US News

• The House and Senate have agreed to increase the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by $45 billion more than President Biden requested, POLITICO reported on Wednesday. AWC
• El Salvador-based journalists are suing NSO Group makers of Pegasus spyware in US court, alleging the company sold the government spyware used to hack their phones. Gizmodo
• Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says Twitter should be held to certain standards for content. Reuters
• Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday said that he has personally asked the US government to drop its case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is an Australian citizen. AWC
• Some top Biden administration officials are pushing for an international military intervention in Haiti over concerns of a migration crisis, The New York Times reported on Tuesday. AWC

Russia

• Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics called for NATO to allow Ukraine to conduct strikes inside Russian territory, adding the alliance should not fear Moscow’s response. The Institute
• NATO on Tuesday doubled down on its pledge to eventually admit Ukraine during a meeting of the alliance’s foreign ministers in Bucharest, Romania, a position that played a major role in provoking Russia’s invasion. AWC
• Russia on Tuesday said it delayed nuclear arms control talks with the US that were set to start this week due to differences with Washington and tensions over Ukraine. AWC
• Turkey says Finland and Sweden must take “concrete steps” before they will win Ankara’s approval on NATO membership. AP
• The US is considering “dramatically” increasing its training of Ukrainian forces, CNN reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed US officials. AWC
• Ukraine says it will convince Germany to transfer the Patriot air defense system. US News
• Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday from the NATO summit in Bucharest that the US and its allies have agreed to form a group to help repair Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which has been decimated by Russian missile and drone strikes. AWC
• Germany and Norway request NATO protect subsea infrastructure. Reuters
• The Joe Biden administration is now discussing whether to send advanced air defense systems to Kiev, according to a senior Pentagon official. The Institute 
• Under a UN-brokered agreement 20,000 tonnes of Russian fertilizer was sent from the Netherlands to Africa. The Hill 
• Finland offers to train Ukrainian soldiers in winter warfare. Newsweek

China

• A US Navy guided missile cruiser sailed near the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea on Tuesday in the latest US challenge to Beijing’s claims in the region. AWC
• The Pentagon this week issued its annual report on China’s military power that claimed Beijing could nearly quadruple its nuclear stockpile by 2035, bringing it to 1,500 warheads. AWC
• NATO foreign ministers on Wednesday discussed ways to confront what they call the “challenge” posed by China as Secretary of State Antony Blinken is trying to convince alliance members to take a more hawkish stance toward Beijing. AWC
• DIA director Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier says the agency needs to take the lessons learned from Ukraine and apply it to Taiwan. Def One

Korea

• Washington and Seoul are reportedly discussing plans to ramp up anti-submarine military exercises set to begin next year. The Institute 

Middle East

• The Israeli military on Wednesday published pictures of joint aerial exercises with the US that were held this week and simulated attacks on Iran. AWC
• Canada lists the IRGC as a terrorist entity. Global News
• The US approved the sale of a $1 billion anti-drone system to Qatar. MEE
• ISIS says its leader was killed without providing details. CNN
• The Pentagon and a media outlet loyal to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)  have each confirmed the death of ISIS leader Abu Hassan Hashimi Qurayshi, who has been the leader of the Islamist faction for the past 10 months since his predecessor was slain. AWC
• With Turkish officials talking up another imminent invasion of northern Syria, the Kurdish SDF are keen to negotiate a more formal alliance with the Assad government. They are hoping Russia will mediate. AWC
• The Syrian Kurds say Turkish airstrikes are interfering in anti-ISIS operations. Def One
• The SDF says it is seeking assurances from Washington that it will prevent a Turkish invasion of Syria. The Cradle