1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:06,950 Good afternoon everybody a couple of 3 00:00:06,950 --> 00:00:09,850 things at the top . 4 00:00:11,540 --> 00:00:14,070 I think you know Secretary Austin , I 5 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:16,810 met earlier today with Sheikh al Thani 6 00:00:16,810 --> 00:00:18,780 the emir of Qatar to affirm the 7 00:00:18,780 --> 00:00:20,613 strength of the US Qatar Defense 8 00:00:20,613 --> 00:00:22,280 partnership which serves as a 9 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:24,336 cornerstone of the U . S . Strategic 10 00:00:24,336 --> 00:00:27,310 bilateral relationship . The secretary 11 00:00:27,310 --> 00:00:29,740 reiterated his heartfelt gratitude to 12 00:00:29,740 --> 00:00:33,570 the Amir's indispensable and and quite 13 00:00:33,570 --> 00:00:35,737 frankly ongoing support to our efforts 14 00:00:35,737 --> 00:00:39,680 uh to continue to get americans and 15 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:41,847 our afghan allies out of Afghanistan . 16 00:00:43,330 --> 00:00:45,441 The leaders discussed shared regional 17 00:00:45,441 --> 00:00:47,386 security interests , de escalating 18 00:00:47,386 --> 00:00:49,386 tensions in the region , countering 19 00:00:49,386 --> 00:00:51,552 terrorism and of course the full scope 20 00:00:51,552 --> 00:00:53,274 of threats represented by Iran 21 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:55,887 Secretary Austin shared his vision for 22 00:00:55,887 --> 00:00:57,998 integrated deterrents emphasizing the 23 00:00:57,998 --> 00:01:00,164 importance of multilateral efforts and 24 00:01:00,164 --> 00:01:02,164 integrated operations with partners 25 00:01:02,164 --> 00:01:04,220 like Qatar to address threats 26 00:01:04,220 --> 00:01:07,430 confronting the region . I think 27 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:09,440 speaking of threats in the region . 28 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:11,273 Earlier this morning the U . S . 29 00:01:11,273 --> 00:01:13,218 Military personnel responded to an 30 00:01:13,218 --> 00:01:15,329 inbound missile threat on the U . A . 31 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:17,662 This involves the activation of patriot 32 00:01:17,662 --> 00:01:19,790 missile batteries coincident with the 33 00:01:19,790 --> 00:01:21,957 efforts by the armed forces of the U . 34 00:01:21,957 --> 00:01:23,568 S . A . The combined efforts 35 00:01:23,568 --> 00:01:25,568 successfully engaged the threat and 36 00:01:25,568 --> 00:01:27,734 there were no injuries or casualties . 37 00:01:27,734 --> 00:01:30,068 We commend the professionalism of the U . 38 00:01:30,068 --> 00:01:32,234 A . Armed forces and confronting these 39 00:01:32,234 --> 00:01:34,457 threats and defending their territory . 40 00:01:34,457 --> 00:01:36,457 We of course stand with the U . A . 41 00:01:36,457 --> 00:01:38,568 Saudi Arabia and our gulf partners in 42 00:01:38,568 --> 00:01:38,560 defending against threats to their 43 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:40,920 peoples and their territories . And 44 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:42,864 with that we'll take questions . I 45 00:01:42,864 --> 00:01:44,976 think bob . You're on the line . Yeah 46 00:01:53,340 --> 00:01:54,562 bob , are you there ? 47 00:01:58,140 --> 00:02:01,370 Okay . Nothing heard will go in the 48 00:02:01,370 --> 00:02:04,790 room john I want to 49 00:02:05,020 --> 00:02:07,020 just follow up on the meeting today 50 00:02:07,020 --> 00:02:09,610 between the secretary and of course 51 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:15,060 the president just said welcoming , 52 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,160 he will notify the Congress about his 53 00:02:19,370 --> 00:02:22,360 intent to designate it as a major non 54 00:02:22,670 --> 00:02:24,781 NATO ally . Can you , can you explain 55 00:02:24,781 --> 00:02:26,948 the significance of this designation ? 56 00:02:26,948 --> 00:02:29,270 How would it help further the defense 57 00:02:29,270 --> 00:02:31,603 relationship between Britain and the US ? 58 00:02:31,603 --> 00:02:33,826 I mean it it opens up a whole new range 59 00:02:33,826 --> 00:02:35,381 of opportunities of defense 60 00:02:35,381 --> 00:02:37,437 relationships . I mean not just with 61 00:02:37,437 --> 00:02:39,603 the United States bilaterally but with 62 00:02:39,603 --> 00:02:41,770 other allies and certainly I let other 63 00:02:41,770 --> 00:02:43,937 nations speak for themselves and their 64 00:02:43,937 --> 00:02:45,937 own bilateral defense relationships 65 00:02:45,937 --> 00:02:48,159 with with Qatar . But it does open up a 66 00:02:48,159 --> 00:02:50,210 full new range of opportunities , 67 00:02:50,220 --> 00:02:54,110 exercises operations uh um and 68 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:56,960 you know perhaps um uh 69 00:02:57,640 --> 00:03:01,430 the application of of acquisition of 70 00:03:01,430 --> 00:03:05,240 capabilities as well . So um uh it's 71 00:03:05,250 --> 00:03:07,472 uh I mean the Secretary was was honored 72 00:03:07,472 --> 00:03:09,660 and pleased to be able to to make that 73 00:03:09,660 --> 00:03:11,827 pledge . And obviously we'll see where 74 00:03:11,827 --> 00:03:15,160 it goes on the attack today . 75 00:03:15,170 --> 00:03:17,640 Yesterday on the Emirates . The 76 00:03:17,650 --> 00:03:19,540 President just said he directed 77 00:03:19,540 --> 00:03:22,770 Secretary Austin to offer americans 78 00:03:22,770 --> 00:03:24,714 support to ally specifically Saudi 79 00:03:24,714 --> 00:03:28,140 Arabia and E and he said I'm quoting 80 00:03:28,140 --> 00:03:31,460 him America will have the bags of our 81 00:03:31,460 --> 00:03:33,571 friends in the region . Are there any 82 00:03:33,571 --> 00:03:35,770 specific new support that us is 83 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:38,080 planning on providing for these two 84 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:39,858 nations ? I don't have anything 85 00:03:39,858 --> 00:03:43,380 specific body to to announce today but 86 00:03:43,390 --> 00:03:46,660 the attack was actually today . Um I 87 00:03:46,670 --> 00:03:48,448 don't have anything specific to 88 00:03:48,448 --> 00:03:50,448 announce with respect to additional 89 00:03:50,448 --> 00:03:52,614 capabilities but I would tell you that 90 00:03:52,614 --> 00:03:54,503 we are constantly looking um even 91 00:03:54,503 --> 00:03:56,726 before this spate of recent attacks but 92 00:03:56,726 --> 00:03:58,781 certainly in the wake of them uh for 93 00:03:58,781 --> 00:04:00,726 additional capabilities that might 94 00:04:00,726 --> 00:04:03,520 prove useful to our gulf partners in 95 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:05,798 this case particularly the the emirati . 96 00:04:05,798 --> 00:04:07,909 So again nothing to announce today in 97 00:04:07,909 --> 00:04:10,131 terms of something moving . Uh but very 98 00:04:10,131 --> 00:04:13,850 much committed to having um a very 99 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:16,280 a very discreet and specific 100 00:04:16,280 --> 00:04:18,336 conversation with the emiratis about 101 00:04:18,336 --> 00:04:20,502 what they might need and what we might 102 00:04:20,502 --> 00:04:24,400 be able to provide . Yeah um bob will 103 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:26,570 come back to you again . Did you did 104 00:04:26,570 --> 00:04:29,130 you get there ? Yeah I apologize for 105 00:04:29,130 --> 00:04:31,660 that . I had muted myself . Sorry 106 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:35,670 question about the stateside units that 107 00:04:35,670 --> 00:04:37,670 are on prepare to deploy orders for 108 00:04:37,670 --> 00:04:40,710 europe . Um President Biden said on 109 00:04:40,710 --> 00:04:43,460 friday that he said what he said 110 00:04:43,460 --> 00:04:45,516 exactly was I'll be moving troops to 111 00:04:45,516 --> 00:04:47,627 eastern europe and the NATO countries 112 00:04:47,850 --> 00:04:50,500 in the near term . So it seemed from 113 00:04:50,500 --> 00:04:52,611 that that the decision to do this has 114 00:04:52,611 --> 00:04:54,500 already been made . It was only a 115 00:04:54,500 --> 00:04:57,550 question of when and so can you say 116 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:00,850 what would trigger that deployment to 117 00:05:00,850 --> 00:05:04,230 europe ? From the US aside from the 118 00:05:04,230 --> 00:05:06,452 activation of the NATO response force . 