieving this will require a transformation in how the U.S. approaches shipbuilding and a dedicated focus on scaling the production of advanced technologies and autonomous warships. Defense technology company Saronic is ready to deliver on these needs. Learn more about what we are building at https://www.shipyardofthefuture.com/ | | | | | UKRAINE WAIVER DISCUSSIONS: Senior officials at the State Department are making a list of additional exemptions to the aid pause for Ukraine that could give the country access to some economic and security-related assistance that’s been frozen. As your NatSec Daily host reported with our own Nahal Toosi, Robbie Gramer and Joe Gould, the efforts to expand Ukraine’s access to aid hint at disagreements within the Trump administration over how to deal with Kyiv. And the process may reflect the uncertain state of the protocol in Foggy Bottom. YURI KIM, the principal deputy assistant secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, is compiling a list of Ukraine-related programs from bureaus and offices across State and it’s unclear what role PETE MAROCCO, the head of State’s foreign assistance office, is playing in the process. TIMELY EUROPEAN DEFENSE CONFABS: European leaders will gather in London on March 2 to discuss common defense initiatives, as Trump’s bellicose rhetoric towards Kyiv increases. Per Polish Prime Minister DONALD TUSK, the gathering in London will precede the unveiling of a defense package, at the special summit of European Union leaders scheduled for March 6. In remarks made on the heels of a meeting with European Council President ANTÓNIO COSTA, Tusk said that he hoped “this greater mobilization of Europe, both member states and Europe as a whole, when it comes to defense and security funding, will become an unequivocal fact.” It will follow French President EMMANUEL MACRON and U.K. Prime Minister KEIR STARMER’s meetings with Trump in the Oval Office this week. Ahead of his meeting, Starmer announced cuts to British foreign aid and an increase in defense spending, perhaps to bolster London’s standing before Trump A PYRRHIC UNSC VOTE: The neutral U.S. resolution at the United Nations about the war in Ukraine, which refused to blame Russia for invading the country in Feb. 2022, prevailed in the Security Council late Monday, though not without a showing of displeasure from allies. France and the United Kingdom, permanent members of the elite body at the international forum, abstained from voting on the resolution. The three other European members of the council abstained as well. Russia and China voted for the resolution. That resolution is more binding than the ones voted on in the General Assembly earlier Monday, which were amended successfully by European allies to include stronger language towards Russia. It’s yet another showing of how the U.S. peace push in Ukraine, which has involved hostile rhetoric from Washington towards Kyiv and a thaw in relations with Moscow, has alienated the U.S. from Ukraine and European allies, all while producing little goodwill from the Kremlin to date. A BIGGER CONGO WAR: Member states of the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community are weighing whether to deploy a peacekeeping force to east Congo in the face of a concerted military campaign in the war-torn region by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group. Per documents reviewed by Reuters, the blocs are considering seeking a mandate, and mission support from the African Union, to secure M23-controlled areas in North and South Kivu provinces. They’re mulling an expansion in the presence and activities of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo called MONUSCO. The prospect of a wider regional war in Congo comes as Western countries increasingly punish Rwanda for its long-time support of the rebels, an offshoot of Tutsi rebel groups that helped bring an end to the 1994 Rwandan Genocide and have consistently posed a threat to the central Congolese government in Kinshasa. London is pausing aid to Rwanda and the U.S. sanctioned top officials in the Rwandan government in relation to the recent outbreak of fighting. 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, @ak_mack, @connorobrienNH, @paulmcleary, @reporterjoe, @JackDetsch, @samuelskove, @magmill95, and @johnnysaks130
| | | | Donald Trump's unprecedented effort to reshape the federal government is consuming Washington. To track this seismic shift, we're relaunching one of our signature newsletters. Sign up to get West Wing Playbook: Remaking Government in your inbox. | | | | | | | DOZENS OF DOGE RESIGNATIONS: Nearly two dozen technologists inside the so-called Department of Government Efficiency are calling it quits, saying they will not use their IT savvy to abet what they describe as a reckless bid by Trump and ELON MUSK to overhaul the federal government. “We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans’ sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services,” reads a public letter purportedly from 21 anonymous members of DOGE, formerly known as the U.S. Digital Service. The missive comes as the Trump administration and DOGE have targeted probationary employees across the federal workforce in a wave of mass firings that a federal watchdog says may be a violation of federal law. Musk has personally ratcheted up the pressure campaign in recent days by ordering government employees to list their recent accomplishments in an email response or resign — an unprecedented threat that sparked rare acts of defiance from Trump’s own agency heads. Asked about the resignations and the letter, White House principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields panned Democrats and the mainstream media for their “breathlessly inaccurate reporting” on Trump’s effort to rid the government of waste, fraud and abuse. “DOGE has effectively become part of the USDS as a component of the White House, and any leftover career bureaucrats who don’t align with the President or DOGE are neither advised nor welcomed to be a part of this never-before-seen mission to make the government more efficient,” he wrote in a statement. The Associated Press was the first to report on the letter.
