Friend –

Today is the kickoff to “Budget Season” in Washington as the White House releases their fourth budget proposal – watch for our analysis hitting your inbox later today. The initial press reports overnight confirm what I’ve been expecting – a similar proposal to the last three years with a call to dangerously draw down America’s civilian footprint around the world followed by strong bipartisan rejection from Capitol Hill.

A few interesting items to share before we see the budget details:

• USA Today and Reuters are already reporting on a letter from former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, to congressional leadership with a deadly serious handwritten inscription: “The more we cut the International Affairs Budget, the higher the risk for longer and deadlier military operations.”
  
  
• In the edition of the GLOBAL GAB below, note the latest on the surging coronavirus outbreak – plus concerns over a potential U.S. military drawdown in Africa, foreign policy and the 2020 race, and the NBA’s latest moves in Africa.

Stay tuned this evening for my full readout on the Administration’s global priorities in their budget – it’s important to understand the storyline and hear about a few new initiatives.

More soon,

Liz
Liz Schrayer, USGLC

THE GLOBAL GAB
February 10, 2020

TOP BRASS. In his letter to Congressional leaders, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen thanked Congress for its bipartisan support to “address urgent global challenges” and makes the case for why “diplomacy and global development matter.”

• The admiral offers his global assessment of the growing challenges around the world: “more displaced people… new diseases… post-conflict countries… active conflicts” all as “we try to secure the hard-fought gains against the Islamic State and Al Shabab for the long term.”
  
  
• But he also inspires: “If ever there was an example of teamwork that we can all admire, it is the way our troops, diplomats, and development experts work collaboratively… to advance our security interests and values... They are truly ‘America’s team.’”
  
  
• The Co-Chairs of USGLC’s National Security Advisory Council – made up of more than 200 retired three- and four-star generals and admirals – are also weighing in. Admiral James Stavridis and General Tony Zinni released their own joint statement ahead of the budget release: “Deep cuts to America’s diplomacy and global development programs are entirely out of touch with the threats facing our nation.
  
  
• They continued: “We’ve long said that U.S. foreign assistance is not charity but a strategic investment in our own security that saves lives and keeps us safe. Simply put, we can’t fight today’s global threats with one arm tied behind our back.”

FIVE ALARM FIRE. With the deadly coronavirus now spreading beyond China to 27 other countries, medical workers and policymakers are working around the clock to contain the outbreak that has surpassed the death toll of SARS, with more than 800 dead and close to 37,000 people infected. Here’s the latest:

• On Friday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the U.S. is “prepared to spend up to $100 million” to assist China and other impacted countries. This follows the announcement by the World Health Organization (WHO) of its international appeal of $675 million to scale up the global response to the emergency.
  
  
• Plus, the Department of Health and Human Services has already signaled to Congress that it might need to request more than $130 million in emergency funding to bolster the U.S. response to the coronavirus.
  
  
• In a bold commitment of its own, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has committed $100 million to help contain the outbreak.
  
  
• The NY Times is reporting that despite offers from the CDC and the WHO, China has yet to accept international medical experts to join the response in China. The criticism of China is mounting, with Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Haass warning that: “We’ve got to assume that… the numbers being put out are way, way, way low. It could be a factor of 10, it could be factor of 25.”

THE 2020 RACE. World events are clearly driving issue priorities in the early caucus and primary states as the topic of foreign policy continues to ebb and flow with voters. Here’s the latest from the trail:

• After the showdown with Iran in early January, the Des Moines Register poll found that 9 in 10 voters ranked foreign policy as “extremely important” or “important” to their vote, exactly on par with health care at the time. In addition, foreign policy and national security dominated the first third of Iowa’s Democratic Debate with 42 minutes of questioning.
  
  
• The NY Times has just released their foreign policy questionnaire with responses from the Democratic presidential candidates. The in-depth feature covers each candidate’s specific answers to topics ranging from the use of force to NATO to China and Russia to picking their “Top Diplomatic Priority”.

Plus since the beginning of the year, there have been several big speeches and new policy plans unveiled:

• President Trump spoke at Davos making his case on the new trade agreement with China and the USMCA – and announcing that the U.S. was joining the One Trillion Trees initiative.
  
  
• Former Vice President Biden released a major piece in Foreign Affairs, underscoring “the rapid advance of authoritarianism, nationalism” and how America should address these trends.
  
  
• Senator Warren detailed her plans to combat disease threats, calling for significant new investments at the State Department, the Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC, and USAID to “build strong public health systems abroad.”

AFRICA DRAWDOWN? There’s growing bipartisan concern from members of Congress about potential Pentagon proposals to shift or reduce U.S. troops under the U.S. Africa Combatant Command, AFRICOM. The top GOP leadership on both foreign policy committees Chairman Risch and Ranking Member McCaul, as well as Senators Graham and Coons, and Senate Armed Services Chairman Inhofe have all been speaking out, as Africa watchers worry whether military decreases could signal a broader disengagement from the continent.

• Risch and McCaul wrote to Secretaries Esper and Pompeo: “Extreme poverty, weak governance and vast ungoverned spaces make West Africa, and particularly the Sahel, fertile ground for terrorist recruitment and violence.”
  
  
• The new AFRICOM Combatant Commander, General Stephen J. Townsend, told the Senate Armed Services Committee, “I've learned that small investments – a few troops and a few bucks – can go a long way and make a real difference in Africa.”

MINNETONKA MOMENT. Bringing together Minnesota leaders, the USGLC hosted Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) for a foreign policy town hall just outside the Twin Cities with former Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN); Beth Ford, CEO of Land O’Lakes, Inc.; Michelle Grogg, Cargill’s VP for Corporate Responsibility; and many others. Top quotes:

• House Foreign Affairs Committee member Rep. Phillips emphasized why leading globally matters locally: “From climate change to pandemics, we’re facing significant global challenges — and threats like those don’t stay overseas.”
  
  
• Cargill’s Michelle Grogg tells the story of how America’s Heartland feeds the world: “Turkeys raised by farmers near Marshall, Minnesota feed families in Mexico and Japan. Soybeans grown outside Owatonna are eaten… in Indonesia and the Philippines.”

GATES NOTE. Bill and Melinda Gates reflect back on the first two decades of their foundation and supporting those making the world a more equitable place. Read their annual letter: “Why we swing for the fences”.

NBA IN AFRICA. With the unveiling of its new logo, the NBA made its new Basketball Africa League (BAL) official and is gearing up for its first games in March of this year with 12 club teams from across the continent. Read more on the USGLC blog on how the new league is investing in civil society and infrastructure, and partnering to promote opportunities for youth.