119 00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:10,740 Thanks well um the NATO response 120 00:05:10,740 --> 00:05:12,962 force and what I and what the President 121 00:05:12,962 --> 00:05:15,820 was referring to uh aren't necessarily 122 00:05:15,820 --> 00:05:19,560 the same thing that NATO has to vote on 123 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:21,616 activation of the response force . I 124 00:05:21,616 --> 00:05:23,727 mean that's something that would have 125 00:05:23,727 --> 00:05:25,870 to come from from the alliance itself 126 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:28,540 and that hasn't occurred . Um We have 127 00:05:28,540 --> 00:05:32,340 shortened the alert status uh for 128 00:05:32,350 --> 00:05:35,790 more than 8000 U . S . Troops . But and 129 00:05:35,790 --> 00:05:37,512 they're and they're making the 130 00:05:37,512 --> 00:05:39,623 preparations that they need now to be 131 00:05:39,623 --> 00:05:41,790 able to meet that shorter tether . But 132 00:05:41,790 --> 00:05:44,123 there's been no decision to activate it . 133 00:05:44,123 --> 00:05:47,890 As for uh the addition of of forces or 134 00:05:47,890 --> 00:05:50,057 capabilities into the eastern flank of 135 00:05:50,057 --> 00:05:52,090 NATO . You heard the president make 136 00:05:52,090 --> 00:05:54,780 very clear what his intentions are . I 137 00:05:54,780 --> 00:05:56,836 don't have any announcements to make 138 00:05:56,836 --> 00:05:59,002 today , I don't have any units to talk 139 00:05:59,002 --> 00:06:01,058 about . But as I've said and frankly 140 00:06:01,058 --> 00:06:03,224 I've said it now for a couple of weeks 141 00:06:03,224 --> 00:06:06,470 we're we're going through the rigorous 142 00:06:06,470 --> 00:06:09,320 work of providing options for the 143 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:11,431 commander in chief . Should he decide 144 00:06:11,431 --> 00:06:13,420 to do that ? Um Where and when he 145 00:06:13,420 --> 00:06:16,160 decides to do that . Obviously in close 146 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:18,610 consultation with the actual allies 147 00:06:18,610 --> 00:06:20,554 themselves . I mean you can't just 148 00:06:20,554 --> 00:06:22,499 unilaterally decide to to to throw 149 00:06:22,499 --> 00:06:24,610 extra U . S . Forces at a country you 150 00:06:24,610 --> 00:06:26,777 want to make sure that that they're on 151 00:06:26,777 --> 00:06:28,888 board with it and that you've had the 152 00:06:28,888 --> 00:06:31,110 appropriate conversations . And uh what 153 00:06:31,110 --> 00:06:33,332 I would tell you is that those sorts of 154 00:06:33,332 --> 00:06:35,443 conversations are ongoing . Um And uh 155 00:06:35,443 --> 00:06:35,440 you know I'll leave it at there . I 156 00:06:35,450 --> 00:06:37,960 leave it at that I don't again have a 157 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:40,127 timeline to give you I certainly don't 158 00:06:40,127 --> 00:06:42,480 have any specifics with respect to a a 159 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:45,340 redeployment inside europe to to talk 160 00:06:45,340 --> 00:06:47,560 to in any great detail but it is very 161 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:49,671 much an active discussion here at the 162 00:06:49,671 --> 00:06:52,240 pentagon . It's certainly um is an 163 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:54,240 active discussion that we're having 164 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:56,184 with our National Security Council 165 00:06:56,184 --> 00:06:58,296 counterparts as well , as and this is 166 00:06:58,296 --> 00:07:00,351 really important to remind with with 167 00:07:00,351 --> 00:07:03,380 our allies themselves court . I'm 168 00:07:03,380 --> 00:07:05,547 unclear on two things . Okay , so what 169 00:07:05,547 --> 00:07:07,713 what President biden was talking about 170 00:07:07,713 --> 00:07:09,936 then is a unilateral employment to NATO 171 00:07:09,936 --> 00:07:12,760 ally countries around Ukraine . Right , 172 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:15,350 that's what you're saying . Okay , why 173 00:07:15,350 --> 00:07:17,461 what's I know we've heard about , you 174 00:07:17,461 --> 00:07:19,628 know , bolstering NATO defense partner 175 00:07:19,628 --> 00:07:21,794 defenses and Article five commitment . 176 00:07:21,794 --> 00:07:21,520 But the one thing I'm still unclear on 177 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:24,050 is like , Is there any indication that 178 00:07:24,060 --> 00:07:27,900 Russia is threatening or has 179 00:07:27,910 --> 00:07:30,021 any plans at all to invade any of the 180 00:07:30,021 --> 00:07:32,243 NATO allies around Ukraine ? Because it 181 00:07:32,243 --> 00:07:34,410 seems like everything we're hearing is 182 00:07:34,410 --> 00:07:36,354 that the threat is to Ukraine . So 183 00:07:36,354 --> 00:07:38,577 what's the article five commitment that 184 00:07:38,577 --> 00:07:40,799 the US has two allies around there ? Or 185 00:07:40,799 --> 00:07:43,300 is it really just about showing like a 186 00:07:43,310 --> 00:07:46,290 demonstration of force ? It's a fair 187 00:07:46,290 --> 00:07:49,970 question , I think , and you can 188 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:52,520 see it in in press reporting out of 189 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:56,460 europe that that the Russian 190 00:07:56,460 --> 00:07:59,270 build up around Ukraine and Belarus has 191 00:07:59,270 --> 00:08:01,710 definitely got many of our NATO allies 192 00:08:01,710 --> 00:08:04,200 concerned , particularly those allies 193 00:08:04,210 --> 00:08:06,432 that border are very close to bordering 194 00:08:06,432 --> 00:08:10,310 Russia . Um and uh what we 195 00:08:10,310 --> 00:08:13,650 want to make sure we know that that 196 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:16,760 I mean , Putin has said himself , how 197 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:20,060 concerned he is about NATO . Um and 198 00:08:20,060 --> 00:08:22,227 this false belief that it's somehow an 199 00:08:22,230 --> 00:08:25,440 offensive alliance aim to contain 200 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:28,590 Russia or to threaten Russia , again 201 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:30,790 false , but this is the narrative he's 202 00:08:30,790 --> 00:08:33,930 putting out there . Um and so we want 203 00:08:33,930 --> 00:08:35,819 to make sure that our NATO allies 204 00:08:35,819 --> 00:08:37,652 understand we take seriously our 205 00:08:37,652 --> 00:08:40,820 commitments to them . And so if they 206 00:08:40,820 --> 00:08:43,610 desire , if they want additional 207 00:08:43,610 --> 00:08:45,666 capabilities , particularly in those 208 00:08:45,666 --> 00:08:48,240 eastern flank countries , um to bolster 209 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:50,351 their own self defense , then we want 210 00:08:50,351 --> 00:08:52,573 to have that conversation with them and 211 00:08:52,573 --> 00:08:54,684 we want to be willing to provide that 212 00:08:54,684 --> 00:08:56,518 for them . That's the unilateral 213 00:08:56,518 --> 00:08:58,684 movements and it it really is designed 214 00:08:58,684 --> 00:09:00,684 to ensure NATO solidarity and quite 215 00:09:00,684 --> 00:09:02,351 frankly , to help bolster the 216 00:09:02,351 --> 00:09:05,130 capabilities of our allies . Second and 217 00:09:05,130 --> 00:09:07,352 distinct from that , of course , is the 218 00:09:07,352 --> 00:09:09,241 NATO response force and this is a 219 00:09:09,241 --> 00:09:12,440 40,000 troops strong response force 220 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:14,250 that only NATO the alliance can 221 00:09:14,250 --> 00:09:17,070 activate . We have obligations inside 222 00:09:17,070 --> 00:09:19,760 that , just like other countries inside 223 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:21,649 the alliance , we signed up for a 224 00:09:21,649 --> 00:09:23,927 certain amount of contribution to that . 