| | COLBY ON THE CALENDAR: “Pivot to Asia” advocate ELBRIDGE COLBY, Trump’s pick to be undersecretary of Defense for policy, is getting a confirmation hearing after all, despite protests from some more traditional Republican hawks. His confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee is scheduled for Mar. 4, per Jewish Insider’s Emily Jacobs and Marc Rod. Colby’s views on Iran and U.S. entanglements in the Middle East rankled some traditional Middle East hawks, including Senate Intelligence Committee Chair TOM COTTON (R-Ark.), but top Trump boosters, including conservative internet personality CHARLIE KIRK, Vice President JD VANCE and DONALD TRUMP JR., worked behind the scenes to assuage wary Republican senators and pressure some others in public.
| | | | A message from Saronic:  
| | | | | BEWARE A CHINA GRAND BARGAIN: The Trump administration should be wary of Beijing seeking U.S. concessions on key strategic issues in order to seal a potential trade deal, ranking member of the House Select Committee on China, RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI (D-Ill.) said at a Brookings Institution event today. As our own Phelim Kine writes in, Trump has expressed interest in meeting with China’s leader XI JINPING in the near term. That has fueled speculation that Trump — the self-styled consummate dealmaker — may pursue a trade agreement that morphs into a “grand bargain” touching on multiple issues in the U.S.-China relationship. “My concern is a summit is going to bring everything on the table — it's going to be like a smorgasbord and the CCP is very eager to put everything on it,” said Krishnamoorthi. Beijing may try to lure Trump into a trade deal that requires the U.S. to back off on support for Uyghurs, human rights, Tibet, Taiwan and the Philippines as it fends off Chinese aggression in the South China Sea, he added. “We can't be in a situation where we end up selling out on certain principles or partners, friendships or alliances to get a deal,” Krishnamoorthi added. Committee chair JOHN MOOLENAAR (R-Mich.) confirmed that Trump “is a personal diplomacy kind of person — He will want to meet with Xi Jinping rather than going through all the different government channels.” But he’s less worried about that possibility because of his “tremendous confidence” in the role that national security adviser MIKE WALTZ and Secretary of State MARCO RUBIO will play in advising Trump on any talks with Xi.
| | NEW RESTRICTIONS ON CUBA VISAS: The Trump administration is expanding visa restrictions on Cuban officials accused of participating in the regime’s forced labor programs, which send doctors and other skilled workers on “missions” in the name of spreading goodwill around the world. In a statement, Rubio said, “Cuba continues to profit from the forced labor of its workers and the regime’s abusive and coercive labor practices are well documented.” He went on to argue that the programs “which include the medical missions, enrich the Cuban regime, and in the case of Cuba’s overseas medical missions, deprive ordinary Cubans of the medical care they desperately need in their home country.” The missions, a requirement in the training of Cuban doctors and other skilled professionals, have been a cause celebre for Cuban American lawmakers in Washington for decades, who argue that the gestures are a soft power tool for Havana to advance its interests around the world and ultimately exploit Cubans. Havana has long denied that the programs are nefarious or exploit workers.
