WEBVTT 00:07.140 --> 00:10.190 Good morning everybody . Just some 00:10.190 --> 00:11.360 things at the top . 00:15.640 --> 00:18.500 I think as you heard Secretary Austin 00:18.500 --> 00:22.110 address just last friday in his remarks 00:22.120 --> 00:24.287 with the chairman here in the briefing 00:24.287 --> 00:26.064 room , we remain focused on the 00:26.064 --> 00:27.898 evolving situation in europe and 00:27.898 --> 00:29.787 Russia's actions on the Ukrainian 00:29.787 --> 00:31.740 border and in belarus , as the 00:31.740 --> 00:33.700 Secretary said , the United States 00:33.710 --> 00:35.766 stands shoulder to shoulder with our 00:35.766 --> 00:37.790 NATO allies . The current situation 00:37.790 --> 00:40.012 demands that we reinforce the deterrent 00:40.012 --> 00:42.234 and defensive posture on NATO's eastern 00:42.234 --> 00:44.660 flank . President Biden has been clear 00:45.140 --> 00:47.307 that the United States will respond to 00:47.307 --> 00:49.529 the growing threat to europe's security 00:49.529 --> 00:52.020 and stability . Our commitment to NATO 00:52.020 --> 00:54.620 Article five and collective defense 00:54.630 --> 00:58.400 remains Ironclad as part of this 00:58.400 --> 01:00.400 commitment and to be prepared for a 01:00.400 --> 01:02.400 range of contingencies . The United 01:02.400 --> 01:04.622 States will soon move additional forces 01:04.622 --> 01:08.390 to Romania , Poland and Germany . I 01:08.390 --> 01:10.612 want to be very clear about something . 01:10.612 --> 01:12.660 These are not permanent moves . 01:14.640 --> 01:16.751 They are moved designed to respond to 01:16.751 --> 01:18.696 the current security environment . 01:18.696 --> 01:21.010 Moreover , these forces are not going 01:21.020 --> 01:23.680 to fight in Ukraine . They are going to 01:23.680 --> 01:26.440 ensure the robust defense of our NATO 01:26.440 --> 01:29.330 allies . Now let me lay this out for 01:29.330 --> 01:32.760 you In a series of three steps . First 01:33.340 --> 01:36.270 1000 soldiers that are currently based 01:36.270 --> 01:38.960 in Germany will reposition to Romania 01:38.970 --> 01:42.130 in the coming days . This is a striker 01:42.130 --> 01:44.870 squadron , a mounted cavalry unit 01:44.880 --> 01:46.824 that's designed to deploy in short 01:46.824 --> 01:49.670 order and to move quickly once in place 01:50.940 --> 01:54.720 and they will augment The some 900 U.S . 01:54.720 --> 01:56.887 forces that are currently in Romania . 01:57.760 --> 01:59.538 This force is designed to deter 01:59.538 --> 02:01.593 aggression and enhance our defensive 02:01.593 --> 02:03.816 capabilities in frontline allied states 02:04.540 --> 02:06.830 and we expect them as I said to move In 02:06.830 --> 02:09.680 coming days , Secretary Austin 02:09.690 --> 02:12.840 discussed this repositioning to Romania 02:12.850 --> 02:15.072 just last week in his conversation with 02:15.072 --> 02:17.239 the Romanian Minister of defense . And 02:17.239 --> 02:19.890 again , I want to stress that this move 02:19.890 --> 02:22.610 is coming at the express invitation of 02:22.610 --> 02:25.560 the Romanian government . Additionally , 02:25.940 --> 02:27.884 we welcome french french President 02:27.884 --> 02:29.773 Macron's announcement that France 02:29.773 --> 02:31.773 intends to deploy forces to Romania 02:31.773 --> 02:33.829 under NATO command , which Secretary 02:33.829 --> 02:35.662 Austin discussed with the french 02:35.662 --> 02:37.884 Defense Minister Florence parley . Just 02:37.884 --> 02:40.380 last week , the United States will 02:40.380 --> 02:42.602 continue to consult and coordinate with 02:42.602 --> 02:45.300 France and all our allies to ensure 02:45.300 --> 02:47.510 that we complement each other in our 02:47.510 --> 02:49.890 respective deployments . And of course 02:49.890 --> 02:52.112 we're going to continue to work through 02:52.112 --> 02:54.279 NATO to make appropriate defensive and 02:54.279 --> 02:57.060 non escalatory force posture alignments . 