225 00:09:23,927 --> 00:09:27,850 Um it is not something that is um uh 226 00:09:27,860 --> 00:09:30,027 that's just off the shelf and you just 227 00:09:30,027 --> 00:09:32,249 go grab it . So you you want to make it 228 00:09:32,249 --> 00:09:34,138 as short a tether as possible and 229 00:09:34,138 --> 00:09:36,193 that's why we've alerted those extra 230 00:09:36,193 --> 00:09:38,304 8500 troops here in the states , they 231 00:09:38,304 --> 00:09:38,160 have not been given deployment orders , 232 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:40,662 they've just been told to be ready on a 233 00:09:40,662 --> 00:09:43,530 shorter period of time in case the 234 00:09:43,530 --> 00:09:46,780 alliance activates that . Um and as for 235 00:09:46,780 --> 00:09:49,080 Ukraine , you're right , the principal 236 00:09:49,090 --> 00:09:51,110 threat right now , at least from a 237 00:09:51,110 --> 00:09:53,630 military perspective is from Russia on 238 00:09:53,630 --> 00:09:56,040 Ukraine and to Ukrainian soil , which 239 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:59,120 is why we continue to provide security 240 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:01,176 assistance material to the Ukrainian 241 00:10:01,176 --> 00:10:03,231 armed forces . Another shipment just 242 00:10:03,231 --> 00:10:05,398 arrived on friday , there will be more 243 00:10:05,398 --> 00:10:07,453 coming in coming days . And while we 244 00:10:07,453 --> 00:10:09,676 still have trainers on the ground , not 245 00:10:09,676 --> 00:10:11,898 just us , the brits do the Canadians do 246 00:10:11,898 --> 00:10:14,064 trainers on the ground to help improve 247 00:10:14,064 --> 00:10:16,120 the confidence and the confidence of 248 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:18,342 Ukrainian armed forces . So it's really 249 00:10:18,342 --> 00:10:20,342 it's really a multi tiered approach 250 00:10:20,342 --> 00:10:22,509 here . But the president has been very 251 00:10:22,509 --> 00:10:22,210 clear , we're not going to see american 252 00:10:22,210 --> 00:10:24,930 troops on the ground in combat with the 253 00:10:24,940 --> 00:10:27,780 Russians in Ukraine . He has made clear 254 00:10:27,780 --> 00:10:30,350 that that's not on the table . So what 255 00:10:30,350 --> 00:10:33,800 we're focused on is the Very real 256 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:36,022 security commitments that we have , you 257 00:10:36,022 --> 00:10:37,633 mentioned under Article five 258 00:10:37,633 --> 00:10:41,060 specifically to our NATO allies should 259 00:10:42,140 --> 00:10:45,710 mr Putin decide to make or to 260 00:10:45,710 --> 00:10:48,560 exhibit threats against the alliance . 261 00:10:48,620 --> 00:10:50,370 We want to make sure that he 262 00:10:50,370 --> 00:10:52,770 understands unequivocally that that's 263 00:10:52,770 --> 00:10:54,659 not going to be acceptable in the 264 00:10:54,659 --> 00:10:56,603 United States , will will fight to 265 00:10:56,603 --> 00:10:58,548 defend our our NATO allies and our 266 00:10:58,548 --> 00:11:00,700 commitments to our allies on the 267 00:11:00,700 --> 00:11:03,380 continent . But look again , um and 268 00:11:03,380 --> 00:11:06,180 pardon me for , for going on . Um but 269 00:11:06,180 --> 00:11:09,250 it was a very good question . We don't 270 00:11:09,250 --> 00:11:11,194 think it has to come to conflict . 271 00:11:11,194 --> 00:11:13,361 There's still we still believe there's 272 00:11:13,361 --> 00:11:15,306 time and space for diplomacy . You 273 00:11:15,306 --> 00:11:17,361 actually heard a little bit from the 274 00:11:17,361 --> 00:11:19,306 Russians themselves , that they're 275 00:11:19,306 --> 00:11:21,190 still willing to to talk . So we 276 00:11:21,190 --> 00:11:23,610 believe that in that time and space , 277 00:11:23,610 --> 00:11:25,721 we want to make sure that we're doing 278 00:11:25,721 --> 00:11:27,832 everything we can to be ready just in 279 00:11:27,832 --> 00:11:29,721 case there was a need by our NATO 280 00:11:29,721 --> 00:11:31,721 allies , but also to allow for that 281 00:11:31,721 --> 00:11:33,943 time and space for diplomacy to occur . 282 00:11:33,943 --> 00:11:36,110 Did that answer ? Talk a little bit 283 00:11:36,110 --> 00:11:38,332 about Russia ? And are you still seeing 284 00:11:38,332 --> 00:11:40,388 Russia move in troops and material ? 285 00:11:40,540 --> 00:11:42,540 Can you get specific on what you're 286 00:11:42,540 --> 00:11:44,610 seeing and also as far as possible 287 00:11:44,610 --> 00:11:46,666 naval movements in the mediterranean 288 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:49,100 heading perhaps toward the Bosporus . 289 00:11:49,540 --> 00:11:53,150 Um Yeah , so I'm gonna continue to be 290 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:55,260 circumspect about intelligence 291 00:11:55,260 --> 00:11:57,371 assessments and what we're seeing tom 292 00:11:57,371 --> 00:11:59,850 but uh broadly speaking , we continue 293 00:11:59,850 --> 00:12:01,794 to see even over the course of the 294 00:12:01,794 --> 00:12:03,794 weekend additional us , I'm sorry , 295 00:12:03,794 --> 00:12:06,590 additional Russian ground forces move 296 00:12:06,590 --> 00:12:09,620 in again , uh in Belarus and around the 297 00:12:09,620 --> 00:12:13,030 border with Ukraine . As you heard , uh , 298 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:15,110 General Milley say on friday , these 299 00:12:15,110 --> 00:12:18,310 are combined arms , capable forces . So 300 00:12:18,310 --> 00:12:20,532 it's not just infantry , for instance , 301 00:12:20,532 --> 00:12:22,532 artillery , it's it's um , it's air 302 00:12:22,532 --> 00:12:24,840 defense . Um He's got a full range of 303 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:27,410 military capabilities available to him , 304 00:12:27,410 --> 00:12:29,450 which only continue to increase the 305 00:12:29,450 --> 00:12:31,506 number of options available to him . 306 00:12:31,506 --> 00:12:33,172 Whether if he decides to move 307 00:12:33,172 --> 00:12:35,570 militarily , we have seen increasing 308 00:12:35,580 --> 00:12:37,802 naval activity in the mediterranean and 309 00:12:37,802 --> 00:12:40,890 the atlantic by uh Russian fleet 310 00:12:40,890 --> 00:12:43,930 vessels . Um , and we're watching that 311 00:12:43,940 --> 00:12:46,670 pretty closely , nothing hostile 312 00:12:46,670 --> 00:12:49,090 necessarily to report to or to speak to , 313 00:12:49,100 --> 00:12:53,070 but they have , they have put 314 00:12:53,070 --> 00:12:55,320 to see more ships they are exercising 315 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:58,410 at sea , they are are clearly um 316 00:12:58,420 --> 00:13:00,531 increasing the capabilities they have 317 00:13:00,531 --> 00:13:02,698 at sea Should should they need it ? So 318 00:13:02,698 --> 00:13:04,864 again , all this goes , you know , all 319 00:13:04,864 --> 00:13:06,920 this goes to options available to Mr 320 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:10,000 Putin . Um and he continues to create 321 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:11,778 more options for himself from a 322 00:13:11,778 --> 00:13:13,944 military perspective . Again , we want 323 00:13:13,944 --> 00:13:15,944 him to see him , we want to see him 324 00:13:15,944 --> 00:13:18,167 exercise a diplomatic option . Which oh 325 00:13:18,167 --> 00:13:20,444 by the way , is also still open to him . 326 00:13:20,444 --> 00:13:22,611 Any indication those ships are heading 327 00:13:22,611 --> 00:13:26,020 toward the bus for us though , that 328 00:13:26,020 --> 00:13:28,480 they have to give notice that they're 329 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:30,758 going to transit the phosphorus . Yeah , 330 00:13:30,758 --> 00:13:32,900 I'm gonna refrain from speaking about 331 00:13:32,900 --> 00:13:35,940 specific uh movements of their naval 332 00:13:35,940 --> 00:13:37,773 vessels . I think that's a great 333 00:13:37,773 --> 00:13:39,829 question for the Russian navy and uh 334 00:13:39,829 --> 00:13:41,996 and they should have to speak for what 335 00:13:41,996 --> 00:13:44,107 they're doing and where they're going 336 00:13:44,107 --> 00:13:46,218 Like way that the way that we do . Um 337 00:13:46,218 --> 00:13:48,440 but what I would just say is I'll leave 338 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:50,662 it at increased naval activity which is 339 00:13:50,662 --> 00:13:54,460 concerning um 340 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:57,862 have NATO allies requested , you know , 341 00:13:57,862 --> 00:14:00,270 unilateral deployment of US troops to 342 00:14:00,270 --> 00:14:02,500 their countries ? We are in active 343 00:14:02,500 --> 00:14:04,500 discussions with a number of allies 344 00:14:04,500 --> 00:14:07,510 about um US capabilities that they 345 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:09,870 might desire might and might and might 346 00:14:09,870 --> 00:14:11,981 ask for . Um but again , I don't have 347 00:14:11,981 --> 00:14:14,203 any final decisions to speak to today . 348 00:14:14,203 --> 00:14:16,426 On the second question on North Korea , 349 00:14:16,426 --> 00:14:16,220 they fired an intermediate range 350 00:14:16,220 --> 00:14:19,790 ballistic missile . Are you considering 351 00:14:19,790 --> 00:14:21,846 or prepared for the possibility that 352 00:14:21,846 --> 00:14:24,068 they fire an intercontinental ballistic 353 00:14:24,068 --> 00:14:26,179 missile . And does it affect US force 354 00:14:26,179 --> 00:14:28,123 posture exercises anything of that 355 00:14:28,123 --> 00:14:30,290 extent ? Should they choose to go that 356 00:14:30,290 --> 00:14:32,290 route ? I don't want to hypothesize 357 00:14:32,290 --> 00:14:34,012 about the future launches were 358 00:14:34,012 --> 00:14:36,123 obviously always looking at our force 359 00:14:36,123 --> 00:14:38,068 presence , our force posture , our 360 00:14:38,068 --> 00:14:39,957 force protection , they're on the 361 00:14:39,957 --> 00:14:42,290 peninsula and in the region . Um and 362 00:14:42,300 --> 00:14:45,210 also constantly looking at our own 363 00:14:45,210 --> 00:14:47,432 readiness from uh from a training event 364 00:14:47,432 --> 00:14:49,654 perspective and all that is factored in 365 00:14:49,654 --> 00:14:51,766 what we see coming out of Pyongyang . 