FIRST IN NATSEC DAILY — WHITE HOUSE WEAVES ON WAIVERS: The Trump administration is still trying to define what aid programs around the world could qualify for waivers to the foreign aid freeze, according to a White House document obtained by our own Nahal Toosi. The document lays out various potential categories that could qualify, including ones that go beyond existing waivers Secretary of State MARCO RUBIO has allowed for core “life-saving” medicine and food. The document itself is undated but a person who shared it with POLITICO said it was recent. The suggestions include allowing waivers for programs that affect ties with governments considered key partners and for programs that, if not funded, could lead to lawsuits against the U.S. government. Another category suggested for a waiver is for programs that, if aborted, could complicate a policy or military goal of the administration. The proposed categories are written broadly, a sign that there’s some concern within the administration about the reach of the aid freeze. Meanwhile, complaints and lawsuits keep mounting as aid organizations around the world say the existing waivers, such as for life-saving materials, are not being properly implemented. Spokespersons for the White House declined to immediately offer a comment. OPENING THE NUCLEAR UMBRELLA: FRIEDRICH MERZ, the front-runner to become Germany's next chancellor, issued a stark warning today that Europe must brace to defend itself without the U.S., as our own Chris Lunday reports. This goes for rethinking whether Europe can trust Washington to protect NATO with its nuclear umbrella — which has been a cornerstone of transatlantic defense for nearly eight decades. “We need to have discussions with both the British and the French — the two European nuclear powers — about whether nuclear sharing, or at least nuclear security from the U.K. and France, could also apply to us,” Merz said in an interview with a German broadcaster. SNEAK PEAK: The U.S. Space Force released a first-ever photo today of its secretive unmanned military spacecraft, the Boeing X-37B, in orbit. It shows part of the vehicle, coupled with a nice view of Earth. The X-37B, which has been in testing since 2010, represents a major part of the Pentagon’s efforts to boost its capabilities in space, as Task and Purpose reports. Its launch dates and flight times have been publicized, but otherwise the program is largely shrouded in secrecy. RWANDA’S RESPONSE: Rwanda sharply rebuked the U.S. decision to sanction a senior Rwandan official over fighting between the two countries in the eastern Congo, calling it “unjustified and unfounded” in a statement from the foreign ministry shared with NatSec Daily. “If sanctions could resolve conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), we would have had peace in the region decades ago,” the foreign ministry said. Rwanda-backed rebels have seized two major cities in eastern Congo as fighting escalates, raising fears of a wider regional war. A BUDDING FRIENDSHIP? Witkoff said today that he met with Russian President VLADIMIR PUTIN during a recent trip to Moscow to clinch the release of an American prisoner there. “I spent a lot of time with President Putin, talking, developing a friendship, a relationship with him,” Witkoff said in a video address to a Saudi-funded investment conference in Miami, as The Moscow Times reports. That friendship may rattle Ukraine’s nerves. It’s also worth noting that Western leaders’ friendships with Putin don’t seem to last. Former President GEORGE W. BUSH famously said when he first met Putin, “I looked into his eyes and I saw a soul. I trusted him.” He has since changed his mind, to say the least. 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 JOHN VICK, the new executive director of Concerned Veterans for America. Eric grabbed a drink with John and learned that his go-to drink at a bar is a scotch and soda, in part because it’s so reliable. “When I got to the phase of my life where I was traveling pretty constantly … you can pretty much always know that a scotch and soda is going to be refreshing and pretty decent,” John said. Where does he like to have his scotch and sodas? Here in D.C., he loves the Old Ebbitt Grill downtown. But John’s favorite bar is a bit off the beaten path — the Casselberry Veterans’ club in the outskirts of Orlando, Florida. He said he came to love the bar when he worked for the Republican National Committee and helped get Republican veterans such as Reps. CORY MILLS and ANNA PAULINA LUNA of Florida elected to Congress. “By virtue of living in Central Florida, I would do a lot of events there,” John said. “It's very, very much a social organization. So you have all of the sort of rhythms of a VFW or American Legion, but it's much more like we're here for the fish fries and the drinks, and they have a big communal space there.” For our readers in the Orlando area, keep your eyes peeled. Maybe you’ll see John and your favorite newsletter writers there someday soon. Cheers, John! 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, @jessicameyers, @RosiePerper, @nahaltoosi, @PhelimKine, @ak_mack, @connorobrienNH, @paulmcleary, @reporterjoe, @JackDetsch, @samuelskove, @magmill95, and @johnnysaks130
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