MNI POLITICAL RISK - Blinken China Trip Achieves Modest Goals

Executive Summary:

• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he expects, "additional visits by senior US officials to China over the coming weeks," after a key meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping this morning, but fails to make progress restarting military-to-military contact.
• Senate appropriators will meet on Thursday to set topline spending numbers for the 12 annual appropriations bills, a meeting which will provide more clarity about the risk of a government shutdown in the autumn.
• Republicans have warned the Biden administration against pursuing a nuclear deal with Iran without the approval of Congress.
• Talk of President Biden pursuing a 14^th Amendment strategy to permanently suspend the federal debt ceiling has receded.
• Former Vice President Mike Pence has continued to stake out a fiscally conservative position in his long shot bid for the White House.
• NATO members are increasingly likely to call on NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to stay in office for another term as the alliance struggles to find a candidate who could receive the support of all members.
• Poll of the Day: About three-quarters of Americans think Former President Donald Trump has done something either illegal or unethical.

Please find the full article attached below:

MNI POLITICAL RISK ANALYSIS - US Daily Brief 19-06-23 .pdf