The Evening: Biden Speaks with Netanyahu, Sweden Can’t Rule Russian Attack, Feelin’ Alright, and More

Newsletter - October 9, 2024

Biden Speaks with Netanyahu

President Joe Biden spoke Wednesday morning with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the first time the two have spoken since Aug. 21. Vice President Kamala Harris also joined the call, the White House said in a statement. The phone call comes after Israel postponed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's planned visit to Washington on Wednesday, as The Washington Post reports.

Meanwhile, the NYT reportsthat Israeli airstrikes have forced more than 600,000 people in Lebanon to flee their homes, and over 300,000 others have left the country in the last month.

U.S. Frustrated by Israel's Reluctance to Share Iran Retaliation Plans

Israel has so far refused to divulge to the Biden administration details of its plans to retaliate against Tehran, U.S. officials said, even as the White House is urging its closest Middle East ally not to hit Iran's oil facilities or nuclear sites amid fears of a widening regional war, as the WSJ reports.

Sweden Cannot Rule Out Russian Attack

Russia could attack Sweden for control of the Baltic Sea, Stockholm's Defense Minister Pål Jonson said Wednesday, as Politico reports.

Executive Education

Security, sustainability, and supply chains are all key factors in the conversation around critical minerals. Explore the natural resources essential to national, economic, and energy security in Building Critical Mineral Security for a Sustainable Future.Register hereby October 15.

Audio Briefs

CSIS experts give short, spoken-word summaries on the biggest takeaways from their latest reports, white papers, and commentaries-in their own words.

Listen here:"Escalating to War between Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran" with CSIS's Daniel Byman and Seth G. Jones.

In That Number

5

Most Taiwanese believe China is unlikely to invade in the coming five years but do see Beijing as a serious threat to the democratic island, a poll by Taiwan's top military think tank showed on Wednesday.
Source: Reuters

Critical Quote

Russia poses a threat to Sweden, as it does to the rest of NATO. We cannot rule out a Russian attack on our country.

- Defense Minister of Sweden Pål Jonson

iDeas Lab

Image

The CSIS Aerospace Security Project released a report ranking the world's best commercial space-based remote sensing systems across several categories of performance. Of 11 performance categories, Chinese systems garnered the gold medal in five areas and U.S. systems in four areas, with Finland and South Korea also securing a gold medal each. Read the full analysis here.

The Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS enhances our research with the latest in cutting-edge web technologies, design, and multimedia.

Optics

Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Iranians lift the flag of Hezbollah and a portrait of its slain leader Hassan Nasrallah during an anti-Israel rally in Tehran, on October 8, 2024.

Recommended Reading

"Defining Success: Does the United States Need an "End State" for Its China Policy?" by CSIS's Jude Blanchette and Lily McElwee.

This Town Tomorrow

At 10:00 a.m., the CSIS International Security Program welcomes Michael Casey, the Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, to discuss the changing nature of counterintelligence threats.

Also at 10:00 a.m., the CSIS Sustainable Development and Resilience Initiative hosts a conversation on a recent report examining the importance of U.S. government climate-resilient infrastructure investments in developing countries around the world.

Earlier, at 9:00 a.m., the Atlantic Council holds a discussion on women's economic empowerment and foreign direct investment in Zimbabwe.

Video

CSIS recently launched the new Economic Security and Technology Department. Led by Navin Girishankar, the department examines the most pressing questions about the future of U.S. economic competitiveness and technology leadership, and their role in national security. Watch the full video here.

Podcasts

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This week, Babel examines Israel's ground invasion into southern Lebanon to counter Hezbollah one year after the tragedy of October 7th, and the likelihood of escalation within the region.

Listen on Spotify& Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

This is just downright cool-Nathaniel Rateliff doing his best Joe Cocker impression on "Feelin' Alright" with My Morning Jacket.

I invite you to email me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter @handrewschwartz