366 00:14:51,766 --> 00:14:53,710 All that factors into our decision 367 00:14:53,710 --> 00:14:55,599 making . I would tell you that we 368 00:14:55,599 --> 00:14:57,599 obviously take our force protection 369 00:14:57,599 --> 00:14:59,710 very very seriously but also the need 370 00:14:59,710 --> 00:15:01,599 to be ready . Uh and so nothing's 371 00:15:01,599 --> 00:15:03,543 changed about uh nothing's changed 372 00:15:03,543 --> 00:15:05,654 about our desire to work closely with 373 00:15:05,654 --> 00:15:07,488 our South korean allies on force 374 00:15:07,488 --> 00:15:09,599 readiness there on the peninsula . Um 375 00:15:09,599 --> 00:15:12,670 as for what he may do next , Only kim 376 00:15:12,670 --> 00:15:14,892 jong un knows the answer to that . What 377 00:15:14,892 --> 00:15:16,837 we hope he does next is stop these 378 00:15:16,837 --> 00:15:18,781 launches , stop these provocations 379 00:15:18,781 --> 00:15:20,670 abide by U . N . Security council 380 00:15:20,670 --> 00:15:22,726 resolutions and quit threatening his 381 00:15:22,726 --> 00:15:24,781 neighbors in the region . Um We have 382 00:15:24,781 --> 00:15:27,003 made it very clear as an administration 383 00:15:27,003 --> 00:15:26,490 that we're willing to sit down and have 384 00:15:26,490 --> 00:15:28,712 dialogue with the North Koreans without 385 00:15:28,712 --> 00:15:30,934 precondition . That offer is still that 386 00:15:30,934 --> 00:15:33,101 offer still stands but in the meantime 387 00:15:33,101 --> 00:15:35,323 here at the Department of Defense we're 388 00:15:35,323 --> 00:15:35,170 going to do what we have to do to be 389 00:15:35,170 --> 00:15:38,360 ready on the peninsula jenny . I'm 390 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:40,527 surprised you're going to follow up on 391 00:15:40,527 --> 00:15:44,260 that one . Thank you . Those korean 392 00:15:44,260 --> 00:15:48,030 ones that this missile could hit the US 393 00:15:48,030 --> 00:15:50,880 mainland directly ? What is the 394 00:15:50,890 --> 00:15:53,470 secretary Austin's reaction to the 395 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:55,750 North korean threat to the U . S . 396 00:15:55,750 --> 00:15:58,170 Mainland ? Pretty much just gave that 397 00:15:58,170 --> 00:16:00,870 answer . Um look , we're I'm not going 398 00:16:00,870 --> 00:16:03,330 to speak about intelligence assessments 399 00:16:03,330 --> 00:16:06,810 of each and every launch . We we 400 00:16:06,810 --> 00:16:08,680 understand he's conducting these 401 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:12,670 launches . Um um it's 402 00:16:12,670 --> 00:16:14,781 hard to , you know , it's hard to get 403 00:16:14,781 --> 00:16:16,948 inside his mind . This is exactly what 404 00:16:16,948 --> 00:16:19,059 he's doing and why . I mean , some of 405 00:16:19,059 --> 00:16:21,281 it could be message signaling . But you 406 00:16:21,281 --> 00:16:23,392 know what we also have to assume that 407 00:16:23,392 --> 00:16:25,281 it's that it's learning that it's 408 00:16:25,281 --> 00:16:27,448 improving that that no matter how well 409 00:16:27,448 --> 00:16:29,830 or how poorly these lunches go , he 410 00:16:29,830 --> 00:16:32,052 learns from them and he's able to , you 411 00:16:32,052 --> 00:16:34,330 know , continue to advance his program . 412 00:16:34,330 --> 00:16:36,330 And so to your point , yes , the 413 00:16:36,330 --> 00:16:38,600 secretary is very concerned about their 414 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:41,640 advancing uh ballistic missile program . 415 00:16:41,780 --> 00:16:44,200 Um , and that is why again we're 416 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:46,422 focused on making sure that we have the 417 00:16:46,422 --> 00:16:48,589 right capabilities available to us and 418 00:16:48,589 --> 00:16:50,644 to our allies in the region . Okay . 419 00:16:50,644 --> 00:16:54,120 The US want diplomacy and 420 00:16:54,130 --> 00:16:56,460 dialogue with the North Korea without 421 00:16:56,470 --> 00:16:59,270 preconditions you say that many times ? 422 00:17:00,060 --> 00:17:04,060 Yes . Yes . Okay . But if North 423 00:17:04,060 --> 00:17:07,630 korean kim jong un once a different 424 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:11,170 path , it's the US ready to go 425 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:15,370 the other way . What other 426 00:17:15,370 --> 00:17:18,360 way different way to go because , 427 00:17:19,140 --> 00:17:22,950 well , I mean , I don't know what other 428 00:17:22,950 --> 00:17:25,490 ways he might be considering , all I 429 00:17:25,490 --> 00:17:28,950 can tell you is we still believe that 430 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:32,140 that diplomacy is the right way and we 431 00:17:32,140 --> 00:17:35,460 have made it very clear repeatedly that 432 00:17:35,470 --> 00:17:37,414 we're willing to sit down and have 433 00:17:37,414 --> 00:17:39,303 those discussions and that's what 434 00:17:39,303 --> 00:17:41,637 that's what we'd like to see occur . Um , 435 00:17:41,637 --> 00:17:44,330 so I don't know , it would b very 436 00:17:44,330 --> 00:17:46,386 valuable to speculate one way or the 437 00:17:46,386 --> 00:17:48,386 other about other courses of action 438 00:17:48,386 --> 00:17:50,608 here . Clearly nobody wants to see this 439 00:17:50,608 --> 00:17:53,840 come to open conflict . Um , uh , that 440 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:56,960 would be devastating for everybody on 441 00:17:56,960 --> 00:17:58,738 the peninsula and and certainly 442 00:17:58,738 --> 00:18:00,849 elsewhere in the region . And there's 443 00:18:00,849 --> 00:18:03,127 no reason that it has to come that way . 444 00:18:03,127 --> 00:18:04,904 But in the meantime , while our 445 00:18:04,904 --> 00:18:06,960 diplomats are hard at work trying to 446 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:09,182 advance some sort of dialogue , we here 447 00:18:09,182 --> 00:18:11,238 in the Department of Defense , we've 448 00:18:11,238 --> 00:18:10,680 got to make sure we're constantly 449 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:12,569 advancing the capabilities of the 450 00:18:12,569 --> 00:18:14,736 alliance and that's what we're focused 451 00:18:14,736 --> 00:18:17,540 on interview with Fox News . I did . 452 00:18:17,540 --> 00:18:21,140 Yes . Yes . So you have maybe you have 453 00:18:21,140 --> 00:18:24,940 some options to they had military 454 00:18:24,940 --> 00:18:27,800 options or something . Well , how does 455 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:29,967 my interview with Fox news mean that I 456 00:18:29,967 --> 00:18:31,967 have additional military options to 457 00:18:31,967 --> 00:18:34,350 speak to you ? And you didn't say that 458 00:18:34,350 --> 00:18:36,500 exactly what the military options 459 00:18:36,500 --> 00:18:39,120 saying . But you can you have the other 460 00:18:39,120 --> 00:18:41,540 way . That means you've got many 461 00:18:41,540 --> 00:18:43,540 options . But you can tell us about 462 00:18:43,540 --> 00:18:46,960 some options . We um 463 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:50,960 continue to explore and improve 464 00:18:51,340 --> 00:18:53,600 military capabilities on the peninsula 465 00:18:53,610 --> 00:18:56,180 in concert with our South korean allies . 466 00:18:56,180 --> 00:18:58,291 Some of them are very easy to see and 467 00:18:58,291 --> 00:19:00,458 to demonstrate . And and we talk about 468 00:19:00,458 --> 00:19:02,590 them and some of them we don't , but 469 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:05,050 until there is a 470 00:19:06,340 --> 00:19:08,450 a peaceful denuclearization of the 471 00:19:08,450 --> 00:19:10,672 peninsula . We have an obligation to be 472 00:19:10,672 --> 00:19:12,783 ready ? And that's what we're focused 473 00:19:12,783 --> 00:19:15,150 on right now ? Gordon ? I forget about 474 00:19:15,170 --> 00:19:17,680 friday's question Qatar and you may not 475 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:21,390 know this but does designating 476 00:19:21,590 --> 00:19:25,190 star as a non NATO ally ? Is that a 477 00:19:25,190 --> 00:19:27,246 requirement to do some of the things 478 00:19:27,246 --> 00:19:29,301 you mentioned like the exercises and 479 00:19:29,301 --> 00:19:31,523 the acquisition potentially or or is it 480 00:19:31,523 --> 00:19:33,634 just it would be a requirement inside 481 00:19:33,634 --> 00:19:35,857 the alliance . And again it's it's it's 482 00:19:35,857 --> 00:19:38,023 not our decision to make . It's simply 483 00:19:38,023 --> 00:19:40,134 that you know we support that process 484 00:19:40,134 --> 00:19:42,079 but it would be a decision for the 485 00:19:42,079 --> 00:19:44,246 alliance to make and and what you what 486 00:19:44,246 --> 00:19:46,023 comes out of that . And again I 487 00:19:46,023 --> 00:19:47,968 encourage you to speak to our NATO 488 00:19:47,968 --> 00:19:50,134 colleagues in more detail about this . 