TURKEY STRIKES BACK: Turkish warplanes bombed sites believed to be used by a U.S.-backed Kurdish militia in Syria today, a day after American forces shot down a Turkish drone, escalating tensions between the NATO allies. Turkish forces targeted about 30 sites, destroying bunkers, caves, shelters and warehouses in three regions that Ankara said were used by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party and an allied militia, The Associated Press’ SUZAN FRASER reports. That comes a day after U.S. fighter jets shot down a Turkish drone armed with air-to-ground missiles. The drone was deemed a threat to American troops and Syrian Democratic Forces at the Tal Baydar base. NUKE BAN NO MORE: Russia signaled today that it will soon walk away from the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which prohibits all nuclear explosions for military or peaceful purposes. It’s yet another signal of weakening arms control arrangements between the world’s foremost owners of the bomb. According to The Wall Street Journal’s ANN SIMMONS and LAURENCE NORMAN, VYACHESLAV VOLODIN, speaker of Russia’s State Duma, hinted Moscow will discuss withdrawing from the treaty during the chamber’s next meeting. “The situation in the world has changed,†he said. “Washington and Brussels have launched a war against our country. Today’s challenges require new solutions.†On Thursday, Russian President VLADIMIR PUTIN said his regime will look at leaving the treaty in part because the U.S. signed on to it but never ratified the agreement. “In theory, ratification is revocable. If we do it, this will suffice,†he told a Russian think tank audience. It’s unclear if the move means Moscow will lead to nuclear weapons testing. The Kremlin suggests the decision merely puts it in line with the U.S. But as the WSJ points out: “Putin said Russia had almost finished working on new types of strategic weapons and that it had successfully tested the Burevestnik, a global-range nuclear-powered cruise missile, and finished work on the Sarmat, an intercontinental ballistic missile that carries a heavy nuclear payload.†NO MISSILES FOR YOU: German press indicates that Berlin is unlikely to deliver long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine. German Chancellor OLAF SCHOLZ has yet to confirm that stance publicly, but in private his government has relayed that decision to Kyiv. The pressure is mounting on Germany, which fears providing Ukraine with long-range missiles would escalate matters with Russia. There’s a sense, though, that Scholz may ultimately agree to send Tauruses if the United States delivers long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems. If that’s the case, it would be another instance — like with tanks this year — of Berlin waiting for the U.S. to move before it follows along. “It doesn’t matter that France and the U.K. already went ahead with similar kinds of missiles. As long as Biden does not give the final green light on ATACMS, Berlin will not move,†the Council on Foreign Relations’ LIANA FIX told us. Biden last month told Ukrainian President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY that he would send ATACMS to Ukraine, but no date has been set for their delivery. COUP ATTEMPT? Moldova’s president said today that Wagner Group mercenaries were behind a failed coup attempt to oust her from power, The Financial Times’ HENRY FOY reports. “The information that we have is that it was a plan prepared by [YEVGENY PRIGOZHIN’s] team,†MAIA SANDU said, noting that the plot included turning anti-government protests into a “violent†affair. “The situation is really dramatic and we have to protect ourselves.†As Foy reports: “European and U.S. officials warned in February that Russia was planning to topple Sandu’s pro-Western government and Moldova said in March that it had arrested a Wagner member and charged them with fomenting unrest.†Moldova became an official applicant to join the European Union last year. DRINKS WITH NATSEC DAILY: At the end of every long, hard week, we like to highlight how a prominent member of Washington’s national security scene prefers to unwind with a drink. Today, we’re featuring ELIZABETH WHELAN, sister of PAUL WHELAN, the wrongfully detained former U.S. Marine still held in Russia. When she’s not having breakfast with Alex, you can find her in D.C. pushing for her brother’s release or out in the world finding the best things to drink. Currently on vacation in England, Whelan told us she’s really enjoying half pints of cider in remote British pubs. They’re best “when trying to escape the insanity of D.C.,†she said. But when she is in the American capital, you can usually find Whelan sipping on watery coffee from the Dirksen Senate Building’s vending cafe. “That has to suffice,†she told us, “while I am kicking up dust for Paul Whelan's sake.†Cheers, Elizabeth! 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 [email protected] and [email protected], and follow us on X at @alexbward and @mattberg33. While you’re at it, follow the rest of POLITICO’s national security team: @nahaltoosi, @PhelimKine, @laraseligman, @connorobrienNH, @paulmcleary, @leehudson, @magmill95, @johnnysaks130, @ErinBanco, @reporterjoe, and @JGedeon1.
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