02:57.930 --> 03:00.850 Second , we are moving 03:01.240 --> 03:03.460 uh an additional force of about 03:03.460 --> 03:05.550 approximately 2000 troops from the 03:05.550 --> 03:07.772 United States to Europe in the next few 03:07.772 --> 03:11.700 days , the 82nd Airborne Division 03:11.700 --> 03:13.867 is deploying components of an infantry 03:13.867 --> 03:16.089 brigade combat team and key enablers to 03:16.089 --> 03:19.080 Poland and the 18th Airborne Corps is 03:19.080 --> 03:20.969 moving a joint task force capable 03:20.969 --> 03:23.247 headquarters to Germany . Both of them , 03:23.247 --> 03:25.358 as you know , are based in fort Bragg 03:25.358 --> 03:28.040 north Carolina . Collectively this 03:28.040 --> 03:29.929 forces trained and equipped for a 03:29.929 --> 03:32.151 variety of missions to deter aggression 03:32.151 --> 03:34.040 and to reassure and to defend our 03:34.040 --> 03:37.200 allies . Not surprisingly , we worked 03:37.200 --> 03:39.422 very closely with our polish and german 03:39.422 --> 03:41.311 allies to set the stage for these 03:41.311 --> 03:43.478 movements and we absolutely appreciate 03:43.478 --> 03:46.960 their support . Again , these are not 03:47.100 --> 03:50.040 permanent moves they respond to current 03:50.040 --> 03:52.520 conditions . We will adjust our posture 03:52.810 --> 03:56.530 as those conditions evolve . Third and 03:56.530 --> 03:58.870 finally All of these forces are 03:58.870 --> 04:01.820 separate and in addition to the 8500 04:01.820 --> 04:03.709 personnel in the United States on 04:03.709 --> 04:05.487 heightened alert posture that I 04:05.487 --> 04:07.542 announced last week . Those 8500 are 04:07.542 --> 04:09.764 not currently being deployed but remain 04:09.764 --> 04:11.820 ready to move if called for the NATO 04:11.820 --> 04:13.931 response force or as needed for other 04:13.931 --> 04:15.764 contingencies as directed by the 04:15.764 --> 04:17.876 secretary . All right President biden 04:18.740 --> 04:20.962 we continue to review our force posture 04:20.962 --> 04:23.184 and the situation in europe and we will 04:23.184 --> 04:25.073 make adjustments as the situation 04:25.073 --> 04:27.073 warrants . I also want to take this 04:27.073 --> 04:28.629 opportunity to correct some 04:28.629 --> 04:30.518 misconceptions around last week's 04:30.518 --> 04:32.684 announcement , NATO as an organization 04:32.684 --> 04:34.796 does not have veto power over U . S . 04:34.796 --> 04:36.962 Troop deployments and media reports to 04:36.962 --> 04:38.351 the contrary represent a 04:38.351 --> 04:41.110 mischaracterization of that . Nothing 04:41.110 --> 04:43.332 precludes the United States from making 04:43.332 --> 04:45.560 its own decisions on forced and forced 04:45.560 --> 04:47.970 movements including those forces that 04:47.970 --> 04:49.850 are being placed on heightened 04:49.850 --> 04:52.950 readiness . That said any movement of U . 04:52.950 --> 04:55.061 S . Forces involves consultation with 04:55.061 --> 04:57.117 the host nation as we have done with 04:57.117 --> 04:59.790 Romania and Poland and Germany prior to 04:59.790 --> 05:02.150 today's announcements and we're mindful 05:02.150 --> 05:04.261 of the competing needs of operational 05:04.261 --> 05:06.150 security and our obligation to be 05:06.150 --> 05:07.983 transparent and will provide you 05:07.983 --> 05:09.983 additional information on these and 05:09.983 --> 05:11.983 other movements as available and as 05:11.983 --> 05:14.094 appropriate as we have long said , we 05:14.094 --> 05:16.317 are continuously reviewing our postures 05:16.317 --> 05:18.539 so there may soon be additional posture 05:18.539 --> 05:18.360 decisions to announce , including 05:18.360 --> 05:20.304 movements that are part of ongoing 05:20.304 --> 05:22.360 military exercises . This is not the 05:22.360 --> 05:24.527 sum total of the deterrence actions we 05:24.527 --> 05:26.750 will take or those to reassure our 05:26.750 --> 05:29.780 allies . I think it won't surprise you . 05:29.780 --> 05:31.724 We take a theater wide approach to 05:31.724 --> 05:33.836 deterrence and defense and we welcome 05:33.836 --> 05:35.947 the additional announcements by Spain 05:35.947 --> 05:38.169 Denmark , the UK and the Netherlands of 05:38.169 --> 05:39.836 their consideration to deploy 05:39.836 --> 05:41.990 additional forces to reinforce NATO's 05:41.990 --> 05:44.101 eastern flank . The United States has 05:44.101 --> 05:46.268 robust capabilities distributed across 05:46.268 --> 05:48.490 europe including in the Baltic region . 05:48.490 --> 05:50.712 And we will continue to assess needs in 05:50.712 --> 05:52.601 that area in cooperation with the 05:52.601 --> 05:55.180 relevant allies . And of course the 05:55.180 --> 05:58.340 full NATO alliance . We stand united . 05:58.580 --> 06:00.691 We have said that repeatedly , we say 06:00.691 --> 06:02.810 it again today . These movements are 06:02.820 --> 06:04.987 unmistakable signals to the world that 06:04.987 --> 06:06.987 we stand ready to reassure our NATO 06:06.987 --> 06:09.560 allies and returned and defend against 06:09.570 --> 06:13.160 any aggression . Now , as the 06:13.160 --> 06:16.380 Secretary said friday , we do not know 06:16.380 --> 06:19.630 if Russia has made a final decision to 06:19.630 --> 06:22.720 further invade Ukraine , but it clearly 06:22.720 --> 06:25.920 has that capability . The Department of 06:25.920 --> 06:27.753 Defense will continue to support 06:27.753 --> 06:29.753 diplomatic efforts led by the White 06:29.753 --> 06:31.976 House and the State Department to press 06:31.976 --> 06:33.920 for resolution . We do not believe 06:33.920 --> 06:35.920 conflict is inevitable . The United 06:35.920 --> 06:38.142 States in lock step with our allies and 06:38.142 --> 06:40.253 partners has offered Russia a path to 06:40.253 --> 06:43.450 deescalate but we will take all prudent 06:43.450 --> 06:46.290 measures to assure our own security and 06:46.290 --> 06:48.850 that of our allies . And finally , just 06:48.850 --> 06:52.250 one note , I uh I note that in the past 06:52.250 --> 06:54.194 few hours , a proposal made by the 06:54.194 --> 06:56.630 United States leaked to a european news 06:56.630 --> 06:59.640 outlet . We did not make this document 06:59.640 --> 07:02.910 public , but now that it is , it 07:02.910 --> 07:05.770 confirms to the entire world what we 07:05.770 --> 07:07.980 have always been saying . There is no 07:07.980 --> 07:10.147 daylight between our public statements 07:10.147 --> 07:12.313 and our private discussions , NATO and 07:12.313 --> 07:14.202 its partners are unified in their 07:14.202 --> 07:16.258 resolve and open to constructive and 07:16.258 --> 07:18.369 serious diplomacy . The United States 07:18.369 --> 07:20.258 has gone the extra mile to find a 07:20.258 --> 07:22.258 diplomatic solution . And if Russia 07:22.258 --> 07:24.424 actually wants to negotiate a solution 07:24.424 --> 07:26.480 as it claims it does , this document 07:26.480 --> 07:28.591 certainly makes clear that there is a 07:28.591 --> 07:30.591 path forward to do so . Well . That 07:30.591 --> 07:32.702 will take questions starting with you 07:32.702 --> 07:36.590 lida . Hi John Thanks . Um just a 07:36.600 --> 07:39.450 couple of details . Um some of this is , 07:39.450 --> 07:43.110 it's still 8500 total that are 07:43.120 --> 07:45.200 on prepare to deploy orders or are 07:45.200 --> 07:48.630 there additional ones ? And um there's 07:48.630 --> 07:51.500 a brigade id uh fort Carson , that is 07:51.500 --> 07:54.690 all that already is scheduled to rotate 07:54.700 --> 07:57.430 into europe . Are you including them ? 07:57.440 --> 07:59.551 There's been some confusion . Are you 07:59.551 --> 08:03.060 including that Carson brigade 08:03.440 --> 08:07.370 in the prepare to deploy orders or is 08:07.370 --> 08:09.426 are they completely separate because 08:09.426 --> 08:11.592 there are already scheduled deployment 08:11.740 --> 08:15.680 And then um one other , are 08:15.680 --> 08:19.540 there um more . Are these troops 08:19.540 --> 08:23.060 that are going , are they under NATO or 08:23.060 --> 08:25.530 are these all unilateral us moves ? 08:25.580 --> 08:27.960 Thank you . Let me see if I can 08:27.960 --> 08:30.127 remember all those the troops that I'm 08:30.127 --> 08:32.349 talking about today will be going under 08:32.349 --> 08:36.110 us command . Um but as I said in the 08:36.110 --> 08:38.166 case of Romania , we know the french 08:38.166 --> 08:40.332 are going to be uh preparing to deploy 08:40.332 --> 08:42.332 troops there . We will find ways to 08:42.332 --> 08:44.554 complement that force presence again in 08:44.554 --> 08:47.510 full consultation with Romania . Um So 08:47.520 --> 08:50.000 I wouldn't describe these as unilateral 08:50.000 --> 08:52.110 moves . I mean this is a bilateral 08:52.120 --> 08:54.231 arrangement between the United States 08:54.231 --> 08:56.287 and Romania , but to your question , 08:56.287 --> 08:58.398 they will be going under US command . 