489 00:19:50,134 --> 00:19:52,190 But it does open up opportunities of 490 00:19:52,190 --> 00:19:54,079 cooperation with the alliance and 491 00:19:54,079 --> 00:19:56,480 inside uh the alliance regimen 492 00:19:56,760 --> 00:20:00,450 obviously include us so potential more 493 00:20:00,450 --> 00:20:03,350 arms sales more . Those are bilateral 494 00:20:03,930 --> 00:20:06,320 decisions made by sovereign states . So 495 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:08,542 they don't not necessarily have to deal 496 00:20:08,542 --> 00:20:10,487 with this designation . I wouldn't 497 00:20:10,487 --> 00:20:14,100 think so . Let me go back to the 498 00:20:14,110 --> 00:20:17,950 phones fill . Right . Hey they're just 499 00:20:17,950 --> 00:20:19,839 following up on the on the Houthi 500 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:22,330 missile attack on you . A can you you 501 00:20:22,330 --> 00:20:24,441 said that the that the U . S . Forces 502 00:20:24,441 --> 00:20:26,780 uh fired patriots . Did the patriots 503 00:20:26,790 --> 00:20:30,470 intercept the incoming missile and or 504 00:20:30,470 --> 00:20:32,581 was it some other capability that did 505 00:20:32,581 --> 00:20:35,860 that ? And then also you know what do 506 00:20:35,860 --> 00:20:38,430 you think is the threat that these are 507 00:20:38,430 --> 00:20:41,100 repeated attacks on U . S . Forces ? 508 00:20:41,100 --> 00:20:43,322 What is the threat ? And do you believe 509 00:20:43,322 --> 00:20:45,720 the U . S . Is positioned uh to to to 510 00:20:45,730 --> 00:20:47,841 deal with the threat that is you know 511 00:20:47,850 --> 00:20:50,480 these are weekly attacks now ? Well I 512 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:52,950 think just um you never want to take 513 00:20:52,950 --> 00:20:55,172 anything for granted Phil . But clearly 514 00:20:55,172 --> 00:20:58,160 um uh these attacks have have 515 00:21:00,020 --> 00:21:03,470 and have not been 100% successful . We 516 00:21:03,470 --> 00:21:06,460 continue to , as I said to fatty 517 00:21:06,590 --> 00:21:08,646 explore opportunities to improve our 518 00:21:08,646 --> 00:21:11,460 our defenses and uh and the defenses of 519 00:21:11,460 --> 00:21:14,390 our Emirati partners as well . So I 520 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:16,511 don't have an announcement to make in 521 00:21:16,511 --> 00:21:18,122 terms of what we're gonna do 522 00:21:18,122 --> 00:21:20,233 differently . We're constantly trying 523 00:21:20,233 --> 00:21:22,456 to make sure that we're that we're more 524 00:21:22,456 --> 00:21:24,567 ready . My understanding with respect 525 00:21:24,567 --> 00:21:26,678 to this particular attack is that the 526 00:21:26,678 --> 00:21:29,660 inbound missile was engaged by Emirati 527 00:21:31,510 --> 00:21:34,850 surface to air missiles . Uh they they 528 00:21:34,860 --> 00:21:36,916 they they are the ones that actually 529 00:21:36,916 --> 00:21:38,693 engage this missile . Uh the US 530 00:21:38,693 --> 00:21:41,200 patriots were fired but it was the 531 00:21:41,210 --> 00:21:43,330 Emirati uh surface air missiles that 532 00:21:43,330 --> 00:21:45,052 actually engaged the targets . 533 00:21:45,740 --> 00:21:49,110 Um I know I asked two questions 534 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:52,490 clarify something with you on this in 535 00:21:52,490 --> 00:21:54,546 the first in the first instance when 536 00:21:54,546 --> 00:21:56,712 the US used the patriot , I think that 537 00:21:56,712 --> 00:22:00,050 was last monday the inbound missiles 538 00:22:00,050 --> 00:22:03,650 were targeting at Dhafra Airbase . The 539 00:22:03,660 --> 00:22:05,970 U . S . Forces activate the better at 540 00:22:05,970 --> 00:22:08,300 this time as well because of the was 541 00:22:08,310 --> 00:22:11,900 the target uh like what I can tell you 542 00:22:11,900 --> 00:22:14,990 is the patriots were engaged . Um um I 543 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:17,056 don't have anything more detailed to 544 00:22:17,056 --> 00:22:19,222 speak to in terms of actual target but 545 00:22:19,222 --> 00:22:21,222 the patriots were are patriots were 546 00:22:21,222 --> 00:22:23,389 engaged . So it is the policy now that 547 00:22:23,389 --> 00:22:26,010 I'm trying to understand something are 548 00:22:26,010 --> 00:22:28,730 us forces engaging these attacks when 549 00:22:28,730 --> 00:22:32,720 they are targeting Al Dhafra airbase 550 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:34,887 where the U . S . Forces are stationed 551 00:22:34,887 --> 00:22:37,040 or to defend the in general against 552 00:22:37,250 --> 00:22:40,200 attacks . I mean every every attack is 553 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:42,422 different for me . So I I don't want to 554 00:22:42,422 --> 00:22:44,422 put some blanket policy on it . But 555 00:22:44,422 --> 00:22:46,533 obviously we're going to help come to 556 00:22:46,533 --> 00:22:48,644 the defense of our emirati partners . 557 00:22:48,644 --> 00:22:50,820 If we can help defend our emirati 558 00:22:50,820 --> 00:22:52,820 partners , we're going to do that . 559 00:22:52,820 --> 00:22:55,460 Yeah nobody else here . Let me go back 560 00:22:56,740 --> 00:22:59,980 Jeff Vogel , thank you . I I just 561 00:22:59,980 --> 00:23:02,710 wanted to clarify the unilateral NATO 562 00:23:02,710 --> 00:23:04,488 deployment that President biden 563 00:23:04,488 --> 00:23:07,060 mentioned on friday is that in addition 564 00:23:07,060 --> 00:23:09,290 to the 8500 U . S . Troops that have 565 00:23:09,290 --> 00:23:11,401 been put on prepared to deploy orders 566 00:23:11,401 --> 00:23:13,623 as part of the NATO response force ? If 567 00:23:13,623 --> 00:23:15,457 so , how many more troops are we 568 00:23:15,457 --> 00:23:17,630 talking about , Jeff ? Essentially the 569 00:23:17,630 --> 00:23:19,686 answer to your question is yes . The 570 00:23:19,686 --> 00:23:21,797 8500 troops that we talked about last 571 00:23:21,797 --> 00:23:24,780 week are part of our contribution to 572 00:23:24,780 --> 00:23:26,502 the NRF . The NRF has not been 573 00:23:26,502 --> 00:23:28,724 activated but the president was talking 574 00:23:28,724 --> 00:23:31,920 about was the potential for additional 575 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:33,587 U . S . Troops to bolster the 576 00:23:33,587 --> 00:23:35,587 capabilities of some of our eastern 577 00:23:35,587 --> 00:23:39,180 flank NATO allies . Um uh I don't 578 00:23:39,180 --> 00:23:42,000 have a specific announcement to make 579 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:44,210 with respect to that in terms of how 580 00:23:44,210 --> 00:23:47,040 many where they would come from or what 581 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:49,096 country they might or countries they 582 00:23:49,096 --> 00:23:51,207 might go to when we have something to 583 00:23:51,207 --> 00:23:52,929 speak to you like that . We'll 584 00:23:52,929 --> 00:23:55,151 obviously talk to you about it . But as 585 00:23:55,151 --> 00:23:57,151 I said at the outset were an active 586 00:23:57,151 --> 00:23:59,151 consultations with allies about the 587 00:23:59,151 --> 00:24:01,373 needs . So right now we just don't have 588 00:24:01,373 --> 00:24:03,429 something specific to speak to . But 589 00:24:03,429 --> 00:24:03,100 that's what the president was referring 590 00:24:03,100 --> 00:24:04,989 to . The other thing I might just 591 00:24:04,989 --> 00:24:07,156 remind and again this is nothing new . 592 00:24:07,156 --> 00:24:09,100 I've said this before . Is that an 593 00:24:09,100 --> 00:24:12,470 option available to us is to use U . S . 594 00:24:12,470 --> 00:24:15,350 Forces that are already in the european 595 00:24:15,360 --> 00:24:18,270 theater . You don't necessarily have to 596 00:24:18,270 --> 00:24:20,920 flow in forces from the States or from 597 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:23,040 even other theaters . We have tens of 598 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:25,840 thousands of of U . S . Troops on 599 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:28,340 european soil , both in a permanently 600 00:24:28,340 --> 00:24:31,930 based uh environment as well as on 601 00:24:31,930 --> 00:24:34,160 rotational orders . And so we're taking 602 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:35,716 a look at the whole menu of 603 00:24:35,716 --> 00:24:38,370 opportunities are available here uh and 604 00:24:38,370 --> 00:24:40,537 units available . Uh And then you know 605 00:24:40,537 --> 00:24:42,703 we'll we'll work that out individually 606 00:24:42,703 --> 00:24:44,537 with each with each NATO ally as 607 00:24:44,537 --> 00:24:46,592 appropriate . Well thanks I know you 608 00:24:46,592 --> 00:24:48,370 don't have , remember , can you 609 00:24:48,370 --> 00:24:50,203 ballpark it can you say hundreds 610 00:24:50,203 --> 00:24:52,370 thousands Jeff ? I'm just not gonna be 611 00:24:52,370 --> 00:24:54,426 able to do that right now . I mean I 612 00:24:54,426 --> 00:24:56,426 certainly understand the the uh the 613 00:24:56,426 --> 00:24:58,648 interest in that . Um what I would tell 614 00:24:58,648 --> 00:25:00,259 you is that as we have uh an 615 00:25:00,259 --> 00:25:02,370 arrangement to speak to will speak to 616 00:25:02,370 --> 00:25:04,092 it and I'll we'll try to be as 617 00:25:04,092 --> 00:25:07,040 completely forthcoming as we can be on 618 00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:09,151 the details of it . Just like we were 619 00:25:09,151 --> 00:25:11,151 last week on the on the prepared to 620 00:25:11,151 --> 00:25:13,318 deploy contingent . But I don't have a 621 00:25:13,318 --> 00:25:14,840 I don't have a it would be 622 00:25:14,850 --> 00:25:17,260 inappropriate for me since we're in 623 00:25:17,260 --> 00:25:19,371 active discussions with allies for me 624 00:25:19,371 --> 00:25:22,480 to to ballpark it right now . I thought 625 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:24,480 that there was a small contingent , 626 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:26,647 like a fraction of the 8500 that would 627 00:25:26,647 --> 00:25:28,702 be part of the unilateral and that . 628 00:25:28,702 --> 00:25:30,924 But now it's so now it's all 8500 would 629 00:25:30,924 --> 00:25:33,091 be potentially , as I said back then , 630 00:25:33,091 --> 00:25:35,313 the vast majority of that 8500 were for 631 00:25:35,313 --> 00:25:37,424 the NATO responsible . In addition to 632 00:25:37,424 --> 00:25:39,591 that . Now , according there are there 633 00:25:39,591 --> 00:25:42,840 are there are some forces uh that are 634 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:44,951 being put on heightened alert here in 635 00:25:44,951 --> 00:25:47,118 the United States . Uh that that could 636 00:25:47,118 --> 00:25:49,118 be used in a more unilateral way or 637 00:25:49,118 --> 00:25:51,340 bilateral way is really the best way to 638 00:25:51,340 --> 00:25:53,507 put that . Uh but again , I just don't 639 00:25:53,507 --> 00:25:55,562 have anything specific to speak to . 640 00:25:55,562 --> 00:25:57,618 The vast , vast majority of the ones 641 00:25:57,618 --> 00:25:59,729 we've already talked to are about Are 642 00:25:59,729 --> 00:25:59,630 designed for the NATO response force . 643 00:25:59,740 --> 00:26:01,740 So I'm just trying to understand if 644 00:26:01,740 --> 00:26:03,740 we're talking about now , more than 645 00:26:03,740 --> 00:26:06,070 8500 that are on prepare to deploy for 646 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:08,191 for both . When you consider both the 647 00:26:08,191 --> 00:26:09,913 NATO and the unilateral . Am I 648 00:26:09,913 --> 00:26:11,969 misunderstanding it ? I don't know , 649 00:26:11,969 --> 00:26:14,136 maybe I'm I think I'm misunderstanding 650 00:26:14,136 --> 00:26:16,191 it . There's there's 8500 , the vast 651 00:26:16,191 --> 00:26:18,358 majority would go to the NATO response 652 00:26:18,358 --> 00:26:17,630 force if it's activated ? There's a 653 00:26:17,630 --> 00:26:19,741 fraction of those , some some portion 654 00:26:19,741 --> 00:26:21,963 of those that would potentially be used 655 00:26:21,963 --> 00:26:24,130 unilaterally . But now there's an even 656 00:26:24,130 --> 00:26:26,352 additional and beyond that who might be 657 00:26:26,352 --> 00:26:28,700 used unilaterally . Is that ? Yeah . Um , 658 00:26:28,710 --> 00:26:30,877 but what I'm talking about , an answer 659 00:26:30,877 --> 00:26:33,290 to Jeff's question is is they could 660 00:26:33,290 --> 00:26:35,512 come from inside the european continent 661 00:26:35,512 --> 00:26:37,780 as it is . And general Walters can make 662 00:26:37,780 --> 00:26:40,002 decisions about whether to , you know , 663 00:26:40,002 --> 00:26:42,224 put them on a heightened alert or not . 664 00:26:42,224 --> 00:26:44,391 Um , and obviously , uh , he's working 665 00:26:44,391 --> 00:26:46,558 his way through those , those kinds of 666 00:26:46,558 --> 00:26:50,390 decisions right now . So I guess what 667 00:26:50,390 --> 00:26:52,710 I'm trying to say is that when it comes 668 00:26:52,710 --> 00:26:55,210 to bilateral agreements or arrangements 669 00:26:55,210 --> 00:26:57,900 with NATO allies , if if they need 670 00:26:57,910 --> 00:27:00,132 additional capabilities , if they would 671 00:27:00,132 --> 00:27:02,520 want that , um , then we would work it 672 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:05,120 out individually with each nation to to 673 00:27:05,120 --> 00:27:07,231 make sure that we're meeting the need 674 00:27:07,231 --> 00:27:09,840 as as as best they desire and can 675 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:12,480 accommodate and some of those needs . 676 00:27:12,490 --> 00:27:15,230 And again , I've said this before will 677 00:27:15,230 --> 00:27:17,063 likely come from actually on the 678 00:27:17,063 --> 00:27:19,119 continent that you don't , you don't 679 00:27:19,119 --> 00:27:21,119 have to necessarily deploy from the 680 00:27:21,119 --> 00:27:23,174 States , but we want to keep as many 681 00:27:23,174 --> 00:27:25,286 options available to us as possible . 682 00:27:25,286 --> 00:27:27,286 And and a lot of that court will be 683 00:27:27,286 --> 00:27:29,341 quite frankly the decision about who 684 00:27:29,341 --> 00:27:31,452 goes and how many and where from will 685 00:27:31,452 --> 00:27:33,508 actually come from these discussions 686 00:27:33,508 --> 00:27:35,563 with the allies themselves ? What do 687 00:27:35,563 --> 00:27:37,786 you need ? What what do you think ? You 688 00:27:37,786 --> 00:27:37,760 know , what would be most helpful to 689 00:27:37,760 --> 00:27:40,780 you and how fast you needed and how 690 00:27:40,780 --> 00:27:42,780 long do you want it ? And all those 691 00:27:42,780 --> 00:27:44,950 kinds of things will be settled on an 692 00:27:44,950 --> 00:27:46,894 individual basis with with each of 693 00:27:46,894 --> 00:27:50,360 these countries ? Uh Let's see 694 00:27:50,370 --> 00:27:52,550 uh Tony paseo . 695 00:27:57,870 --> 00:28:00,060 Hey john I just muted myself . Sorry 696 00:28:00,600 --> 00:28:02,656 question does the secretary or other 697 00:28:02,656 --> 00:28:04,770 defense officials have any concerns 698 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:07,567 that Russia may actually move tactical 699 00:28:07,567 --> 00:28:11,260 nuclear missile units as a diplomatic 700 00:28:11,270 --> 00:28:13,460 messaging for diplomatic messaging 701 00:28:13,460 --> 00:28:15,340 purposes . You know new tactical 702 00:28:15,340 --> 00:28:17,740 nuclear weapons near the Ukraine or 703 00:28:17,740 --> 00:28:19,851 european allies . Has that come up at 704 00:28:19,851 --> 00:28:21,907 all ? I haven't heard discussions of 705 00:28:21,907 --> 00:28:24,073 that Tony . What what ? But we watched 706 00:28:24,073 --> 00:28:27,160 closely as closely as we can . All the 707 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:28,938 moves that Mr . Putin is making 708 00:28:28,938 --> 00:28:31,810 militarily . And can you say with some 709 00:28:31,810 --> 00:28:34,143 confidence that you've got to the U . S . 710 00:28:34,143 --> 00:28:36,290 Has got a handle on tactical nuclear 711 00:28:36,290 --> 00:28:38,457 weapons units that the Russians may or 712 00:28:38,457 --> 00:28:40,457 may not move ? I'm gonna talk about 713 00:28:40,457 --> 00:28:42,512 intelligence issues Tony I think you 714 00:28:42,512 --> 00:28:44,568 can understand that wouldn't be wise 715 00:28:44,568 --> 00:28:46,623 for me to do from the podium . I can 716 00:28:46,623 --> 00:28:48,790 just tell you that we're watching this 717 00:28:48,790 --> 00:28:51,012 very very closely monitoring it as best 718 00:28:51,012 --> 00:28:53,179 we can . Um and and and doing the best 719 00:28:53,179 --> 00:28:56,870 we can to make sure that what context 720 00:28:56,870 --> 00:28:59,210 we do have that we're sharing it with 721 00:28:59,210 --> 00:29:01,660 our allies and our Ukrainian partners 722 00:29:01,660 --> 00:29:04,850 as well ? Uh Sylvie . 723 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:11,010 Hello . Hello john can you tell us 724 00:29:11,020 --> 00:29:14,510 how many U . S . Troops are stationed 725 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:18,450 today ? Uh In Poland and how 726 00:29:18,450 --> 00:29:21,640 many in Lithuania ? I don't have that 727 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:24,220 figure here . So I'm not gonna guess 728 00:29:24,230 --> 00:29:26,341 I'll take that question and we'll get 729 00:29:26,341 --> 00:29:27,786 back to you . Thank you . 730 00:29:30,140 --> 00:29:32,400 Of course it's a taking questions so as 731 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:34,456 always uh and that's gonna be a very 732 00:29:34,456 --> 00:29:36,678 simple quick one to get for you . We'll 733 00:29:36,678 --> 00:29:38,900 shoot shoot that around everybody terra 734 00:29:38,900 --> 00:29:42,400 cotta john thanks for doing this . 735 00:29:42,410 --> 00:29:45,270 Um So I have three questions one . Just 736 00:29:45,270 --> 00:29:47,360 a quick follow up to Courtney and 737 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:50,770 Jeff's question these forces would be 738 00:29:50,770 --> 00:29:52,790 in addition to the 8500 . So 739 00:29:52,790 --> 00:29:54,980 potentially more than 8500 U . S . 740 00:29:54,980 --> 00:29:56,960 Troops would be dedicated to this 741 00:29:57,170 --> 00:30:00,780 second . Can you give us a sense of If 742 00:30:00,790 --> 00:30:03,670 the 80 500% what they would be doing ? 743 00:30:03,670 --> 00:30:05,559 We understand that they come from 744 00:30:05,559 --> 00:30:07,503 logistics and aviation and medical 745 00:30:07,503 --> 00:30:10,160 support But if the NATO response force 746 00:30:10,160 --> 00:30:12,470 is not going into Ukraine , what would 747 00:30:12,470 --> 00:30:15,200 the 8500 be doing to support the NATO 748 00:30:15,200 --> 00:30:17,990 response force ? And then last question 749 00:30:17,990 --> 00:30:20,860 Syria , can you give us an update on 750 00:30:20,870 --> 00:30:23,092 the prison outbreak and any sort of D . 751 00:30:23,092 --> 00:30:25,037 O . D . Estimates on how many ISIS 752 00:30:25,037 --> 00:30:27,440 fighters escaped ? And would that 753 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:30,020 necessitate potentially more U . S . 754 00:30:30,020 --> 00:30:32,970 Troops to go in to round those ISIS 755 00:30:32,970 --> 00:30:36,970 fighters up ? Thanks . Okay 756 00:30:36,970 --> 00:30:40,910 there's a lot there . Um I don't 757 00:30:40,910 --> 00:30:44,690 have an update for you on 758 00:30:44,700 --> 00:30:47,600 how many prisoners escaped versus how 759 00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:50,750 many were recaptured by the SDF . I 760 00:30:50,750 --> 00:30:54,190 mean I think I'd point you to inherent 761 00:30:54,190 --> 00:30:57,450 resolve for more details about that 762 00:30:57,840 --> 00:31:01,240 that operation . Again , our support 763 00:31:01,240 --> 00:31:05,020 was was was fairly limited . So I just 764 00:31:05,020 --> 00:31:07,242 don't have that kind of level of detail 765 00:31:07,440 --> 00:31:11,200 On the 8500 . I think Again 766 00:31:11,340 --> 00:31:14,770 all we've done here with this 8500 is 767 00:31:14,780 --> 00:31:17,810 put them on prepare to deploy And in 768 00:31:17,810 --> 00:31:20,230 some cases shorten their tether from 769 00:31:20,230 --> 00:31:22,240 like 10 days to five days . Uh they 770 00:31:22,240 --> 00:31:24,407 haven't been given deployment orders . 771 00:31:24,407 --> 00:31:27,060 They are are they represent uh 772 00:31:28,040 --> 00:31:30,640 a significant chunk of our contribution 773 00:31:30,640 --> 00:31:34,640 to the NATO response force . We 774 00:31:34,640 --> 00:31:38,280 are keeping all options open to to 775 00:31:38,280 --> 00:31:40,820 provide the president decision space . 776 00:31:40,820 --> 00:31:43,830 And so if you're asking me , could the 777 00:31:43,830 --> 00:31:47,360 number of of forces uh put 778 00:31:47,360 --> 00:31:49,750 on P . T . D . O . Or advance P . T . D . 779 00:31:49,750 --> 00:31:51,940 O . Increase . The answer to that is 780 00:31:51,940 --> 00:31:55,690 yes . It could happen . Um And when and 781 00:31:55,690 --> 00:31:58,000 how we're able to speak to that that 782 00:31:58,010 --> 00:32:01,370 that we will . Um There could also be 783 00:32:01,370 --> 00:32:03,530 as they mentioned earlier , uh the 784 00:32:03,540 --> 00:32:05,710 movement of of U . S . Forces that are 785 00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:08,680 already in europe uh 786 00:32:08,690 --> 00:32:12,490 to eastern flank allies uh at their 787 00:32:12,490 --> 00:32:14,670 request and at their invitation , that 788 00:32:14,670 --> 00:32:18,060 would not require the secretary to uh 789 00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:20,690 Necessarily put them on a shorter 790 00:32:20,690 --> 00:32:22,857 alertness posture ? Maybe depending on 791 00:32:22,857 --> 00:32:24,968 who they are and where they're coming 792 00:32:24,968 --> 00:32:27,190 from but not necessarily . So um if the 793 00:32:27,190 --> 00:32:29,190 question is could it go could could 794 00:32:29,190 --> 00:32:32,060 could troops being put on a shorter 795 00:32:32,060 --> 00:32:34,940 tether go upwards of 8500 ? The 796 00:32:34,940 --> 00:32:37,870 answer's yes but I don't have anything 797 00:32:37,870 --> 00:32:40,900 specific to speak to about that today . 798 00:32:40,900 --> 00:32:43,560 What we wanna do is make sure that we 799 00:32:43,560 --> 00:32:45,870 are providing options to the president 800 00:32:45,880 --> 00:32:48,090 and to our allies uh in case those 801 00:32:48,090 --> 00:32:50,830 options are needed to reinforce our 802 00:32:50,830 --> 00:32:52,941 commitment to the alliance . And then 803 00:32:52,941 --> 00:32:55,052 you ask me what will they be doing if 804 00:32:55,052 --> 00:32:57,890 the NRF is activated ? I think it was 805 00:32:57,890 --> 00:33:01,010 the question . Um and as I said , when 806 00:33:01,010 --> 00:33:04,160 we announced them , there's a range of 807 00:33:04,170 --> 00:33:06,670 capabilities that that they that they 808 00:33:07,540 --> 00:33:09,970 that they represent aviation , medical , 809 00:33:09,970 --> 00:33:13,460 logistics , certainly uh combat ground 810 00:33:13,460 --> 00:33:15,460 forces are included in that in that 811 00:33:15,460 --> 00:33:18,020 list and I we didn't go into every 812 00:33:18,020 --> 00:33:20,076 little detail of every little unit , 813 00:33:20,076 --> 00:33:22,076 but we did identify the major units 814 00:33:22,076 --> 00:33:24,131 that we were talking about and where 815 00:33:24,131 --> 00:33:26,187 they'd be coming from . Um They they 816 00:33:26,187 --> 00:33:28,710 provide a whole host of of military 817 00:33:28,710 --> 00:33:30,730 capabilities to the to the NRF but 818 00:33:30,730 --> 00:33:33,340 that's their focuses is the NRF and I 819 00:33:33,340 --> 00:33:36,210 won't speculate about , you know , if 820 00:33:36,210 --> 00:33:38,543 the Nrf gets activated or if it doesn't , 821 00:33:38,543 --> 00:33:40,654 that's up to NATO to decide and if it 822 00:33:40,654 --> 00:33:42,940 doesn't get activated , could could 823 00:33:42,940 --> 00:33:45,580 some of these troops be used uh to uh 824 00:33:45,590 --> 00:33:48,110 in a bilateral way to to bolster allies . 825 00:33:48,120 --> 00:33:50,640 Again , all those are interesting 826 00:33:50,650 --> 00:33:52,872 academic exercises , but we're just not 827 00:33:52,872 --> 00:33:55,039 at that stage right now in order to be 828 00:33:55,039 --> 00:33:58,670 able to to engage it , paul , Shenkman . 829 00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:03,951 My question is already asked . Thanks 830 00:34:03,951 --> 00:34:07,950 john thank you , Jared from Al Monitor . 831 00:34:10,440 --> 00:34:12,607 Hi Mr Kirby thank you . Just wondering 832 00:34:12,607 --> 00:34:14,829 if you give us a little more background 833 00:34:14,829 --> 00:34:16,884 on bringing Qatar into , potentially 834 00:34:16,884 --> 00:34:18,996 bringing Qatar into in as a major non 835 00:34:18,996 --> 00:34:21,051 NATO ally . How long have these been 836 00:34:21,051 --> 00:34:23,107 these discussions been going on ? Um 837 00:34:23,107 --> 00:34:25,273 and just yeah , wondering some context 838 00:34:25,273 --> 00:34:27,496 on that . Thanks . I'd point you to the 839 00:34:27,496 --> 00:34:29,496 alliance on that . That's not again 840 00:34:29,496 --> 00:34:31,800 that's not a us call to make um that's 841 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:33,800 really a better question put to the 842 00:34:33,800 --> 00:34:35,967 alliance again , all the secretary was 843 00:34:35,967 --> 00:34:38,022 indicating was that you know that we 844 00:34:38,022 --> 00:34:40,133 support that process moving forward . 845 00:34:40,340 --> 00:34:41,960 Jason Bellini Newsy 846 00:34:50,040 --> 00:34:53,960 Okay . Nothing heard paul McLeary . Hi 847 00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:57,260 john um Afghanistan is still a 848 00:34:57,260 --> 00:35:00,800 non NATO major non NATO ally is D . O . 849 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:02,911 D . Are you working with the alliance 850 00:35:02,911 --> 00:35:06,770 to to rescind that that designation ? I 851 00:35:06,780 --> 00:35:09,360 have not heard any discussions to to 852 00:35:09,360 --> 00:35:11,416 that effect . I'll take the question 853 00:35:11,416 --> 00:35:13,582 though . I mean um I think it's a fair 854 00:35:13,582 --> 00:35:15,804 question we ought to , we ought to look 855 00:35:15,804 --> 00:35:17,638 at but I'm not aware of any such 856 00:35:17,638 --> 00:35:19,960 discussions . Um 857 00:35:21,140 --> 00:35:24,820 Okay let's see heather 858 00:35:24,820 --> 00:35:25,960 from us and I 859 00:35:28,540 --> 00:35:32,130 thank you so much . Um in terms of the 860 00:35:32,140 --> 00:35:35,640 um carrier strike group that's under um 861 00:35:35,650 --> 00:35:39,130 NATO um command right now . Since it's 862 00:35:39,130 --> 00:35:41,660 the first time since the Cold War . And 863 00:35:41,660 --> 00:35:43,660 given that the pentagon didn't take 864 00:35:43,660 --> 00:35:45,771 these steps when Russian annex Crimea 865 00:35:45,771 --> 00:35:48,130 in 2014 or during the 22,008 conflict 866 00:35:48,130 --> 00:35:50,019 between Russia and Georgia . What 867 00:35:50,019 --> 00:35:52,130 signal is the pentagon hoping to send 868 00:35:52,130 --> 00:35:54,408 by putting the strike group under NATO ? 869 00:35:54,408 --> 00:35:57,450 Well I think it sends a very strong 870 00:35:57,450 --> 00:35:59,394 signal about our commitment to the 871 00:35:59,394 --> 00:36:02,700 alliance . Um and this is a it is very 872 00:36:02,700 --> 00:36:05,300 rare for a US aircraft carrier strike 873 00:36:05,300 --> 00:36:08,330 group to be put under under NATO 874 00:36:08,330 --> 00:36:10,980 command and control . Um We think it's 875 00:36:10,990 --> 00:36:14,770 it's noteworthy certainly . Um even 876 00:36:14,770 --> 00:36:17,870 without the exigent circumstances with 877 00:36:17,870 --> 00:36:20,250 respect to Ukraine , I mean it's a 878 00:36:20,250 --> 00:36:23,030 strong a demonstration of how committed 879 00:36:23,030 --> 00:36:25,252 the United States is to to the alliance 880 00:36:25,252 --> 00:36:27,320 certainly when put in the context of 881 00:36:27,320 --> 00:36:29,580 what's going on . Um um I think it 882 00:36:29,590 --> 00:36:32,680 again reinforces what I said earlier 883 00:36:32,680 --> 00:36:34,902 about how seriously we take our article 884 00:36:34,902 --> 00:36:37,230 five commitments and our commitments to 885 00:36:37,240 --> 00:36:39,462 our security commitments and inside the 886 00:36:39,462 --> 00:36:41,629 alliance . So um I would think I would 887 00:36:41,629 --> 00:36:43,970 hope that the message to be taken away 888 00:36:43,970 --> 00:36:47,510 from this is that NATO is a strong 889 00:36:47,510 --> 00:36:50,490 alliance , it is unified and the 890 00:36:50,500 --> 00:36:53,390 american commitment to the NATO 891 00:36:53,390 --> 00:36:55,250 alliance is ironclad 892 00:36:56,590 --> 00:36:58,240 Christina Anderson 893 00:37:02,730 --> 00:37:05,160 thank you for taking my question . Um 894 00:37:05,190 --> 00:37:08,970 Poland has um based on 895 00:37:08,970 --> 00:37:12,310 statements recently just worrying about 896 00:37:12,320 --> 00:37:15,200 the deployment of troops by Russia 897 00:37:15,200 --> 00:37:18,070 closer to their borders uh on the 898 00:37:18,070 --> 00:37:20,560 belarus side . Um has there been any 899 00:37:20,560 --> 00:37:24,000 specific request on their part uh for 900 00:37:24,010 --> 00:37:25,880 additional assistance pending 901 00:37:25,880 --> 00:37:28,047 additional assistance or anything like 902 00:37:28,047 --> 00:37:30,300 that that you've received their . Thank 903 00:37:30,300 --> 00:37:34,130 you . I'm gonna not talk with great 904 00:37:34,130 --> 00:37:36,560 specificity as to the discussions we've 905 00:37:36,560 --> 00:37:38,727 been having with individual allies . I 906 00:37:38,727 --> 00:37:41,060 think you know that secretary spoke to 907 00:37:41,060 --> 00:37:43,200 his polish counterpart last week were 908 00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:45,740 in constant and active discussions uh 909 00:37:46,130 --> 00:37:50,000 ah with Poland about their concerns 910 00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:52,167 what they're seeing their perspectives 911 00:37:52,167 --> 00:37:55,800 as well as um what what capabilities uh 912 00:37:55,810 --> 00:37:58,320 they might require uh to help boost 913 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:00,840 their own uh defensive capabilities . 914 00:38:00,850 --> 00:38:03,072 Again I don't have anything specific to 915 00:38:03,072 --> 00:38:04,906 read out with respect to any one 916 00:38:04,906 --> 00:38:06,150 country today . Rio 917 00:38:08,920 --> 00:38:11,160 I think it's a quick program about 918 00:38:11,170 --> 00:38:15,170 North Korea . Do you feel an urgency to 919 00:38:15,180 --> 00:38:17,420 increase military pressure on North 920 00:38:17,420 --> 00:38:20,280 Korea to deter future missile branches ? 921 00:38:20,290 --> 00:38:23,850 Thank you . I think everybody uh shares 922 00:38:23,860 --> 00:38:27,450 a sense of concern over uh 923 00:38:27,920 --> 00:38:30,870 the North korean missile program and 924 00:38:30,870 --> 00:38:33,560 their nuclear ambitions . And we are in 925 00:38:33,570 --> 00:38:36,930 active discussions with with allies and 926 00:38:36,930 --> 00:38:40,380 partners in the region as well as uh U . 927 00:38:40,380 --> 00:38:42,900 N . Member states about the best way to 928 00:38:42,900 --> 00:38:44,511 continue to respond to these 929 00:38:44,511 --> 00:38:47,980 provocations . It would it would be um 930 00:38:47,990 --> 00:38:50,212 enormously helpful if every nation that 931 00:38:50,212 --> 00:38:52,323 signed up to sanctions for instance , 932 00:38:52,323 --> 00:38:55,430 actually implemented them and um and 933 00:38:55,440 --> 00:38:58,170 complied with them . Um so there's 934 00:38:58,180 --> 00:38:59,902 there's there's still a lot of 935 00:38:59,902 --> 00:39:02,013 international work that that needs to 936 00:39:02,013 --> 00:39:04,124 be done and again without speaking to 937 00:39:04,124 --> 00:39:07,970 each specific launch or um what we 938 00:39:07,970 --> 00:39:10,180 may know about each one . I would tell 939 00:39:10,180 --> 00:39:12,069 you we're watching this very very 940 00:39:12,069 --> 00:39:14,069 closely and we're going to continue 941 00:39:14,069 --> 00:39:16,236 here at the pentagon to make sure that 942 00:39:16,236 --> 00:39:18,180 militarily we're ready to meet our 943 00:39:18,180 --> 00:39:19,958 security commitments inside the 944 00:39:19,958 --> 00:39:22,180 alliance with the R . O . K . Yeah . As 945 00:39:22,180 --> 00:39:24,402 a matter of command and control and I'm 946 00:39:24,402 --> 00:39:26,513 interested in . I understand that the 947 00:39:26,513 --> 00:39:28,736 8500 troops that will go as part of the 948 00:39:28,736 --> 00:39:30,902 response for us will fall under NATO , 949 00:39:30,902 --> 00:39:32,680 the other troops that are being 950 00:39:32,680 --> 00:39:35,020 considered unilaterally do they ? Will 951 00:39:35,020 --> 00:39:37,080 they fall under European command is 952 00:39:37,090 --> 00:39:40,400 just as a matter of yeah most likely 953 00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:42,230 most likely if it's a bilateral 954 00:39:42,240 --> 00:39:44,490 arrangement that we have with the 955 00:39:44,490 --> 00:39:47,550 country and um and we send U . S . 956 00:39:47,550 --> 00:39:50,000 Troops to that country uh to bolster 957 00:39:50,000 --> 00:39:52,330 their self defense , they would fall 958 00:39:52,330 --> 00:39:54,497 under general Walters and his european 959 00:39:54,497 --> 00:39:56,497 command commander had as opposed to 960 00:39:56,497 --> 00:39:58,552 general Walters and his NATO supreme 961 00:39:58,552 --> 00:40:00,663 correct that that would that would be 962 00:40:00,663 --> 00:40:02,330 most likely that would be the 963 00:40:02,330 --> 00:40:04,441 arrangement . Okay everybody . Thanks 964 00:40:04,441 --> 00:40:05,990 very much appreciate it . Yeah .