| | — MIKE POMPEO is heading to Columbia University as a fellow in its Institute of Global Politics to teach “diplomacy, decision-making and organizational leadership, starting in March,” per The Wall Street Journal. — KURT CAMPBELL has rejoined The Asia Group as chairman and co-founder. Campbell previously was deputy secretary of State for the Biden administration and functioned as former President JOE BIDEN’s “Asia czar.” — MARK SIMAKOVSKY has launched Heartland Global Advisors, a strategic advisory firm with a Europe and Eurasia focus. He is the former U.S. Agency for International Development deputy assistant administrator for Europe and Eurasia and chief of staff for Europe and NATO in the Defense Department’s policy office. — COREY JACOBSON will be director of strategy and policy at K2 Space. He was previously chief of staff of the Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital and has also worked for Reps. HENRY WAXMAN and TED LIEU. Jacobson follows JOHN PLUMB, the former assistant secretary of Defense for space policy, who joined K2 last month as head of strategy. — BRETT McGURK, who served as Biden’s chief Middle East policy adviser, joined venture capital firm Lux Capital, per Jewish Insider’s Gabby Deutch — The Center for a New American Security is tapping ADHAM SAHLOUL and DANIEL SCHNEIDERMAN as adjunct senior fellows with the Middle East Security Program. Sahloul worked in USAID’s office of policy under former Administrator SAMANTHA POWER, focusing on China and strategic competition. He also served as a special assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and advised former Defense Secretary LLOYD AUSTIN’s Middle East Crisis Cell. Schneiderman was senior coordinator for Afghanistan at the Defense Department and previously worked as deputy special representative for Guantanamo affairs at the State Department.
| | — Ben Hubbard, The New York Times: From jihadist to president: The evolution of Syria’s new leader — Arash Azizi, The Atlantic: The axis of resistance keeps getting smaller — Rich Lowry, National Review: First, fire all the generals
| | — Center for Strategic and International Studies, 9 a.m.: The evolving role of private sector in national defense — Center for Strategic and International Studies, 9 a.m.: Kenya's emergence as a regional power — Women's Foreign Policy Group, 9:30 a.m.: Lessons from South Korea's martial law crisis: Navigating democracy's way forward in the region — House Armed Services Committee, 10 a.m.: Strengthening America's industrial base, workforce, and production lines to deter war — Wilson Center Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies, 10 a.m.: Ukrainian society under occupation: Hardship, civic resilience, and perception — Freedom House, 10:30 a.m.: A discussion on a report titled “Freedom in the World 2025: The Uphill Battle to Safeguard Rights," focusing on the impact of ongoing armed conflicts and the global year of elections on fundamental freedoms. — Council on Foreign Relations, 1 p.m.: The future of U.S.-Russia relations — Hudson Institute, 5:30 p.m.: A discussion on "Seven Things You Can't Say about China." Thanks to our editor, Rosie Perper, whose proposals for Middle East peace are always unrealistic. Thanks to our producer, Gregory Svirnovskiy, who will one day win the Nobel Peace Prize.
| | | | A message from Saronic: America's maritime industrial base has long been the backbone of the U.S. Navy, building the ships that won wars and maintained our maritime supremacy. But now, our adversaries are catching up in naval capability and have far surpassed us in shipbuilding capacity. It's time to launch the fleet of the future.
Just as American industry rapidly built naval ships in World War II, Saronic is building a new generation of autonomous warships to protect and defend the U.S. and our allies. We're revitalizing our maritime industrial base by creating the most advanced shipyard in the world to build Autonomous Surface Vessels at scale – from small tactical boats to large ships – quickly and affordably. To the growing chorus of voices across the nation that have called for a transformation in America's shipbuilding – it's time for action. Saronic is leading the way. https://www.shipyardofthefuture.com/ | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | |
