1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:07,140 --> 00:00:10,190 Good morning everybody . Just some 3 00:00:10,190 --> 00:00:11,360 things at the top . 4 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:18,500 I think as you heard Secretary Austin 5 00:00:18,500 --> 00:00:22,110 address just last friday in his remarks 6 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:24,287 with the chairman here in the briefing 7 00:00:24,287 --> 00:00:26,064 room , we remain focused on the 8 00:00:26,064 --> 00:00:27,898 evolving situation in europe and 9 00:00:27,898 --> 00:00:29,787 Russia's actions on the Ukrainian 10 00:00:29,787 --> 00:00:31,740 border and in belarus , as the 11 00:00:31,740 --> 00:00:33,700 Secretary said , the United States 12 00:00:33,710 --> 00:00:35,766 stands shoulder to shoulder with our 13 00:00:35,766 --> 00:00:37,790 NATO allies . The current situation 14 00:00:37,790 --> 00:00:40,012 demands that we reinforce the deterrent 15 00:00:40,012 --> 00:00:42,234 and defensive posture on NATO's eastern 16 00:00:42,234 --> 00:00:44,660 flank . President Biden has been clear 17 00:00:45,140 --> 00:00:47,307 that the United States will respond to 18 00:00:47,307 --> 00:00:49,529 the growing threat to europe's security 19 00:00:49,529 --> 00:00:52,020 and stability . Our commitment to NATO 20 00:00:52,020 --> 00:00:54,620 Article five and collective defense 21 00:00:54,630 --> 00:00:58,400 remains Ironclad as part of this 22 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:00,400 commitment and to be prepared for a 23 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:02,400 range of contingencies . The United 24 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:04,622 States will soon move additional forces 25 00:01:04,622 --> 00:01:08,390 to Romania , Poland and Germany . I 26 00:01:08,390 --> 00:01:10,612 want to be very clear about something . 27 00:01:10,612 --> 00:01:12,660 These are not permanent moves . 28 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:16,751 They are moved designed to respond to 29 00:01:16,751 --> 00:01:18,696 the current security environment . 30 00:01:18,696 --> 00:01:21,010 Moreover , these forces are not going 31 00:01:21,020 --> 00:01:23,680 to fight in Ukraine . They are going to 32 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,440 ensure the robust defense of our NATO 33 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:29,330 allies . Now let me lay this out for 34 00:01:29,330 --> 00:01:32,760 you In a series of three steps . First 35 00:01:33,340 --> 00:01:36,270 1000 soldiers that are currently based 36 00:01:36,270 --> 00:01:38,960 in Germany will reposition to Romania 37 00:01:38,970 --> 00:01:42,130 in the coming days . This is a striker 38 00:01:42,130 --> 00:01:44,870 squadron , a mounted cavalry unit 39 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:46,824 that's designed to deploy in short 40 00:01:46,824 --> 00:01:49,670 order and to move quickly once in place 41 00:01:50,940 --> 00:01:54,720 and they will augment The some 900 U.S . 42 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:56,887 forces that are currently in Romania . 43 00:01:57,760 --> 00:01:59,538 This force is designed to deter 44 00:01:59,538 --> 00:02:01,593 aggression and enhance our defensive 45 00:02:01,593 --> 00:02:03,816 capabilities in frontline allied states 46 00:02:04,540 --> 00:02:06,830 and we expect them as I said to move In 47 00:02:06,830 --> 00:02:09,680 coming days , Secretary Austin 48 00:02:09,690 --> 00:02:12,840 discussed this repositioning to Romania 49 00:02:12,850 --> 00:02:15,072 just last week in his conversation with 50 00:02:15,072 --> 00:02:17,239 the Romanian Minister of defense . And 51 00:02:17,239 --> 00:02:19,890 again , I want to stress that this move 52 00:02:19,890 --> 00:02:22,610 is coming at the express invitation of 53 00:02:22,610 --> 00:02:25,560 the Romanian government . Additionally , 54 00:02:25,940 --> 00:02:27,884 we welcome french french President 55 00:02:27,884 --> 00:02:29,773 Macron's announcement that France 56 00:02:29,773 --> 00:02:31,773 intends to deploy forces to Romania 57 00:02:31,773 --> 00:02:33,829 under NATO command , which Secretary 58 00:02:33,829 --> 00:02:35,662 Austin discussed with the french 59 00:02:35,662 --> 00:02:37,884 Defense Minister Florence parley . Just 60 00:02:37,884 --> 00:02:40,380 last week , the United States will 61 00:02:40,380 --> 00:02:42,602 continue to consult and coordinate with 62 00:02:42,602 --> 00:02:45,300 France and all our allies to ensure 63 00:02:45,300 --> 00:02:47,510 that we complement each other in our 64 00:02:47,510 --> 00:02:49,890 respective deployments . And of course 65 00:02:49,890 --> 00:02:52,112 we're going to continue to work through 66 00:02:52,112 --> 00:02:54,279 NATO to make appropriate defensive and 67 00:02:54,279 --> 00:02:57,060 non escalatory force posture alignments . 68 00:02:57,930 --> 00:03:00,850 Second , we are moving 69 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:03,460 uh an additional force of about 70 00:03:03,460 --> 00:03:05,550 approximately 2000 troops from the 71 00:03:05,550 --> 00:03:07,772 United States to Europe in the next few 72 00:03:07,772 --> 00:03:11,700 days , the 82nd Airborne Division 73 00:03:11,700 --> 00:03:13,867 is deploying components of an infantry 74 00:03:13,867 --> 00:03:16,089 brigade combat team and key enablers to 75 00:03:16,089 --> 00:03:19,080 Poland and the 18th Airborne Corps is 76 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:20,969 moving a joint task force capable 77 00:03:20,969 --> 00:03:23,247 headquarters to Germany . Both of them , 78 00:03:23,247 --> 00:03:25,358 as you know , are based in fort Bragg 79 00:03:25,358 --> 00:03:28,040 north Carolina . Collectively this 80 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:29,929 forces trained and equipped for a 81 00:03:29,929 --> 00:03:32,151 variety of missions to deter aggression 82 00:03:32,151 --> 00:03:34,040 and to reassure and to defend our 83 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:37,200 allies . Not surprisingly , we worked 84 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:39,422 very closely with our polish and german 85 00:03:39,422 --> 00:03:41,311 allies to set the stage for these 86 00:03:41,311 --> 00:03:43,478 movements and we absolutely appreciate 87 00:03:43,478 --> 00:03:46,960 their support . Again , these are not 88 00:03:47,100 --> 00:03:50,040 permanent moves they respond to current 89 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:52,520 conditions . We will adjust our posture 90 00:03:52,810 --> 00:03:56,530 as those conditions evolve . Third and 91 00:03:56,530 --> 00:03:58,870 finally All of these forces are 92 00:03:58,870 --> 00:04:01,820 separate and in addition to the 8500 93 00:04:01,820 --> 00:04:03,709 personnel in the United States on 94 00:04:03,709 --> 00:04:05,487 heightened alert posture that I 95 00:04:05,487 --> 00:04:07,542 announced last week . Those 8500 are 96 00:04:07,542 --> 00:04:09,764 not currently being deployed but remain 97 00:04:09,764 --> 00:04:11,820 ready to move if called for the NATO 98 00:04:11,820 --> 00:04:13,931 response force or as needed for other 99 00:04:13,931 --> 00:04:15,764 contingencies as directed by the 100 00:04:15,764 --> 00:04:17,876 secretary . All right President biden 101 00:04:18,740 --> 00:04:20,962 we continue to review our force posture 102 00:04:20,962 --> 00:04:23,184 and the situation in europe and we will 103 00:04:23,184 --> 00:04:25,073 make adjustments as the situation 104 00:04:25,073 --> 00:04:27,073 warrants . I also want to take this 105 00:04:27,073 --> 00:04:28,629 opportunity to correct some 106 00:04:28,629 --> 00:04:30,518 misconceptions around last week's 107 00:04:30,518 --> 00:04:32,684 announcement , NATO as an organization 108 00:04:32,684 --> 00:04:34,796 does not have veto power over U . S . 109 00:04:34,796 --> 00:04:36,962 Troop deployments and media reports to 110 00:04:36,962 --> 00:04:38,351 the contrary represent a 111 00:04:38,351 --> 00:04:41,110 mischaracterization of that . Nothing 112 00:04:41,110 --> 00:04:43,332 precludes the United States from making 113 00:04:43,332 --> 00:04:45,560 its own decisions on forced and forced 114 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:47,970 movements including those forces that 115 00:04:47,970 --> 00:04:49,850 are being placed on heightened 116 00:04:49,850 --> 00:04:52,950 readiness . That said any movement of U . 117 00:04:52,950 --> 00:04:55,061 S . Forces involves consultation with 118 00:04:55,061 --> 00:04:57,117 the host nation as we have done with 119 00:04:57,117 --> 00:04:59,790 Romania and Poland and Germany prior to 120 00:04:59,790 --> 00:05:02,150 today's announcements and we're mindful 121 00:05:02,150 --> 00:05:04,261 of the competing needs of operational 122 00:05:04,261 --> 00:05:06,150 security and our obligation to be 123 00:05:06,150 --> 00:05:07,983 transparent and will provide you 124 00:05:07,983 --> 00:05:09,983 additional information on these and 125 00:05:09,983 --> 00:05:11,983 other movements as available and as 126 00:05:11,983 --> 00:05:14,094 appropriate as we have long said , we 127 00:05:14,094 --> 00:05:16,317 are continuously reviewing our postures 128 00:05:16,317 --> 00:05:18,539 so there may soon be additional posture 129 00:05:18,539 --> 00:05:18,360 decisions to announce , including 130 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:20,304 movements that are part of ongoing 131 00:05:20,304 --> 00:05:22,360 military exercises . This is not the 132 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:24,527 sum total of the deterrence actions we 133 00:05:24,527 --> 00:05:26,750 will take or those to reassure our 134 00:05:26,750 --> 00:05:29,780 allies . I think it won't surprise you . 135 00:05:29,780 --> 00:05:31,724 We take a theater wide approach to 136 00:05:31,724 --> 00:05:33,836 deterrence and defense and we welcome 137 00:05:33,836 --> 00:05:35,947 the additional announcements by Spain 138 00:05:35,947 --> 00:05:38,169 Denmark , the UK and the Netherlands of 139 00:05:38,169 --> 00:05:39,836 their consideration to deploy 140 00:05:39,836 --> 00:05:41,990 additional forces to reinforce NATO's 141 00:05:41,990 --> 00:05:44,101 eastern flank . The United States has 142 00:05:44,101 --> 00:05:46,268 robust capabilities distributed across 143 00:05:46,268 --> 00:05:48,490 europe including in the Baltic region . 144 00:05:48,490 --> 00:05:50,712 And we will continue to assess needs in 145 00:05:50,712 --> 00:05:52,601 that area in cooperation with the 146 00:05:52,601 --> 00:05:55,180 relevant allies . And of course the 147 00:05:55,180 --> 00:05:58,340 full NATO alliance . We stand united . 148 00:05:58,580 --> 00:06:00,691 We have said that repeatedly , we say 149 00:06:00,691 --> 00:06:02,810 it again today . These movements are 150 00:06:02,820 --> 00:06:04,987 unmistakable signals to the world that 151 00:06:04,987 --> 00:06:06,987 we stand ready to reassure our NATO 152 00:06:06,987 --> 00:06:09,560 allies and returned and defend against 153 00:06:09,570 --> 00:06:13,160 any aggression . Now , as the 154 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:16,380 Secretary said friday , we do not know 155 00:06:16,380 --> 00:06:19,630 if Russia has made a final decision to 156 00:06:19,630 --> 00:06:22,720 further invade Ukraine , but it clearly 157 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:25,920 has that capability . The Department of 158 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:27,753 Defense will continue to support 159 00:06:27,753 --> 00:06:29,753 diplomatic efforts led by the White 160 00:06:29,753 --> 00:06:31,976 House and the State Department to press 161 00:06:31,976 --> 00:06:33,920 for resolution . We do not believe 162 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:35,920 conflict is inevitable . The United 163 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:38,142 States in lock step with our allies and 164 00:06:38,142 --> 00:06:40,253 partners has offered Russia a path to 165 00:06:40,253 --> 00:06:43,450 deescalate but we will take all prudent 166 00:06:43,450 --> 00:06:46,290 measures to assure our own security and 167 00:06:46,290 --> 00:06:48,850 that of our allies . And finally , just 168 00:06:48,850 --> 00:06:52,250 one note , I uh I note that in the past 169 00:06:52,250 --> 00:06:54,194 few hours , a proposal made by the 170 00:06:54,194 --> 00:06:56,630 United States leaked to a european news 171 00:06:56,630 --> 00:06:59,640 outlet . We did not make this document 172 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:02,910 public , but now that it is , it 173 00:07:02,910 --> 00:07:05,770 confirms to the entire world what we 174 00:07:05,770 --> 00:07:07,980 have always been saying . There is no 175 00:07:07,980 --> 00:07:10,147 daylight between our public statements 176 00:07:10,147 --> 00:07:12,313 and our private discussions , NATO and 177 00:07:12,313 --> 00:07:14,202 its partners are unified in their 178 00:07:14,202 --> 00:07:16,258 resolve and open to constructive and 179 00:07:16,258 --> 00:07:18,369 serious diplomacy . The United States 180 00:07:18,369 --> 00:07:20,258 has gone the extra mile to find a 181 00:07:20,258 --> 00:07:22,258 diplomatic solution . And if Russia 182 00:07:22,258 --> 00:07:24,424 actually wants to negotiate a solution 183 00:07:24,424 --> 00:07:26,480 as it claims it does , this document 184 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:28,591 certainly makes clear that there is a 185 00:07:28,591 --> 00:07:30,591 path forward to do so . Well . That 186 00:07:30,591 --> 00:07:32,702 will take questions starting with you 187 00:07:32,702 --> 00:07:36,590 lida . Hi John Thanks . Um just a 188 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:39,450 couple of details . Um some of this is , 189 00:07:39,450 --> 00:07:43,110 it's still 8500 total that are 190 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:45,200 on prepare to deploy orders or are 191 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:48,630 there additional ones ? And um there's 192 00:07:48,630 --> 00:07:51,500 a brigade id uh fort Carson , that is 193 00:07:51,500 --> 00:07:54,690 all that already is scheduled to rotate 194 00:07:54,700 --> 00:07:57,430 into europe . Are you including them ? 195 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,551 There's been some confusion . Are you 196 00:07:59,551 --> 00:08:03,060 including that Carson brigade 197 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:07,370 in the prepare to deploy orders or is 198 00:08:07,370 --> 00:08:09,426 are they completely separate because 199 00:08:09,426 --> 00:08:11,592 there are already scheduled deployment 200 00:08:11,740 --> 00:08:15,680 And then um one other , are 201 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:19,540 there um more . Are these troops 202 00:08:19,540 --> 00:08:23,060 that are going , are they under NATO or 203 00:08:23,060 --> 00:08:25,530 are these all unilateral us moves ? 204 00:08:25,580 --> 00:08:27,960 Thank you . Let me see if I can 205 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,127 remember all those the troops that I'm 206 00:08:30,127 --> 00:08:32,349 talking about today will be going under 207 00:08:32,349 --> 00:08:36,110 us command . Um but as I said in the 208 00:08:36,110 --> 00:08:38,166 case of Romania , we know the french 209 00:08:38,166 --> 00:08:40,332 are going to be uh preparing to deploy 210 00:08:40,332 --> 00:08:42,332 troops there . We will find ways to 211 00:08:42,332 --> 00:08:44,554 complement that force presence again in 212 00:08:44,554 --> 00:08:47,510 full consultation with Romania . Um So 213 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:50,000 I wouldn't describe these as unilateral 214 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,110 moves . I mean this is a bilateral 215 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:54,231 arrangement between the United States 216 00:08:54,231 --> 00:08:56,287 and Romania , but to your question , 217 00:08:56,287 --> 00:08:58,398 they will be going under US command . 218 00:08:58,398 --> 00:09:01,400 Um the 8500 . Uh they still remain on 219 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:04,140 prepare to deploy orders . As I said 220 00:09:04,140 --> 00:09:06,196 when I talked about it last monday , 221 00:09:06,196 --> 00:09:08,362 the vast majority of them are designed 222 00:09:08,362 --> 00:09:10,584 for the NATO response force . As I said 223 00:09:10,584 --> 00:09:12,640 in my opening statement , that force 224 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:14,751 has not been activated so they aren't 225 00:09:14,751 --> 00:09:18,550 going anywhere . Um The secretary 226 00:09:18,560 --> 00:09:21,050 has as as you might imagine as we have 227 00:09:21,060 --> 00:09:24,330 worked towards uh these troop movements . 228 00:09:24,340 --> 00:09:26,820 Uh there have been additional forces 229 00:09:26,830 --> 00:09:28,890 put on prepare to deploy orders or 230 00:09:28,890 --> 00:09:31,112 shortened tethers . I'm not prepared to 231 00:09:31,112 --> 00:09:33,334 go into great detail today about that . 232 00:09:33,334 --> 00:09:35,390 But yes , there have been additional 233 00:09:35,390 --> 00:09:35,180 ones . And as I said in my opening 234 00:09:35,180 --> 00:09:37,236 statement , you can expect that that 235 00:09:37,236 --> 00:09:39,180 that that could continue to happen 236 00:09:39,180 --> 00:09:41,347 going forward . We're gonna constantly 237 00:09:41,347 --> 00:09:43,569 look at the conditions uh in the region 238 00:09:43,569 --> 00:09:45,736 and consult with allies and partners . 239 00:09:45,736 --> 00:09:47,458 And if we feel we need to make 240 00:09:47,458 --> 00:09:49,680 additional forces more ready , we'll do 241 00:09:49,680 --> 00:09:51,847 that . If we feel that we need to send 242 00:09:51,847 --> 00:09:53,902 more forces to certain eastern flank 243 00:09:53,902 --> 00:09:55,847 countries will do that too in full 244 00:09:55,847 --> 00:09:57,791 consultation with NATO and in full 245 00:09:57,791 --> 00:09:59,902 consultation with the specific allies 246 00:09:59,902 --> 00:10:02,124 and partners . And I think I missed one 247 00:10:02,124 --> 00:10:04,560 of your questions later . Um Well , I 248 00:10:04,560 --> 00:10:06,504 just want to I'm gonna have to I'm 249 00:10:06,504 --> 00:10:08,449 gonna have to take that one leader 250 00:10:08,449 --> 00:10:10,338 because I I don't have the uh the 251 00:10:10,338 --> 00:10:13,860 breakdown of of uh of every single unit 252 00:10:13,860 --> 00:10:15,820 in that , in that original 8500 in 253 00:10:15,820 --> 00:10:17,987 front of me . So let me just take that 254 00:10:17,987 --> 00:10:20,700 rather than speculate , and guess , do 255 00:10:20,700 --> 00:10:23,180 you have any evidence that Putin plans 256 00:10:23,180 --> 00:10:25,650 to move beyond Ukraine's borders ? Why 257 00:10:25,650 --> 00:10:27,820 are you bolstering these eastern flank 258 00:10:27,830 --> 00:10:30,640 allies if you do not have evidence of 259 00:10:30,650 --> 00:10:32,860 that ? Because it's important that we 260 00:10:32,860 --> 00:10:35,310 send a strong signal to Mr Putin and 261 00:10:35,310 --> 00:10:37,890 frankly to the world that NATO matters 262 00:10:37,890 --> 00:10:39,946 to the United States , it matters to 263 00:10:39,946 --> 00:10:42,490 our allies and we have Ironclad Article 264 00:10:42,490 --> 00:10:44,700 five commitments , attack on one is an 265 00:10:44,700 --> 00:10:48,670 attack on all . And so uh we know that 266 00:10:48,680 --> 00:10:51,900 uh that uh that he also bristles 267 00:10:51,910 --> 00:10:55,820 at NATO about NATO , um and 268 00:10:55,830 --> 00:10:59,110 he has made no secret of that . Um We 269 00:10:59,110 --> 00:11:01,332 are making it clear uh that we're gonna 270 00:11:01,332 --> 00:11:03,443 be prepared to defend our NATO allies 271 00:11:03,443 --> 00:11:05,610 if it comes to that hopefully it won't 272 00:11:05,610 --> 00:11:07,721 come to that nobody wants to see as I 273 00:11:07,721 --> 00:11:09,721 said , conflict is not inevitable , 274 00:11:09,721 --> 00:11:11,666 there's no reason for uh there for 275 00:11:11,666 --> 00:11:13,777 there to be armed conflict in Ukraine 276 00:11:13,777 --> 00:11:15,610 or anywhere else on the european 277 00:11:15,610 --> 00:11:17,666 continent and Mr Putin can go a long 278 00:11:17,666 --> 00:11:19,860 way to to serving that end by taking 279 00:11:19,860 --> 00:11:21,916 seriously the proposals that we have 280 00:11:21,916 --> 00:11:24,320 put forward diplomatically and by de 281 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:26,542 escalating through moving some of those 282 00:11:26,542 --> 00:11:28,764 troops away . But is there any evidence 283 00:11:28,764 --> 00:11:30,987 that he plans to anything you're seeing 284 00:11:30,987 --> 00:11:32,987 that suggests those troops that are 285 00:11:32,987 --> 00:11:35,290 outside Ukraine might carry on to 286 00:11:35,300 --> 00:11:38,230 Poland Romania . What what we what we 287 00:11:38,230 --> 00:11:42,110 see jen is clear evidence every day 288 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:44,190 that he continues to destabilize the 289 00:11:44,190 --> 00:11:46,630 environment by adding more forces in 290 00:11:46,630 --> 00:11:48,630 the western part of his country and 291 00:11:48,630 --> 00:11:51,160 along Belarus , in addition to 292 00:11:51,170 --> 00:11:54,010 additional naval activity in the 293 00:11:54,010 --> 00:11:56,121 Mediterranean in the north atlantic . 294 00:11:56,121 --> 00:11:58,570 So he clearly is providing himself many 295 00:11:58,580 --> 00:12:01,530 options . Lots more capabilities for 296 00:12:01,540 --> 00:12:03,484 exactly what purpose we don't know 297 00:12:03,484 --> 00:12:05,596 right now . And because we don't know 298 00:12:05,596 --> 00:12:07,707 exactly what his purpose is , we want 299 00:12:07,707 --> 00:12:09,762 to make sure we're ready on the NATO 300 00:12:09,762 --> 00:12:11,929 front to defend our allies . Barbara , 301 00:12:11,929 --> 00:12:14,190 I want to follow up on TIM jets 302 00:12:14,190 --> 00:12:16,246 question you said at the beginning , 303 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:18,460 the current situation demands we 304 00:12:18,470 --> 00:12:22,050 reinforce . So what specifically 305 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:25,050 demands the reinforcement that you are 306 00:12:25,050 --> 00:12:27,440 laying out today ? And the reason I 307 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:30,910 asked this this is bilateral , as you 308 00:12:30,910 --> 00:12:34,130 said originally , uh you spoke at 309 00:12:34,130 --> 00:12:36,700 length several days ago about the NATO 310 00:12:36,710 --> 00:12:38,740 response force ? They have not 311 00:12:38,750 --> 00:12:41,040 activated that you are moving ahead 312 00:12:41,050 --> 00:12:43,580 bilaterally . Not under the NATO 313 00:12:43,580 --> 00:12:47,370 umbrella . Uh Anyhow . So what 314 00:12:47,370 --> 00:12:50,030 signal does that send that you're not 315 00:12:50,030 --> 00:12:53,590 waiting for a NATO vote ? And what is 316 00:12:53,590 --> 00:12:55,812 the current situation that demands this 317 00:12:55,812 --> 00:12:58,590 reinforcement outside of Russia outside 318 00:12:58,590 --> 00:13:00,646 of Ukraine . I don't think I heard a 319 00:13:00,646 --> 00:13:03,540 specific answer . I think the signal it 320 00:13:03,540 --> 00:13:05,970 sends that we're that we're moving 321 00:13:05,980 --> 00:13:09,240 additional U . S . Forces into allied 322 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:11,760 territory at the request and with the 323 00:13:11,770 --> 00:13:15,340 invitation of those countries is that 324 00:13:15,350 --> 00:13:17,940 we take our NATO commitments very very 325 00:13:17,940 --> 00:13:20,630 seriously . Uh and I put that right in 326 00:13:20,630 --> 00:13:23,400 the opening statement . Um And as for I 327 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:25,800 think your question is why now 328 00:13:25,810 --> 00:13:29,060 uh I don't understand . 329 00:13:29,740 --> 00:13:31,800 I don't I'd like an explanation why 330 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:35,350 you're doing this now without the vote 331 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:38,140 at NATO which does not appear readily 332 00:13:38,140 --> 00:13:40,290 apparent for them to activate the 333 00:13:40,290 --> 00:13:42,346 response force . What has led you to 334 00:13:42,346 --> 00:13:45,130 say okay , the United States will act 335 00:13:45,130 --> 00:13:47,130 on a bilateral basis . You have the 336 00:13:47,130 --> 00:13:49,352 invitations , you could have waited for 337 00:13:49,352 --> 00:13:52,040 a NATO vote . You decided not to . So 338 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:54,207 what is it ? It's not it's not just us 339 00:13:54,207 --> 00:13:56,151 barb other nations and I mentioned 340 00:13:56,151 --> 00:13:58,207 Denmark , the UK France . I mean the 341 00:13:58,207 --> 00:14:00,373 other nations , other NATO nations are 342 00:14:00,373 --> 00:14:03,200 likewise um discussing in bilateral 343 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:05,311 ways with eastern flank nations . The 344 00:14:05,311 --> 00:14:07,680 addition of forces and capabilities to 345 00:14:07,680 --> 00:14:09,736 those nations . So it's not just the 346 00:14:09,736 --> 00:14:11,902 United States , it's other NATO allies 347 00:14:11,902 --> 00:14:13,847 that are doing this . And you talk 348 00:14:13,847 --> 00:14:16,013 about this vote thing , let's be clear 349 00:14:16,013 --> 00:14:18,180 what what I think you're getting at is 350 00:14:18,180 --> 00:14:20,124 the NATO response force . That's a 351 00:14:20,124 --> 00:14:22,190 40,000 person strong force that is 352 00:14:22,190 --> 00:14:25,440 designed for high readiness . Um And uh 353 00:14:25,450 --> 00:14:27,506 that is a decision that the alliance 354 00:14:27,506 --> 00:14:29,728 and the only the alliance can make , we 355 00:14:29,728 --> 00:14:31,839 have a contribution to that . We have 356 00:14:31,839 --> 00:14:34,061 gotten those forces alerted to be ready 357 00:14:34,061 --> 00:14:36,339 to go if needed and they still will be . 358 00:14:36,339 --> 00:14:39,170 We also can if the president decides as 359 00:14:39,170 --> 00:14:41,114 commander in chief to take some of 360 00:14:41,114 --> 00:14:43,226 those alerted alerted forces and move 361 00:14:43,226 --> 00:14:45,930 them in a bilateral arrangement as well . 362 00:14:45,930 --> 00:14:48,180 He he can do that . Um as I said at the 363 00:14:48,180 --> 00:14:50,347 top , it's not like the alliance has a 364 00:14:50,347 --> 00:14:52,458 veto authority on any of those troops 365 00:14:52,458 --> 00:14:54,513 that were put on prepare to deploy . 366 00:14:54,513 --> 00:14:56,990 But in terms of why now here's just a 367 00:14:56,990 --> 00:14:59,160 couple of factors . He Mr Putin 368 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:02,130 continues to add forces , uh combined 369 00:15:02,130 --> 00:15:04,690 arms offensive capabilities even over 370 00:15:04,690 --> 00:15:06,950 just the last 24 hours , he continues 371 00:15:06,950 --> 00:15:09,300 to add in Western Russia and Belarus 372 00:15:09,300 --> 00:15:10,911 and again , as I said in the 373 00:15:10,911 --> 00:15:13,078 mediterranean and the north atlantic , 374 00:15:13,078 --> 00:15:14,800 he has shown no signs of being 375 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:16,856 interested or willing to de escalate 376 00:15:16,856 --> 00:15:18,911 the tensions . And it's not just the 377 00:15:18,911 --> 00:15:21,133 United States that's noticed this , our 378 00:15:21,133 --> 00:15:23,189 NATO allies have noticed this and we 379 00:15:23,189 --> 00:15:25,411 have been in constant communication and 380 00:15:25,411 --> 00:15:27,467 consultation with them and they have 381 00:15:27,467 --> 00:15:29,411 expressed their concerns . We have 382 00:15:29,411 --> 00:15:29,040 shared our perspectives on what we're 383 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:31,040 seeing with them . They have shared 384 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:32,984 their perspectives on what they're 385 00:15:32,984 --> 00:15:34,984 seeing with us . And as a result of 386 00:15:34,984 --> 00:15:37,040 these bilateral discussions , we are 387 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:39,096 now prepared to make these moves . I 388 00:15:39,096 --> 00:15:41,040 say again , two things , these are 389 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:42,818 temporary moves , not permanent 390 00:15:42,818 --> 00:15:44,540 deployments , not , you know , 391 00:15:44,540 --> 00:15:46,429 permanent basing and to we're not 392 00:15:46,429 --> 00:15:48,540 ruling out the possibility that there 393 00:15:48,540 --> 00:15:50,651 will be more coming up in future days 394 00:15:50,651 --> 00:15:54,000 and weeks ? The bottom line here is you 395 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,390 cannot the United States , the pentagon , 396 00:15:56,390 --> 00:15:58,830 the White House . You right now could 397 00:15:58,830 --> 00:16:01,800 not rule out the possibility that Putin 398 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:04,450 could make a move outside of Ukraine 399 00:16:04,530 --> 00:16:08,140 into an east european country that's uh 400 00:16:08,150 --> 00:16:10,317 friendly with NATO , friendly with the 401 00:16:10,317 --> 00:16:12,539 U . S . And allied . You can't rule out 402 00:16:12,539 --> 00:16:14,650 that he's going to make an additional 403 00:16:14,650 --> 00:16:16,817 move beyond Ukraine . We're not ruling 404 00:16:16,817 --> 00:16:18,428 anything in or out with this 405 00:16:18,428 --> 00:16:20,483 announcement . Barb this isn't about 406 00:16:20,483 --> 00:16:22,650 making this . I don't this isn't about 407 00:16:22,650 --> 00:16:22,340 an intel assessment about what Mr Putin 408 00:16:22,340 --> 00:16:24,740 will or won't do . As I said again in 409 00:16:24,740 --> 00:16:26,851 my opening statement , we still don't 410 00:16:26,851 --> 00:16:29,160 believe he's made a decision to further 411 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:32,140 invade Ukraine . And if he does further 412 00:16:32,140 --> 00:16:34,084 invade Ukraine , obviously there's 413 00:16:34,084 --> 00:16:36,307 gonna be consequences for that . But he 414 00:16:36,307 --> 00:16:38,196 has many options and capabilities 415 00:16:38,196 --> 00:16:40,362 available to him as to how he might do 416 00:16:40,362 --> 00:16:42,940 that . And we simply don't know um we 417 00:16:42,940 --> 00:16:46,890 want to make sure that he knows any 418 00:16:46,890 --> 00:16:50,130 move on . NATO is going is going to be 419 00:16:50,150 --> 00:16:52,094 resisted and it's going to be it's 420 00:16:52,094 --> 00:16:54,440 going to trickle trigger Article five 421 00:16:54,450 --> 00:16:56,617 and we're going to be committed to the 422 00:16:56,617 --> 00:16:58,770 defense of our allies and that's what 423 00:16:58,770 --> 00:17:01,910 this is all about . Yeah . David , when 424 00:17:02,390 --> 00:17:05,610 President biden previewed this last 425 00:17:05,610 --> 00:17:07,666 week and he said he would be sending 426 00:17:07,666 --> 00:17:09,832 forces in the near term ? He also said 427 00:17:10,140 --> 00:17:14,020 not a lot Is did 428 00:17:14,030 --> 00:17:16,330 you consider 3000 ? Not a lot . And how 429 00:17:16,330 --> 00:17:20,050 does 1000 to 1000 430 00:17:21,140 --> 00:17:24,960 troops ? Infantry troops staff 431 00:17:25,540 --> 00:17:27,484 the kind of force that you've been 432 00:17:27,484 --> 00:17:29,960 describing , that Russia has been 433 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:33,170 amassing in Western Russia . 434 00:17:34,110 --> 00:17:37,530 We think that these orders that the 435 00:17:37,530 --> 00:17:40,220 secretary is giving today are very much 436 00:17:40,220 --> 00:17:41,998 in keeping with the president's 437 00:17:41,998 --> 00:17:45,710 comments . And to your other question , 438 00:17:45,890 --> 00:17:48,950 I remind again , um , 439 00:17:49,340 --> 00:17:52,660 that we hold the option open of 440 00:17:53,040 --> 00:17:56,820 additional force movements if that's 441 00:17:56,830 --> 00:18:00,190 desired and needed . Um , uh , so the 442 00:18:00,190 --> 00:18:03,510 steps I'm talking about today , um , uh , 443 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:05,742 could very well be preliminary steps to 444 00:18:05,742 --> 00:18:07,853 future ones that we might take . Um , 445 00:18:07,853 --> 00:18:10,020 and to your other question about , you 446 00:18:10,020 --> 00:18:12,242 know , is that enough ? Again , I think 447 00:18:12,242 --> 00:18:14,409 it's worth reminding that Romania as a 448 00:18:14,409 --> 00:18:16,687 sovereign state has their own military , 449 00:18:16,687 --> 00:18:18,798 uh , and a very capable one at that . 450 00:18:18,798 --> 00:18:20,687 Um , and it's not just the United 451 00:18:20,687 --> 00:18:22,853 States sending a striker squadron . As 452 00:18:22,853 --> 00:18:24,909 I mentioned earlier , the french are 453 00:18:24,909 --> 00:18:24,420 going to be sending additional troops . 454 00:18:24,420 --> 00:18:26,420 I'll let them speak to what they're 455 00:18:26,420 --> 00:18:28,698 gonna do and on what timeline . And uh , 456 00:18:28,698 --> 00:18:30,809 and how much and as I also said in my 457 00:18:30,809 --> 00:18:33,031 opening statement , other countries are 458 00:18:33,031 --> 00:18:35,790 likewise um , uh , moving forward to 459 00:18:35,790 --> 00:18:38,090 provide bolstering capabilities to NATO 460 00:18:38,090 --> 00:18:41,570 allies on the eastern flank . Will it 461 00:18:41,570 --> 00:18:44,040 take these troops to get in position ? 462 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:47,660 And do you expect infantry 463 00:18:48,370 --> 00:18:51,010 combat team from fort Bragg to jump in . 464 00:18:51,740 --> 00:18:54,820 I'm not going to talk about uh , the 465 00:18:54,820 --> 00:18:57,780 specifics of their movement , but as I 466 00:18:57,780 --> 00:18:59,669 said in my opening statement , we 467 00:18:59,669 --> 00:19:01,780 expect them to start moving in coming 468 00:19:01,780 --> 00:19:03,780 days . I don't have a more specific 469 00:19:03,780 --> 00:19:06,002 timeline for you . Uh in terms of exact 470 00:19:06,002 --> 00:19:09,150 departure date and exact arrival . Um 471 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:11,271 obviously it'll be , it'll be obvious 472 00:19:11,271 --> 00:19:13,438 when they get there and certainly will 473 00:19:13,438 --> 00:19:15,660 try to keep you informed all the way in 474 00:19:15,660 --> 00:19:17,882 court . I just want to see you , you've 475 00:19:17,882 --> 00:19:20,049 made it clear several times that these 476 00:19:20,049 --> 00:19:22,104 troops won't be brought into Ukraine 477 00:19:22,104 --> 00:19:24,216 and they won't be in combat . But can 478 00:19:24,216 --> 00:19:26,438 you rule out that any of these troops , 479 00:19:26,438 --> 00:19:28,327 specifically , some from the 82nd 480 00:19:28,327 --> 00:19:30,493 Airborne might be brought into Ukraine 481 00:19:30,493 --> 00:19:30,060 in the coming days to help with a 482 00:19:30,060 --> 00:19:31,949 noncombatant evacuation . Is that 483 00:19:31,949 --> 00:19:34,004 possible that they could be used for 484 00:19:34,004 --> 00:19:35,782 that ? As I think you heard the 485 00:19:35,782 --> 00:19:38,410 secretary say on Friday , uh our troops 486 00:19:38,410 --> 00:19:40,632 are multi mission capable and they will 487 00:19:40,632 --> 00:19:42,132 be prepared for a range of 488 00:19:42,132 --> 00:19:43,966 contingencies and I won't go any 489 00:19:43,966 --> 00:19:46,132 further than that . Is that one reason 490 00:19:46,132 --> 00:19:48,354 though , that the 82nd specifically was 491 00:19:48,354 --> 00:19:47,990 identified as one of the units to go 492 00:19:47,990 --> 00:19:50,323 forward early . Is that because of that , 493 00:19:50,323 --> 00:19:52,323 that capability , because they they 494 00:19:52,323 --> 00:19:54,490 they are as you know , already a ready 495 00:19:54,490 --> 00:19:56,157 force . They are already at a 496 00:19:56,157 --> 00:19:58,101 heightened state of alert . That's 497 00:19:58,101 --> 00:20:00,157 that's that's the reason dot tre for 498 00:20:00,157 --> 00:20:02,660 that , for that , for that force and 499 00:20:02,940 --> 00:20:06,140 they are multi mission capable . They 500 00:20:06,140 --> 00:20:08,196 can do a lot of things . It's a very 501 00:20:08,196 --> 00:20:10,740 versatile uh force and uh and I think 502 00:20:10,740 --> 00:20:13,520 their versatility , um their ability to 503 00:20:13,530 --> 00:20:16,630 move quickly um and to conduct a range 504 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:18,430 of missions across a range of 505 00:20:18,430 --> 00:20:20,910 contingencies , which is well proven , 506 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:23,180 that's the reason why the secretary has 507 00:20:23,180 --> 00:20:26,230 ordered them to go , okay , let me get , 508 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:28,462 I promise I'll get to everybody , but I 509 00:20:28,462 --> 00:20:30,351 haven't done other than leech , I 510 00:20:30,351 --> 00:20:32,573 haven't done anybody on the phone and I 511 00:20:32,573 --> 00:20:35,710 need to do that . Sylvie . No , thank 512 00:20:35,710 --> 00:20:38,390 you . Um , I would like to know how 513 00:20:38,390 --> 00:20:41,680 many um , soldier you're going to send 514 00:20:41,690 --> 00:20:45,680 to Poland because you said 2000 from 515 00:20:45,690 --> 00:20:49,600 us to Germany and Poland . So how many 516 00:20:49,610 --> 00:20:51,666 people , how many soldiers will will 517 00:20:51,666 --> 00:20:54,100 you have in Poland ? All in all ? The 518 00:20:54,110 --> 00:20:56,840 majority of the 2000 that will be 519 00:20:56,840 --> 00:20:59,190 moving from Fort Bragg will be going to 520 00:20:59,190 --> 00:21:02,860 Poland , the the 521 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:05,510 18th Airborne Corps . As I said in my 522 00:21:05,510 --> 00:21:07,560 opening statement , that's going to 523 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:09,960 Germany that they're going to form a 524 00:21:09,970 --> 00:21:12,140 joint task force headquarters . Uh , 525 00:21:12,150 --> 00:21:14,720 and that's usually depending on the 526 00:21:14,730 --> 00:21:16,810 need and the task at hand . Uh , 527 00:21:16,820 --> 00:21:19,042 several 100 people . So the majority of 528 00:21:19,042 --> 00:21:21,270 the 2000 that I mentioned , uh , that 529 00:21:21,270 --> 00:21:24,100 comprise the 82nd Airborne Brigade 530 00:21:24,100 --> 00:21:26,433 combat team . They , that , that , that , 531 00:21:26,433 --> 00:21:28,600 that leading element that they'll be , 532 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:31,550 they'll be going to Poland . Um , kelly 533 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:32,616 from news nation . 534 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:38,973 Hi john , thanks for taking my question . 535 00:21:38,973 --> 00:21:40,973 Um , I know you said we will adjust 536 00:21:40,973 --> 00:21:43,084 this posture as conditions evolve . I 537 00:21:43,084 --> 00:21:45,251 was curious because we're seeing , you 538 00:21:45,251 --> 00:21:47,473 know , ordinary Ukrainians , teachers , 539 00:21:47,473 --> 00:21:49,473 moms , dads dentist learning to use 540 00:21:49,473 --> 00:21:51,584 guns to defend themselves ? There are 541 00:21:51,584 --> 00:21:53,807 calls in Washington for the pentagon to 542 00:21:53,807 --> 00:21:53,680 support them ? Are any of these troops 543 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:55,680 going to help them and how will the 544 00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:57,902 President's order change the mission of 545 00:21:57,902 --> 00:21:59,791 the florida National Guard troops 546 00:21:59,791 --> 00:22:02,124 currently in Ukraine . As I said at the , 547 00:22:02,124 --> 00:22:04,291 at the top kelly that the president is 548 00:22:04,291 --> 00:22:06,458 being clear and and I think we made it 549 00:22:06,458 --> 00:22:08,680 eminently clear in my opening statement 550 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:08,030 that these troops will not be going to 551 00:22:08,030 --> 00:22:11,730 Ukraine uh , to participate in the , in 552 00:22:11,730 --> 00:22:13,897 the defense of Ukraine . The President 553 00:22:13,897 --> 00:22:16,063 has been very clear about that . These 554 00:22:16,063 --> 00:22:18,150 forces are going to uh , to reassure 555 00:22:18,150 --> 00:22:20,500 and to bolster capabilities inside 556 00:22:20,510 --> 00:22:24,020 NATO's eastern flank . Uh , and as for 557 00:22:24,020 --> 00:22:26,770 the florida National Guard trainers , 558 00:22:26,770 --> 00:22:28,770 they are still in Ukraine . There's 559 00:22:28,770 --> 00:22:30,770 been no decision to to change their 560 00:22:30,770 --> 00:22:33,440 status . They are still there providing 561 00:22:33,450 --> 00:22:35,506 advice and assist to Ukrainian armed 562 00:22:35,506 --> 00:22:37,728 forces . Um , and if and when there's a 563 00:22:37,728 --> 00:22:39,728 a need to make a different decision 564 00:22:39,728 --> 00:22:41,561 about their presence there , the 565 00:22:41,561 --> 00:22:43,617 Secretary will absolutely do that in 566 00:22:43,617 --> 00:22:45,783 consultation with the european command 567 00:22:45,783 --> 00:22:47,839 Commander , General Walters . But no 568 00:22:47,839 --> 00:22:50,190 decision has been made yet Tony to 569 00:22:50,190 --> 00:22:52,860 paseo . Hey John , when you said it 570 00:22:52,860 --> 00:22:55,240 will , it will be obvious that the 82nd 571 00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:57,407 airborne arrives . I want to piggyback 572 00:22:57,407 --> 00:22:59,629 on David Martin's question isn't likely 573 00:22:59,629 --> 00:23:01,573 they're going to parachute in as a 574 00:23:01,573 --> 00:23:03,518 symbolic drop to send a message to 575 00:23:03,518 --> 00:23:05,684 Putin ? Yeah , again , I I don't , I'm 576 00:23:05,684 --> 00:23:07,907 not going to talk about the their their 577 00:23:07,907 --> 00:23:10,300 travel there . Uh , and uh , and how 578 00:23:10,300 --> 00:23:13,250 they're going to arrive . I don't 579 00:23:13,250 --> 00:23:16,350 anticipate . It will be a tactical 580 00:23:16,350 --> 00:23:18,628 operation in that regard though , Tony , 581 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:25,207 David I said I don't expect it's going 582 00:23:25,207 --> 00:23:27,318 to be some sort of tactical operation 583 00:23:27,318 --> 00:23:29,540 but I don't have additional information 584 00:23:29,540 --> 00:23:31,651 today about that . Uh And and and and 585 00:23:31,651 --> 00:23:33,818 quite frankly I'm not sure that that's 586 00:23:33,818 --> 00:23:35,873 all that relevant . Uh They're going 587 00:23:35,873 --> 00:23:39,290 and they're going to bolster uh our 588 00:23:39,290 --> 00:23:42,060 capabilities uh in NATO and that's the 589 00:23:42,060 --> 00:23:45,510 most important part here . Uh 590 00:23:45,620 --> 00:23:47,780 David . I didn't say no . I said I 591 00:23:47,780 --> 00:23:49,836 don't expect that there will be some 592 00:23:49,836 --> 00:23:52,170 sort of tactical operation here who 593 00:23:52,170 --> 00:23:54,059 will command these troops . Is it 594 00:23:54,059 --> 00:23:56,720 general Walters and that splitting his 595 00:23:56,730 --> 00:23:59,610 role ? He already has a split roll as a 596 00:23:59,620 --> 00:24:01,953 as a supreme allied commander in europe . 597 00:24:02,140 --> 00:24:04,370 Ultimately he will be the top of the 598 00:24:04,370 --> 00:24:06,592 chain of command for them while they're 599 00:24:06,592 --> 00:24:08,759 in Europe . I don't have uh you know , 600 00:24:08,759 --> 00:24:10,370 I don't have more additional 601 00:24:10,370 --> 00:24:12,600 information about the C2 arrangement 602 00:24:12,610 --> 00:24:16,120 right now . But we can get that . Let 603 00:24:16,120 --> 00:24:18,287 me go back to the phones here , Tara , 604 00:24:18,287 --> 00:24:19,287 cop , 605 00:24:27,220 --> 00:24:30,530 nothing hurt . Carla bob . Hey , thanks 606 00:24:30,530 --> 00:24:32,530 for doing . Sorry john , I'm on , I 607 00:24:32,530 --> 00:24:35,610 didn't meet myself and meet myself . Um 608 00:24:35,610 --> 00:24:37,666 can you talk about whatever whatever 609 00:24:37,666 --> 00:24:39,721 additional airlift capacity might be 610 00:24:39,721 --> 00:24:41,832 needed to shift these troops . Um and 611 00:24:41,832 --> 00:24:43,888 what role air mobility command would 612 00:24:43,888 --> 00:24:46,800 play in this ? I don't have specifics 613 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:49,830 on the airlift here . Uh Tara obviously 614 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:53,150 um uh this is a reasonable amount of of 615 00:24:53,150 --> 00:24:56,420 forces that that will uh that air 616 00:24:56,420 --> 00:24:58,420 mobility command will be able to to 617 00:24:58,420 --> 00:25:00,810 transport . I I don't uh I don't 618 00:25:00,810 --> 00:25:03,700 foresee there is a need for some sort 619 00:25:03,700 --> 00:25:06,400 of surge of airlift activity to get to 620 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:08,860 get these folks over there . Go ahead 621 00:25:08,860 --> 00:25:11,880 carla . Hey thanks for doing this John 622 00:25:11,890 --> 00:25:14,112 most of my questions were answered . So 623 00:25:14,112 --> 00:25:16,279 I just need a couple of clarifications 624 00:25:16,279 --> 00:25:18,300 that 8500 forces that now remain on 625 00:25:18,300 --> 00:25:20,356 heightened readiness . So that means 626 00:25:20,356 --> 00:25:22,578 that 2000 additional troops were put on 627 00:25:22,578 --> 00:25:24,522 readiness . Where are those people 628 00:25:24,522 --> 00:25:27,170 located ? And then my second follow up 629 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:29,840 is concerning the National Guard forces 630 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:31,951 that are still in Ukraine . Does that 631 00:25:31,951 --> 00:25:33,896 mean that since you're not sending 632 00:25:33,896 --> 00:25:36,118 anymore to help with their security and 633 00:25:36,118 --> 00:25:38,396 they're not pulling out that D . O . D . 634 00:25:38,396 --> 00:25:37,780 At this point does not feel that their 635 00:25:37,780 --> 00:25:41,670 safety is threatened . Thanks on the uh 636 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:44,262 on the numbers . I think I'm just gonna 637 00:25:44,262 --> 00:25:46,096 leave it the way I couched in my 638 00:25:46,096 --> 00:25:48,750 opening statement because you know I 639 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:51,760 don't uh there's really no changes here . 640 00:25:52,340 --> 00:25:55,360 As I said , the 8500 are still on 641 00:25:55,370 --> 00:25:57,426 prepare to deploy orders . They have 642 00:25:57,426 --> 00:25:59,660 not been activated . We have as you 643 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:02,500 clearly no now activated others to move 644 00:26:02,500 --> 00:26:06,300 them as a U . S . Decision . 645 00:26:06,300 --> 00:26:08,210 So I and I and as I said I think 646 00:26:08,210 --> 00:26:11,110 earlier to I think Sylvia's question 647 00:26:11,120 --> 00:26:13,287 there are additional in in addition to 648 00:26:13,287 --> 00:26:16,380 the 8500 . Yes the secretary has uh put 649 00:26:16,380 --> 00:26:19,130 on prepare to deploy additional uh U . 650 00:26:19,130 --> 00:26:21,130 S . Forces . I'm not prepared to go 651 00:26:21,130 --> 00:26:23,630 into detail about that today . Um When 652 00:26:23,630 --> 00:26:26,350 and if we are able to speak to future 653 00:26:26,350 --> 00:26:28,350 movements , we will speak to future 654 00:26:28,350 --> 00:26:30,461 movements . We will be as transparent 655 00:26:30,461 --> 00:26:32,683 with you as we possibly can . But we're 656 00:26:32,683 --> 00:26:34,794 also going to need to be as you might 657 00:26:34,794 --> 00:26:36,961 understand , a little careful with the 658 00:26:36,961 --> 00:26:39,128 amount of detail that we put out there 659 00:26:39,128 --> 00:26:41,350 ahead of time . So we'll do the best we 660 00:26:41,350 --> 00:26:41,200 can to be transparent with you on the 661 00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:44,530 National Guard . Um Again , no change 662 00:26:44,530 --> 00:26:47,470 to their to their presence or posture 663 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:50,920 in in Ukraine , as I've said many times , 664 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:52,976 the secretary takes their safety and 665 00:26:52,976 --> 00:26:55,070 their security to be a paramount 666 00:26:55,070 --> 00:26:56,681 concern . We are in constant 667 00:26:56,681 --> 00:26:58,681 communication with european command 668 00:26:58,681 --> 00:27:00,681 about their presence , what they're 669 00:27:00,681 --> 00:27:02,403 doing . Uh and if and when the 670 00:27:02,403 --> 00:27:04,800 secretary believes that it is the 671 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:07,030 appropriate time for them to leave , If 672 00:27:07,030 --> 00:27:09,252 it's sooner than their deployment is up 673 00:27:09,252 --> 00:27:11,308 then then he'll make that decision . 674 00:27:11,308 --> 00:27:13,970 And again we'll let you know but right 675 00:27:13,970 --> 00:27:15,748 now they're still they're still 676 00:27:15,748 --> 00:27:17,520 providing training advice and 677 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:19,409 assistance to the Ukrainian armed 678 00:27:19,409 --> 00:27:20,742 forces . Helen cooper . 679 00:27:24,440 --> 00:27:28,150 Hey Kirby , thanks for for doing this . 680 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:31,130 Um I'm still I'm still trying to figure 681 00:27:31,130 --> 00:27:33,820 out the I'm still a little bit stuck on 682 00:27:33,820 --> 00:27:35,987 the numbers . You said that you're not 683 00:27:35,987 --> 00:27:38,790 ruling out uh possible additional 684 00:27:38,790 --> 00:27:42,070 troops to being deployed uh to Europe . 685 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:43,858 Are you saying that would be in 686 00:27:43,858 --> 00:27:46,360 addition to the 8500 who were on higher 687 00:27:46,360 --> 00:27:49,220 alert , Exactly what I'm saying . Uh 688 00:27:49,230 --> 00:27:53,180 the vast majority 8500 are designed for 689 00:27:53,180 --> 00:27:55,402 the NATO response force ? That response 690 00:27:55,402 --> 00:27:57,430 force has not been activated as I 691 00:27:57,440 --> 00:27:59,730 mentioned in the opening but we are not 692 00:27:59,730 --> 00:28:01,841 ruling out the possibility that there 693 00:28:01,841 --> 00:28:04,620 will be other us moves inside Europe . 694 00:28:04,620 --> 00:28:06,842 In other words , just like we're moving 695 00:28:06,842 --> 00:28:09,460 the striker squadron from uh from 696 00:28:09,460 --> 00:28:12,170 Germany to Romania , there could be 697 00:28:12,170 --> 00:28:14,380 other movements inside europe in trust 698 00:28:14,380 --> 00:28:16,700 theater moves that we would speak to . 699 00:28:16,710 --> 00:28:18,877 We're not ruling that out . We're also 700 00:28:18,877 --> 00:28:20,877 not ruling out the possibility that 701 00:28:20,877 --> 00:28:20,830 additional forces from the United 702 00:28:20,830 --> 00:28:22,997 States could deploy to europe . All we 703 00:28:22,997 --> 00:28:25,163 can speak to today are the troops that 704 00:28:25,163 --> 00:28:27,260 that we've announced . Um And as 705 00:28:27,270 --> 00:28:29,630 decisions get made if there's a need , 706 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:31,418 as I said in my opening , we're 707 00:28:31,418 --> 00:28:33,570 constantly looking at the conditions 708 00:28:33,570 --> 00:28:35,626 there . If we believe the conditions 709 00:28:35,626 --> 00:28:37,737 warrant , if we believe consultations 710 00:28:37,737 --> 00:28:40,970 with the allies also uh would demand 711 00:28:40,970 --> 00:28:43,081 additional U . S . Force capability . 712 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:44,851 Well , we'll entertain those 713 00:28:44,851 --> 00:28:46,684 discussions and we'll make those 714 00:28:46,684 --> 00:28:46,660 decisions and we'll announce them . 715 00:28:47,810 --> 00:28:50,032 Louis Martinez , you're on higher alert 716 00:28:50,032 --> 00:28:52,840 right now . Sorry Helene , I cut you 717 00:28:52,840 --> 00:28:55,350 off I think . Are there additional 718 00:28:55,350 --> 00:28:57,572 troops in the U . S . Who are on higher 719 00:28:57,572 --> 00:28:58,572 alert right now , 720 00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:03,496 paul McLeary , I'm sorry Louie Louie 721 00:29:03,496 --> 00:29:07,250 Martinez . Hey john 722 00:29:07,260 --> 00:29:09,600 um question is about your comments 723 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:11,544 earlier saying that NATO matters . 724 00:29:11,544 --> 00:29:13,544 You're saying that these troops are 725 00:29:13,544 --> 00:29:15,600 going under unilateral um us control 726 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:17,822 that this is a U . S . Mission . Um are 727 00:29:17,822 --> 00:29:19,933 you inferring that these troops would 728 00:29:19,933 --> 00:29:22,430 immediately transition to NATO control 729 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:25,340 um Should NATO decide to activate the 730 00:29:25,340 --> 00:29:27,370 NATO response force ? And another 731 00:29:27,370 --> 00:29:30,690 question as well about the there's a 732 00:29:30,690 --> 00:29:34,070 deployment ongoing right now in Estonia 733 00:29:34,070 --> 00:29:36,181 of some F . Fifteens . Have they been 734 00:29:36,181 --> 00:29:38,348 extended beyond the current in date of 735 00:29:38,348 --> 00:29:41,300 this week ? Thank you . I don't have 736 00:29:41,300 --> 00:29:44,740 anything on the F- 15's Louis . I can 737 00:29:44,750 --> 00:29:48,120 ask about that but I might my hunch is 738 00:29:48,130 --> 00:29:50,510 that you know that there's there's no 739 00:29:50,510 --> 00:29:52,677 plans to extend them . But let me just 740 00:29:52,677 --> 00:29:55,260 check on that . And then to your other 741 00:29:55,260 --> 00:29:59,140 question . Um uh These forces are going 742 00:29:59,150 --> 00:30:02,010 uh under bilateral arrangements between 743 00:30:02,010 --> 00:30:04,121 the United States and the and the and 744 00:30:04,121 --> 00:30:07,270 the country in in the country's um uh 745 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:10,290 in question in this case Poland Germany 746 00:30:10,300 --> 00:30:12,470 and Romania . Uh And they will remain 747 00:30:12,470 --> 00:30:15,670 under U . S . Chain of command . That 748 00:30:15,670 --> 00:30:18,350 is a separate and distinct Mission than 749 00:30:18,350 --> 00:30:20,350 the NATO response force which we've 750 00:30:20,350 --> 00:30:22,572 talked about . Our contribution to that 751 00:30:22,572 --> 00:30:26,170 being the bulk of that 8500 that we 752 00:30:26,170 --> 00:30:28,337 talked about last week . That would be 753 00:30:28,337 --> 00:30:30,226 under you know , NATO command and 754 00:30:30,226 --> 00:30:32,880 control structure . Uh I'm not going to 755 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:35,240 hypothesize or speculate about the 756 00:30:35,250 --> 00:30:37,650 future for these US units and and uh 757 00:30:37,650 --> 00:30:39,650 and what it's gonna look like going 758 00:30:39,650 --> 00:30:41,650 forward . There's no expectation at 759 00:30:41,650 --> 00:30:43,870 this time that they would necessarily 760 00:30:43,870 --> 00:30:45,926 have to fall under some sort of NATO 761 00:30:45,926 --> 00:30:48,148 command and control . Uh They are going 762 00:30:48,148 --> 00:30:51,110 uh as a as a U . S . Contribution in 763 00:30:51,110 --> 00:30:52,943 consultation with the allies and 764 00:30:52,943 --> 00:30:55,166 question to help bolster their defenses 765 00:30:55,166 --> 00:30:57,388 and improve and to show and demonstrate 766 00:30:57,388 --> 00:30:59,443 our commitment to the defense of our 767 00:30:59,443 --> 00:31:01,554 our NATO allies ? And again , I don't 768 00:31:01,554 --> 00:31:03,499 foresee any uh command and control 769 00:31:03,499 --> 00:31:06,640 changes for them going forward , paul 770 00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:10,630 McLeary . Hi john um is the 771 00:31:10,630 --> 00:31:12,760 United States prepared to negotiate 772 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:14,704 with the Russians over the ages of 773 00:31:14,704 --> 00:31:18,070 shore sites in Poland and Romania or 774 00:31:18,070 --> 00:31:19,903 allow possibly allow for Russian 775 00:31:19,903 --> 00:31:22,340 inspections to those sites ? I look , 776 00:31:22,340 --> 00:31:24,580 I'm not gonna speak to uh the 777 00:31:24,580 --> 00:31:26,636 negotiator . I'm not gonna certainly 778 00:31:26,636 --> 00:31:28,700 not negotiate here in public . Um We 779 00:31:28,700 --> 00:31:32,190 have laid out a very serious set of 780 00:31:32,190 --> 00:31:35,770 proposals uh diplomatically to Russia . 781 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:40,370 Uh as I said at the outset , um 782 00:31:40,380 --> 00:31:42,860 a european news outlet decided to 783 00:31:42,860 --> 00:31:45,082 publish that proposal . You can go look 784 00:31:45,082 --> 00:31:46,638 for it yourself . But it it 785 00:31:46,638 --> 00:31:49,990 demonstrates what we've said publicly 786 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:52,111 is the same as what we've been saying 787 00:31:52,111 --> 00:31:54,167 privately uh to the Russians that we 788 00:31:54,167 --> 00:31:55,944 are willing with an eye towards 789 00:31:55,944 --> 00:31:58,820 reciprocity to consider addressing 790 00:31:58,820 --> 00:32:00,598 mutual security concerns on the 791 00:32:00,598 --> 00:32:02,653 european continent and I leave it at 792 00:32:02,653 --> 00:32:04,376 that and refer you to my State 793 00:32:04,376 --> 00:32:06,598 Department colleagues . Again , I'm not 794 00:32:06,598 --> 00:32:08,764 I'm not gonna negotiate here in public 795 00:32:08,764 --> 00:32:10,764 and go back into the room jenny . I 796 00:32:10,764 --> 00:32:13,980 think we're done career issues . It was 797 00:32:13,980 --> 00:32:16,950 reported that the United States and 798 00:32:16,950 --> 00:32:19,920 South Korea are 799 00:32:19,930 --> 00:32:23,600 coordinating the post Department of 800 00:32:23,610 --> 00:32:26,790 Joint exercise . As you know 801 00:32:26,790 --> 00:32:29,870 that North Korea continues to 802 00:32:29,870 --> 00:32:33,060 conduct winter military exercises . 803 00:32:33,540 --> 00:32:37,470 Why us and South Korea exercises is 804 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:41,350 always postponed or canceled . Can you 805 00:32:41,350 --> 00:32:44,420 come on janie , I mean as I've said 806 00:32:44,420 --> 00:32:46,770 many times we take our readiness on the 807 00:32:46,770 --> 00:32:48,548 peninsula very , very seriously 808 00:32:48,548 --> 00:32:50,603 decisions about how we preserve that 809 00:32:50,603 --> 00:32:52,381 readiness and maintain it ? Our 810 00:32:52,381 --> 00:32:54,548 decisions we make in lockstep with our 811 00:32:54,548 --> 00:32:56,659 South korean allies and that includes 812 00:32:56,659 --> 00:32:58,970 training events . You talk about it is 813 00:32:58,970 --> 00:33:01,026 if we have not done any or we're not 814 00:33:01,026 --> 00:33:04,170 doing any or that or that you know that 815 00:33:04,340 --> 00:33:06,370 that we're not taking training 816 00:33:06,370 --> 00:33:09,280 seriously . That is not the case . But 817 00:33:09,290 --> 00:33:12,950 as we do anywhere in the world uh we do 818 00:33:12,950 --> 00:33:15,630 the same in Korea . We constantly 819 00:33:15,640 --> 00:33:19,410 evaluate and review our training uh 820 00:33:19,420 --> 00:33:21,610 exercises are training events , 821 00:33:21,630 --> 00:33:25,050 training and education and adapt it as 822 00:33:25,050 --> 00:33:27,570 conditions warrant . And and that's no 823 00:33:27,570 --> 00:33:29,626 different than than what what you're 824 00:33:29,626 --> 00:33:32,360 seeing on the korean peninsula . Sure . 825 00:33:32,440 --> 00:33:35,460 And the South Koreans want 826 00:33:36,340 --> 00:33:39,320 additional funding missile deployment 827 00:33:39,480 --> 00:33:43,220 to in the Korea to defend 828 00:33:43,230 --> 00:33:46,370 against the North korean missile threat . 829 00:33:46,380 --> 00:33:49,350 Of course , china is didn't want this . 830 00:33:49,940 --> 00:33:52,460 Mhm . Are you considering this ? 831 00:33:53,840 --> 00:33:57,410 We are constantly consulting with our 832 00:33:57,410 --> 00:33:59,632 South korean allies about readiness and 833 00:33:59,632 --> 00:34:01,799 capabilities . I have no announcements 834 00:34:01,799 --> 00:34:03,743 on missile defense systems to make 835 00:34:03,743 --> 00:34:05,970 today . Thank you . If I may take you 836 00:34:05,970 --> 00:34:09,750 back to the readout of the call of the 837 00:34:09,760 --> 00:34:12,200 Secretary Austin with the Conference of 838 00:34:12,200 --> 00:34:14,520 the United Arab Emirates . There is an 839 00:34:14,520 --> 00:34:16,576 announcement in fact and the readout 840 00:34:16,576 --> 00:34:18,790 that a U . S . S . Cole will be 841 00:34:18,790 --> 00:34:21,300 deployed and also fifth generation 842 00:34:21,300 --> 00:34:24,700 fighters aircraft sent to United Arab 843 00:34:24,710 --> 00:34:27,030 Emirates . Can you talk a little bit 844 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:29,620 with some details about what is the 845 00:34:29,620 --> 00:34:31,953 mission ? What are we trying to achieve ? 846 00:34:31,953 --> 00:34:34,520 What is the also some details about 847 00:34:34,520 --> 00:34:37,140 what they will be doing ? I think it's 848 00:34:37,140 --> 00:34:39,196 very much in keeping what we've said 849 00:34:39,196 --> 00:34:41,418 just in the last few days as we've seen 850 00:34:41,418 --> 00:34:44,150 attacks on Al Dhafra , we take our 851 00:34:44,160 --> 00:34:46,160 defense relationship very seriously 852 00:34:46,160 --> 00:34:48,720 with the emiratis . Um We recognized 853 00:34:48,720 --> 00:34:51,130 the threats that they are very that 854 00:34:51,130 --> 00:34:53,400 they are under in a very real way . Um 855 00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:55,178 And some of the things that the 856 00:34:55,178 --> 00:34:58,520 secretary discussed yesterday and you 857 00:34:58,520 --> 00:35:00,131 saw in our read out with his 858 00:35:00,131 --> 00:35:02,131 counterpart is that , you know , we 859 00:35:02,131 --> 00:35:04,360 want to we want to add to their their 860 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:06,471 ability to help defend themselves and 861 00:35:06,471 --> 00:35:09,250 to and to demonstrate Clearly and 862 00:35:09,250 --> 00:35:11,740 tangibly our commitment to this to this 863 00:35:11,750 --> 00:35:13,806 important partnership . And so these 864 00:35:13,806 --> 00:35:17,270 are two tangible ways in which we 865 00:35:17,270 --> 00:35:20,010 believe we can help help help the 866 00:35:20,010 --> 00:35:22,380 emiratis deal with these very serious 867 00:35:22,380 --> 00:35:25,130 threats . Um And again we're not going 868 00:35:25,130 --> 00:35:27,130 to rule out additional steps . As I 869 00:35:27,130 --> 00:35:29,019 said yesterday , we're constantly 870 00:35:29,019 --> 00:35:31,074 looking at this uh to make sure that 871 00:35:31,074 --> 00:35:33,186 we're best postured to to help defend 872 00:35:33,186 --> 00:35:35,352 our interests and the interests of our 873 00:35:35,352 --> 00:35:37,130 partners and the emiratis are a 874 00:35:37,130 --> 00:35:39,352 terrific strong partner in the region . 875 00:35:40,320 --> 00:35:42,542 Secretary Austin and General Milley are 876 00:35:42,542 --> 00:35:44,431 on the hill today for closed door 877 00:35:44,431 --> 00:35:46,598 meetings about the Afghan withdrawal . 878 00:35:46,970 --> 00:35:49,137 And there are notes that came out from 879 00:35:49,137 --> 00:35:51,359 an NSS meeting that suggested on August 880 00:35:51,359 --> 00:35:54,540 14 their preparations had not been made 881 00:35:54,550 --> 00:35:58,390 for where to evacuate . Both 882 00:35:58,470 --> 00:36:02,170 americans and afghan civilians who had 883 00:36:02,170 --> 00:36:05,570 applied for S . I . V . Status in those 884 00:36:05,580 --> 00:36:07,802 late hours . Those decisions were still 885 00:36:07,802 --> 00:36:10,180 being made as well as the taliban were 886 00:36:10,180 --> 00:36:13,250 moving into Kabul . Is that accurate ? 887 00:36:13,260 --> 00:36:15,390 And is that true that at that late 888 00:36:15,390 --> 00:36:17,880 stage preparations had not been made as 889 00:36:17,880 --> 00:36:21,130 to where uh where to evacuate 890 00:36:21,140 --> 00:36:23,280 americans and others ? I'm not gonna 891 00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:25,680 speak to leaked documents . Uh What I 892 00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:29,240 can tell you is that uh that we were 893 00:36:29,240 --> 00:36:31,240 all working as an inter agency very 894 00:36:31,240 --> 00:36:34,360 very hard uh throughout the summer but 895 00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:37,390 certainly in august uh to make sure we 896 00:36:37,390 --> 00:36:39,860 were best postured to conduct an 897 00:36:39,860 --> 00:36:42,490 evacuation . Um if one was needed and 898 00:36:42,490 --> 00:36:44,712 clearly one was needed . Um And I would 899 00:36:44,712 --> 00:36:48,620 point you to you know as early as uh in 900 00:36:48,620 --> 00:36:52,130 the spring . Um The Defense Department 901 00:36:52,130 --> 00:36:54,690 was already trying to you know gaming 902 00:36:54,690 --> 00:36:57,250 out what a noncombatant evacuation 903 00:36:57,250 --> 00:36:59,880 would look like . Um And the secretary 904 00:36:59,880 --> 00:37:02,620 pre positioned forces uh well before 905 00:37:02,620 --> 00:37:05,280 august preposition forces in the region 906 00:37:05,290 --> 00:37:07,457 so that if they were needed to respond 907 00:37:07,457 --> 00:37:09,568 quickly they could . And in fact they 908 00:37:09,568 --> 00:37:12,250 did within 48 hours we were able to get 909 00:37:12,620 --> 00:37:15,370 Some 3000 troops on the ground at the 910 00:37:15,370 --> 00:37:18,460 Kabul Airport Because we had been pre 911 00:37:18,460 --> 00:37:20,682 positioned and prepared for those kinds 912 00:37:20,682 --> 00:37:22,738 of contingencies . But again I'm not 913 00:37:22,738 --> 00:37:24,904 going to talk about the details and in 914 00:37:24,904 --> 00:37:27,440 leaked documents . Um we conducted two 915 00:37:27,440 --> 00:37:30,490 press briefings a day for those 17 days 916 00:37:30,490 --> 00:37:32,323 here at the Pentagon . And we're 917 00:37:32,323 --> 00:37:34,546 nothing but transparent about the steps 918 00:37:34,546 --> 00:37:36,660 we were taking literally in real time 919 00:37:36,730 --> 00:37:38,952 about what we're doing to try to get as 920 00:37:38,952 --> 00:37:40,786 many people out and as safely as 921 00:37:40,786 --> 00:37:44,510 possible a couple on on Russian 922 00:37:44,510 --> 00:37:46,510 Ukraine a couple of times here this 923 00:37:46,510 --> 00:37:48,399 morning , you have said . And the 924 00:37:48,399 --> 00:37:50,454 secretary , I believe also said that 925 00:37:50,454 --> 00:37:52,890 this is a temporary deployment . So if 926 00:37:52,890 --> 00:37:56,190 you can say that it's temporary , I 927 00:37:56,190 --> 00:37:58,510 want to try this question again . What 928 00:37:58,510 --> 00:38:00,920 is the exit strategy ? How will you 929 00:38:00,920 --> 00:38:03,500 know when you're successful in a 930 00:38:03,510 --> 00:38:06,260 temporary deployment ? Kinetic , what's 931 00:38:06,260 --> 00:38:08,482 the measure of success ? The measure of 932 00:38:08,482 --> 00:38:10,649 success , as I've said before ? Barb , 933 00:38:10,649 --> 00:38:14,250 is that NATO's eastern flank 934 00:38:14,720 --> 00:38:17,480 is appropriately postured and prepared 935 00:38:17,800 --> 00:38:20,440 to defend itself and that we are part 936 00:38:20,440 --> 00:38:22,662 of that defense . That's the measure of 937 00:38:22,662 --> 00:38:24,940 success here and to make it very clear . 938 00:38:24,940 --> 00:38:26,996 Secondarily not only to our allies , 939 00:38:26,996 --> 00:38:29,107 but to Mr Putin that we take our NATO 940 00:38:29,107 --> 00:38:30,940 commitments seriously . As for a 941 00:38:30,940 --> 00:38:33,162 specific timeline , I'm not prepared to 942 00:38:33,162 --> 00:38:35,329 give you that right now . As I said in 943 00:38:35,329 --> 00:38:37,162 my opening statement , these are 944 00:38:37,162 --> 00:38:39,218 temporary moves . We will constantly 945 00:38:39,218 --> 00:38:41,273 evaluate the conditions there on the 946 00:38:41,273 --> 00:38:43,329 continent to determine how long they 947 00:38:43,329 --> 00:38:45,496 need to be , but they are not meant to 948 00:38:45,496 --> 00:38:47,718 be permanent . Uh and as we are able to 949 00:38:47,718 --> 00:38:49,870 redeploy , in other words , to remove 950 00:38:49,870 --> 00:38:52,037 those troops or send them to different 951 00:38:52,037 --> 00:38:54,148 places and perhaps back to their home 952 00:38:54,148 --> 00:38:56,203 stations will obviously let you guys 953 00:38:56,203 --> 00:38:58,870 know um let's see , I got a few more 954 00:38:58,870 --> 00:39:02,840 Phil Stewart . Thanks real quick . 955 00:39:02,840 --> 00:39:04,951 You , you you mentioned that you hope 956 00:39:04,951 --> 00:39:07,118 the situation in europe doesn't get to 957 00:39:07,118 --> 00:39:09,229 the point where you need to use these 958 00:39:09,229 --> 00:39:11,229 forces . But I'd like you to talk a 959 00:39:11,229 --> 00:39:11,050 little bit about your concerns about 960 00:39:11,050 --> 00:39:13,106 spillover . Uh you know , is there a 961 00:39:13,106 --> 00:39:15,450 risk of this conflict or any conflict 962 00:39:15,820 --> 00:39:17,931 between Russia and Ukraine could have 963 00:39:17,931 --> 00:39:21,480 spillover uh in in countries that are 964 00:39:21,490 --> 00:39:24,190 under the NATO umbrella . And and if 965 00:39:24,190 --> 00:39:26,480 not if you're not prepared to say that , 966 00:39:26,490 --> 00:39:29,250 then what do these deployments amount 967 00:39:29,250 --> 00:39:33,240 you ? Thanks Phil I at the risk of 968 00:39:33,920 --> 00:39:37,410 of Sounding repetitive here . I mean , 969 00:39:37,410 --> 00:39:39,577 we've we've kind of been talking about 970 00:39:39,577 --> 00:39:41,632 this . We don't exactly know what Mr 971 00:39:41,632 --> 00:39:43,688 Putin has in mind . We don't exactly 972 00:39:43,688 --> 00:39:45,930 know what he's gonna do . Um and if it 973 00:39:45,930 --> 00:39:48,097 is another invasion and it does end up 974 00:39:48,097 --> 00:39:50,263 in armed conflict , the one thing that 975 00:39:50,263 --> 00:39:52,263 we've learned specifically over the 976 00:39:52,263 --> 00:39:54,208 last 20 years is armed conflict is 977 00:39:54,208 --> 00:39:54,180 difficult to predict with any great 978 00:39:54,180 --> 00:39:57,250 specificity . What we want to make sure 979 00:39:57,260 --> 00:40:01,000 is that that there's a clear signal 980 00:40:01,010 --> 00:40:02,677 that we're not gonna tolerate 981 00:40:02,677 --> 00:40:04,870 aggression against our NATO allies and 982 00:40:04,870 --> 00:40:06,870 that's what we're that's what we're 983 00:40:06,870 --> 00:40:09,037 that's what we're doing here . I can't 984 00:40:09,037 --> 00:40:11,203 be perfectly predictive about how this 985 00:40:11,203 --> 00:40:13,037 is gonna go . And it's precisely 986 00:40:13,037 --> 00:40:12,850 because we can't be perfectly 987 00:40:12,850 --> 00:40:15,017 predictive that we want to be prepared 988 00:40:15,017 --> 00:40:17,294 and and we want to be ready . Courtney , 989 00:40:17,294 --> 00:40:20,280 I have one more on Afghanistan . The 990 00:40:20,280 --> 00:40:23,130 Axios report seems to indicate that on 991 00:40:23,140 --> 00:40:25,362 August 14 there still wasn't a plan for 992 00:40:25,362 --> 00:40:27,260 where to send civilians Afghan 993 00:40:27,260 --> 00:40:29,204 civilians during this noncombatant 994 00:40:29,204 --> 00:40:31,260 evacuation . But US troops were told 995 00:40:31,260 --> 00:40:33,482 the first we're told to deploy two days 996 00:40:33,482 --> 00:40:35,538 earlier . So I guess the question is 997 00:40:35,538 --> 00:40:37,482 when the U . S . Troops were given 998 00:40:37,482 --> 00:40:39,593 their orders to deploy to Afghanistan 999 00:40:39,593 --> 00:40:41,760 for the non combatant evacuation , did 1000 00:40:41,760 --> 00:40:43,816 they know where they would be taking 1001 00:40:43,816 --> 00:40:45,927 civilians yet ? We were still working 1002 00:40:45,927 --> 00:40:47,649 very hard . We had we had some 1003 00:40:47,649 --> 00:40:50,120 temporary safe havens that that that we 1004 00:40:50,320 --> 00:40:52,700 that we knew we could use but we also 1005 00:40:52,790 --> 00:40:54,901 knew that we might need more . And so 1006 00:40:54,901 --> 00:40:57,012 there were constant discussions about 1007 00:40:57,012 --> 00:40:59,179 about doing that . And as you saw , we 1008 00:40:59,179 --> 00:41:01,290 ended up with several half a dozen or 1009 00:41:01,290 --> 00:41:03,346 so , not just not just in the region 1010 00:41:03,346 --> 00:41:05,457 but elsewhere . Um So there were very 1011 00:41:05,457 --> 00:41:07,623 active discussions about that . Yeah . 1012 00:41:07,710 --> 00:41:09,960 Ah Sandman from Marfa . 1013 00:41:11,310 --> 00:41:13,310 Yes , I have a question about North 1014 00:41:13,310 --> 00:41:15,820 Korea . Ever since North Korea launched 1015 00:41:15,820 --> 00:41:18,550 their multiple missile launch us has 1016 00:41:18,550 --> 00:41:20,494 been said they are looking for the 1017 00:41:20,494 --> 00:41:22,840 additional measures to hold Dprk 1018 00:41:22,840 --> 00:41:25,760 accountable for their Mr lunch . So , 1019 00:41:25,760 --> 00:41:27,816 can you tell me about the additional 1020 00:41:27,816 --> 00:41:30,630 measure us looking for ? So , So it's a 1021 00:41:30,640 --> 00:41:33,500 regime mission of large scale us rok 1022 00:41:33,510 --> 00:41:35,510 joint taxes can be honored with the 1023 00:41:35,510 --> 00:41:37,454 option as an additional measure to 1024 00:41:37,454 --> 00:41:40,710 North Korea . Yeah , I don't know if I 1025 00:41:40,710 --> 00:41:42,877 got everything there in the question . 1026 00:41:42,877 --> 00:41:46,160 Uh but um again , we condemn these 1027 00:41:46,160 --> 00:41:48,380 launches were monitor them as closely 1028 00:41:48,380 --> 00:41:50,547 as we can . We certainly calling north 1029 00:41:50,547 --> 00:41:52,658 North Korea to meet their obligations 1030 00:41:52,658 --> 00:41:54,380 under U . S . Security Council 1031 00:41:54,380 --> 00:41:56,602 resolutions and stop these provocations 1032 00:41:56,602 --> 00:41:58,769 in the meantime here at the Department 1033 00:41:58,769 --> 00:42:00,769 of Defense . We're gonna do what we 1034 00:42:00,769 --> 00:42:02,713 have to do to make sure our rok us 1035 00:42:02,713 --> 00:42:04,824 alliance is as strong as flexible and 1036 00:42:04,824 --> 00:42:06,824 as capable as possible . And that's 1037 00:42:06,824 --> 00:42:08,824 what our focus is on here heather . 1038 00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:12,344 Thank you so much . Can you talk a 1039 00:42:12,344 --> 00:42:14,400 little bit more about the cold being 1040 00:42:14,400 --> 00:42:16,511 sent to you ? I . E . To help with um 1041 00:42:16,511 --> 00:42:18,733 patrols and how that will affect um the 1042 00:42:18,733 --> 00:42:20,844 Harry S . Truman carrier strike group 1043 00:42:20,844 --> 00:42:22,956 that's under NATO command right now . 1044 00:42:22,956 --> 00:42:26,030 Uh the USs cole will be making a port 1045 00:42:26,030 --> 00:42:29,130 visit in the U . A . E . And then uh my 1046 00:42:29,130 --> 00:42:31,130 understanding is that she will have 1047 00:42:31,130 --> 00:42:33,920 opportunities to do some joint training 1048 00:42:33,930 --> 00:42:37,290 um with with the Emirati Navy . That is 1049 00:42:37,290 --> 00:42:39,600 not unusual . We do that almost every 1050 00:42:39,600 --> 00:42:43,260 day in the gulf region . Um and and 1051 00:42:43,260 --> 00:42:46,810 we're glad to be able to uh to send her 1052 00:42:46,850 --> 00:42:50,430 to that mission . It won't have any 1053 00:42:50,800 --> 00:42:53,520 practical or tangible effect on what 1054 00:42:53,520 --> 00:42:55,830 the USs Harry S . Truman and and uh and 1055 00:42:55,830 --> 00:42:57,941 the rest of the strike group is doing 1056 00:42:57,941 --> 00:43:00,670 right now in the mediterranean . J . J . 