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Good Evening,

It's Wednesday, February 21st.

U.S. Warns Allies Russia Could Put Nuke in Orbit

American intelligence agencies have told their closest European allies that if Russia is going to launch a nuclear weapon into orbit, it will probably do so this year—but that it might instead launch a harmless “dummy” warhead into orbit to leave the West guessing about its capabilities, as the NYT reports.

Dive Deeper: See CSIS’s Kari A. Bingen and Heather Williams’ NYT op-ed “Is This a Sputnik Moment?

U.S. Stands with Israel Before ICJ

The United States backed Israel in a hearing Wednesday at the International Court of Justice, once again diverging from allies, as The Washington Post reports.

U.S. to Invest Billions to Replace China-Made Cranes at Nation’s Ports

The Biden administration plans to invest billions in the domestic manufacturing of cargo cranes, seeking to counter fears that the prevalent use of China-built cranes with advanced software at many U.S. ports poses a potential national-security risk, as the WSJ reports.

Executive Education

Ready to take the next step towards policy success in Washington? Join CSIS experts March 18-21, 2024, at CSIS Headquarters for "Decoding D.C.: Policy, Power, and People," to unlock the secrets to thriving in the capital's unique policy landscape. Register here by March 4.

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: "45V or 45Q? How Tax Credits Will Influence Low-Carbon Hydrogen’s Development" with CSIS's Mathias Zacarias.

In That Number

$50

Russia’s main security agency said on Tuesday that it had arrested a dual citizen of Russia and the United States on accusations of committing state treason for sending just over $50 to Razom for Ukraine, a New York-based nonprofit organization that sends assistance to the country. 
Source: NYT

Critical Quote

“A movement toward Israel’s withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza requires consideration of Israel’s very real security needs.”

—Richard C. Visek, U.S. State Department Acting Legal Adviser

iDeas Lab

CSIS Satellite Imagery
The issue of allied spending on defense and security is important, but providing financial and military aid to Ukraine is both crucial and difficult as NATO countries have to balance defense production and political will as the war grinds on. Watch the full video here. 

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

Optics

CSIS
(Photo credit: Johnathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images.) A CB90, a class fast assault craft, is pictured during a military demonstration following a press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson as a new support package for Ukraine is presented on February 20, 2024, at the Berga Naval Base, part of the Swedish Armed Forces, located south of Stockholm, Sweden.

Recommended Reading

Ditching Ukraine Would Help China and Iran” by CSIS's Seth Jones in The Wall Street Journal.

This Town Tomorrow

At 10:00 a.m., the CSIS Strategic Technologies Program and
Human Rights Initiative host a discussion on a human rights-centered approach to Ukraine's digitalization.

Later, at 1:00 p.m., the CSIS International Security Program hosts the Honorable Michael Vickers, Former Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, for a conversation on the state of the war in Ukraine today.

Then, at 2:30 p.m., the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program welcomes Victoria Nuland, the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, for a conversation on Washington’s strategy for supporting Ukraine and deterring future Russian aggression.

Video

Today, the CSIS Human Rights Initiative hosted a discussion on the new ILO Coalition and the Global Labor Strategy’s priorities. Watch the full video here.

Podcasts


CSIS's Jon B. Alterman speaks with Ambassador David Satterfield, the U.S. special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues, to unpack the crisis in Gaza, the challenges of getting aid to civilians, and more.

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

I need to post one more from the Garcia Live: Volume 4 album. One reason I think that this show recorded in Sebastopol, California on March 22, 1978, is special is because Maria Muldaur and Donna Jean Godchaux are on vocals backing Garcia. This track is a cover of Smokey Robinson’s classic “I Second That Emotion.” It’s remarkable how this show, like many Jerry Band shows, features music written by Garcia and Robert Hunter, Robinson, Bob Dylan, The Band, Junior Parker, and Holland and Dozier. Great, great record.
I invite you to email me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter @handrewschwartz
The Evening is my daily guide to key insights CSIS brings to the events of the day. It is composed by Lauren Adler, Ava Rose, and the External Relations team. 

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