1057 00:43:00,670 --> 00:43:01,670 Green . 1058 00:43:11,000 --> 00:43:13,860 Okay J . J . I'm not getting you dan 1059 00:43:13,860 --> 00:43:16,670 the moth . Hey , good morning , thanks 1060 00:43:16,670 --> 00:43:18,980 for your time . Um wanted to see if I 1061 00:43:18,980 --> 00:43:21,091 could dry out a bit on the strikers . 1062 00:43:21,091 --> 00:43:23,258 Is that something specifically Romania 1063 00:43:23,258 --> 00:43:25,424 asked for ? Uh and and I guess what is 1064 00:43:25,424 --> 00:43:27,313 the messaging value of having the 1065 00:43:27,313 --> 00:43:29,313 strikers there And then a follow up 1066 00:43:29,313 --> 00:43:31,258 question . Uh Fifth Corps ? Uh the 1067 00:43:31,258 --> 00:43:33,480 Army's Fifth Corps was activated a year 1068 00:43:33,480 --> 00:43:35,720 and a half ago or so with sort of the 1069 00:43:35,720 --> 00:43:37,831 idea that they could potentially be a 1070 00:43:37,831 --> 00:43:39,942 headquarters for this kind of thing . 1071 00:43:39,942 --> 00:43:42,164 Are they involved ? Uh And do we expect 1072 00:43:42,164 --> 00:43:44,220 General Donahue , general parrilla , 1073 00:43:44,220 --> 00:43:46,387 anyone like that to be going forward ? 1074 00:43:46,387 --> 00:43:49,030 Thank you on the strikers . I mean , 1075 00:43:49,040 --> 00:43:51,330 this was the result of a discussion 1076 00:43:51,330 --> 00:43:53,108 that the secretary had with the 1077 00:43:53,108 --> 00:43:55,052 Romanian Minister of Defense , and 1078 00:43:55,052 --> 00:43:56,997 there was a good exchange back and 1079 00:43:56,997 --> 00:43:59,108 forth about what sort of capabilities 1080 00:43:59,108 --> 00:44:01,219 that they might need in my desire and 1081 00:44:01,219 --> 00:44:03,330 sort of how we could best fill that . 1082 00:44:03,330 --> 00:44:05,790 And in the in the context of that 1083 00:44:05,800 --> 00:44:09,290 mutual dialogue , uh we decided 1084 00:44:09,290 --> 00:44:11,880 that these 1000 troops from the striker 1085 00:44:11,890 --> 00:44:13,890 striker squadron in Germany fit the 1086 00:44:13,890 --> 00:44:16,001 bill quite nicely . And again , we're 1087 00:44:16,001 --> 00:44:18,168 going to keep talking to Romania going 1088 00:44:18,168 --> 00:44:20,279 forward and and we'll see , we'll see 1089 00:44:20,279 --> 00:44:22,446 what uh what the future holds there in 1090 00:44:22,446 --> 00:44:24,334 terms of any potential additional 1091 00:44:24,334 --> 00:44:27,640 capabilities . Um On the Fifth Corps 1092 00:44:27,650 --> 00:44:29,230 dan , I don't have anything 1093 00:44:29,230 --> 00:44:31,452 specifically on that for you other than 1094 00:44:31,452 --> 00:44:33,508 to say , as I said in my opener , uh 1095 00:44:33,508 --> 00:44:36,220 that what we're doing right now is 1096 00:44:36,220 --> 00:44:39,010 sending um Headquarters element from 1097 00:44:39,010 --> 00:44:41,720 the 18th Airborne Corps uh to go to 1098 00:44:41,730 --> 00:44:44,040 Germany again , as a headquarters 1099 00:44:44,050 --> 00:44:46,217 elements . So it's several 100 folks , 1100 00:44:46,217 --> 00:44:48,990 I don't have any other headquarters 1101 00:44:49,000 --> 00:44:51,910 uh or or staff 1102 00:44:52,390 --> 00:44:54,501 elements to speak to . But again , if 1103 00:44:54,501 --> 00:44:56,501 that changes , we certainly will be 1104 00:44:56,501 --> 00:44:58,723 transparent about it as for what Uh you 1105 00:44:58,723 --> 00:45:02,130 know , who's going in uh you know by 1106 00:45:02,130 --> 00:45:04,590 name . Again , I'd refer you to the 1107 00:45:04,600 --> 00:45:08,300 18th Airborne Corps for that . Um Let's 1108 00:45:08,300 --> 00:45:12,250 see uh nancy thanks . Um in 1109 00:45:12,250 --> 00:45:14,361 light of these um bilateral decisions 1110 00:45:14,361 --> 00:45:16,528 you described across the alliance with 1111 00:45:16,528 --> 00:45:18,583 the US France and others , could you 1112 00:45:18,583 --> 00:45:20,639 help me understand at what point you 1113 00:45:20,639 --> 00:45:22,806 would use the NATO response force ? Um 1114 00:45:22,806 --> 00:45:24,917 isn't what you're describing a series 1115 00:45:24,917 --> 00:45:26,972 of de facto NATO response force is , 1116 00:45:26,972 --> 00:45:28,972 I'm trying to understand it or what 1117 00:45:28,972 --> 00:45:28,810 conditions you the alliance would need 1118 00:45:28,810 --> 00:45:31,110 a NATO response force given that there 1119 00:45:31,110 --> 00:45:33,110 are all these agreements being made 1120 00:45:33,110 --> 00:45:35,166 across the alliance , so it's a NATO 1121 00:45:35,166 --> 00:45:38,710 decision to activate the response force 1122 00:45:38,710 --> 00:45:41,080 and to employ it . It is a as I as I 1123 00:45:41,080 --> 00:45:44,340 briefed back last week , it's a 40,000 1124 00:45:44,340 --> 00:45:46,562 person strong force , it does . Half of 1125 00:45:46,562 --> 00:45:49,520 that 20,000 is uh what they call a 1126 00:45:49,520 --> 00:45:52,840 ready very ready joint task force uh 1127 00:45:52,850 --> 00:45:55,950 capability across a combined arms 1128 00:45:56,190 --> 00:45:59,830 um sets of military um 1129 00:45:59,840 --> 00:46:03,600 capabilities . And so the decision to 1130 00:46:03,980 --> 00:46:06,202 to activate it and to deploy , it would 1131 00:46:06,202 --> 00:46:09,140 be a NATO decision . Um So we obviously 1132 00:46:09,150 --> 00:46:11,940 respect that process . In the meantime 1133 00:46:12,030 --> 00:46:14,810 we're having discussions with allies 1134 00:46:14,810 --> 00:46:16,770 and partners about about their own 1135 00:46:16,770 --> 00:46:18,826 capabilities there , particularly on 1136 00:46:18,826 --> 00:46:20,937 the eastern flank . And as we've said 1137 00:46:20,937 --> 00:46:22,770 all along if we feel like we can 1138 00:46:22,770 --> 00:46:24,326 contribute to some of their 1139 00:46:24,326 --> 00:46:26,660 capabilities and um and to help with 1140 00:46:26,670 --> 00:46:29,650 help with their defense , we're serious 1141 00:46:29,650 --> 00:46:33,060 about doing that . And so I wouldn't um 1142 00:46:33,070 --> 00:46:34,903 I wouldn't get too wrapped up in 1143 00:46:34,903 --> 00:46:37,360 comparing this versus that . Um We're 1144 00:46:37,360 --> 00:46:41,290 we're sending forces and units that we 1145 00:46:41,290 --> 00:46:43,512 have worked out in a bilateral way with 1146 00:46:43,512 --> 00:46:46,040 these countries to meet their needs . 1147 00:46:46,050 --> 00:46:48,680 Um and and to demonstrate our resolve 1148 00:46:48,690 --> 00:46:51,510 to the defense of NATO's eastern flank . 1149 00:46:51,510 --> 00:46:55,200 The the readiness the nrf the NATO 1150 00:46:55,210 --> 00:46:57,432 readiness force . I mean that's uh that 1151 00:46:57,432 --> 00:46:59,543 also is multi mission , multi capable 1152 00:46:59,580 --> 00:47:02,080 um and very flexible but again the 1153 00:47:02,080 --> 00:47:04,302 decision to employ that would really be 1154 00:47:04,302 --> 00:47:06,469 one for the for the alliance to make . 1155 00:47:06,469 --> 00:47:09,240 And as I said earlier it's not like 1156 00:47:09,240 --> 00:47:12,570 NATO has veto power over our ability to 1157 00:47:12,580 --> 00:47:15,310 unilaterally send troops uh in in a 1158 00:47:15,310 --> 00:47:17,588 bilateral arrangement with with allies . 1159 00:47:17,588 --> 00:47:21,500 And so um uh some of the forces 1160 00:47:21,500 --> 00:47:23,556 that are designated for the response 1161 00:47:23,556 --> 00:47:25,611 force , they have not been activated 1162 00:47:25,611 --> 00:47:27,778 but but if there comes a time where we 1163 00:47:27,778 --> 00:47:29,833 might want to employ some of them as 1164 00:47:29,833 --> 00:47:32,056 well in a more bilateral relationship , 1165 00:47:32,056 --> 00:47:34,278 we're certainly not going to close that 1166 00:47:34,278 --> 00:47:36,222 option off to the secretary of the 1167 00:47:36,222 --> 00:47:40,050 president Jared Suba Hi 1168 00:47:40,050 --> 00:47:42,106 Mr Kirby if I could bring it back to 1169 00:47:42,106 --> 00:47:44,161 the announcement yesterday about the 1170 00:47:44,161 --> 00:47:46,439 deployment to the United Arab Emirates . 1171 00:47:46,439 --> 00:47:48,772 The statement said that the fifth U . S . 1172 00:47:48,772 --> 00:47:50,717 Fifth generation aircraft would be 1173 00:47:50,717 --> 00:47:50,680 deployed quote to assist the U . A . E . 1174 00:47:50,680 --> 00:47:53,000 Against the current threat unquote . Do 1175 00:47:53,000 --> 00:47:55,222 you happen to know what Air Force units 1176 00:47:55,222 --> 00:47:57,111 will deploy and will us pilots be 1177 00:47:57,111 --> 00:47:59,333 engaged in targeting Houthi projectiles 1178 00:47:59,333 --> 00:48:01,380 or potentially launch sites inside 1179 00:48:01,380 --> 00:48:03,269 Yemen ? Thanks . I don't have the 1180 00:48:03,269 --> 00:48:05,380 specific unit right now . I think you 1181 00:48:05,380 --> 00:48:07,602 know like like all things we have to we 1182 00:48:07,602 --> 00:48:09,769 we when we get a request like this and 1183 00:48:09,769 --> 00:48:11,991 we will work it out . We source it just 1184 00:48:11,991 --> 00:48:14,213 like we've been talking about this with 1185 00:48:14,213 --> 00:48:14,190 these europe moves . There was a 1186 00:48:14,190 --> 00:48:16,134 discussion with Romania about what 1187 00:48:16,134 --> 00:48:18,301 their capabilities were and we sourced 1188 00:48:18,301 --> 00:48:20,468 it with the striker squadron from from 1189 00:48:20,468 --> 00:48:22,634 Germany . So I don't have specifics on 1190 00:48:22,634 --> 00:48:24,857 units today and I'm certainly not going 1191 00:48:24,857 --> 00:48:26,857 to get into specific R . O . E . Or 1192 00:48:26,857 --> 00:48:29,023 operations there . They're going to to 1193 00:48:29,023 --> 00:48:31,246 demonstrate to first of all demonstrate 1194 00:48:31,246 --> 00:48:33,412 our commitment to our Emirati partners 1195 00:48:33,412 --> 00:48:35,690 but also to be prepared to deal with 1196 00:48:35,690 --> 00:48:37,468 very real threats that that the 1197 00:48:37,468 --> 00:48:39,634 emiratis are under . And quite frankly 1198 00:48:39,634 --> 00:48:41,746 it's not just the emiratis , it's our 1199 00:48:41,746 --> 00:48:43,690 people there at all to offer to so 1200 00:48:43,690 --> 00:48:43,130 we're gonna do what we need to do to 1201 00:48:43,130 --> 00:48:46,260 protect our troops and our and our 1202 00:48:46,260 --> 00:48:49,880 partners . Um and you can um I think 1203 00:48:49,880 --> 00:48:52,047 I'll just leave it at that rather than 1204 00:48:52,047 --> 00:48:53,936 get into hypotheticals about what 1205 00:48:53,936 --> 00:48:56,047 they'll be doing . Okay . Thanks very 1206 00:48:56,047 --> 00:48:55,500 much everybody