08:58.398 --> 09:01.400 Um the 8500 . Uh they still remain on 09:01.400 --> 09:04.140 prepare to deploy orders . As I said 09:04.140 --> 09:06.196 when I talked about it last monday , 09:06.196 --> 09:08.362 the vast majority of them are designed 09:08.362 --> 09:10.584 for the NATO response force . As I said 09:10.584 --> 09:12.640 in my opening statement , that force 09:12.640 --> 09:14.751 has not been activated so they aren't 09:14.751 --> 09:18.550 going anywhere . Um The secretary 09:18.560 --> 09:21.050 has as as you might imagine as we have 09:21.060 --> 09:24.330 worked towards uh these troop movements . 09:24.340 --> 09:26.820 Uh there have been additional forces 09:26.830 --> 09:28.890 put on prepare to deploy orders or 09:28.890 --> 09:31.112 shortened tethers . I'm not prepared to 09:31.112 --> 09:33.334 go into great detail today about that . 09:33.334 --> 09:35.390 But yes , there have been additional 09:35.390 --> 09:35.180 ones . And as I said in my opening 09:35.180 --> 09:37.236 statement , you can expect that that 09:37.236 --> 09:39.180 that that could continue to happen 09:39.180 --> 09:41.347 going forward . We're gonna constantly 09:41.347 --> 09:43.569 look at the conditions uh in the region 09:43.569 --> 09:45.736 and consult with allies and partners . 09:45.736 --> 09:47.458 And if we feel we need to make 09:47.458 --> 09:49.680 additional forces more ready , we'll do 09:49.680 --> 09:51.847 that . If we feel that we need to send 09:51.847 --> 09:53.902 more forces to certain eastern flank 09:53.902 --> 09:55.847 countries will do that too in full 09:55.847 --> 09:57.791 consultation with NATO and in full 09:57.791 --> 09:59.902 consultation with the specific allies 09:59.902 --> 10:02.124 and partners . And I think I missed one 10:02.124 --> 10:04.560 of your questions later . Um Well , I 10:04.560 --> 10:06.504 just want to I'm gonna have to I'm 10:06.504 --> 10:08.449 gonna have to take that one leader 10:08.449 --> 10:10.338 because I I don't have the uh the 10:10.338 --> 10:13.860 breakdown of of uh of every single unit 10:13.860 --> 10:15.820 in that , in that original 8500 in 10:15.820 --> 10:17.987 front of me . So let me just take that 10:17.987 --> 10:20.700 rather than speculate , and guess , do 10:20.700 --> 10:23.180 you have any evidence that Putin plans 10:23.180 --> 10:25.650 to move beyond Ukraine's borders ? Why 10:25.650 --> 10:27.820 are you bolstering these eastern flank 10:27.830 --> 10:30.640 allies if you do not have evidence of 10:30.650 --> 10:32.860 that ? Because it's important that we 10:32.860 --> 10:35.310 send a strong signal to Mr Putin and 10:35.310 --> 10:37.890 frankly to the world that NATO matters 10:37.890 --> 10:39.946 to the United States , it matters to 10:39.946 --> 10:42.490 our allies and we have Ironclad Article 10:42.490 --> 10:44.700 five commitments , attack on one is an 10:44.700 --> 10:48.670 attack on all . And so uh we know that 10:48.680 --> 10:51.900 uh that uh that he also bristles 10:51.910 --> 10:55.820 at NATO about NATO , um and 10:55.830 --> 10:59.110 he has made no secret of that . Um We 10:59.110 --> 11:01.332 are making it clear uh that we're gonna 11:01.332 --> 11:03.443 be prepared to defend our NATO allies 11:03.443 --> 11:05.610 if it comes to that hopefully it won't 11:05.610 --> 11:07.721 come to that nobody wants to see as I 11:07.721 --> 11:09.721 said , conflict is not inevitable , 11:09.721 --> 11:11.666 there's no reason for uh there for 11:11.666 --> 11:13.777 there to be armed conflict in Ukraine 11:13.777 --> 11:15.610 or anywhere else on the european 11:15.610 --> 11:17.666 continent and Mr Putin can go a long 11:17.666 --> 11:19.860 way to to serving that end by taking 11:19.860 --> 11:21.916 seriously the proposals that we have 11:21.916 --> 11:24.320 put forward diplomatically and by de 11:24.320 --> 11:26.542 escalating through moving some of those 11:26.542 --> 11:28.764 troops away . But is there any evidence 11:28.764 --> 11:30.987 that he plans to anything you're seeing 11:30.987 --> 11:32.987 that suggests those troops that are 11:32.987 --> 11:35.290 outside Ukraine might carry on to 11:35.300 --> 11:38.230 Poland Romania . What what we what we 11:38.230 --> 11:42.110 see jen is clear evidence every day 11:42.120 --> 11:44.190 that he continues to destabilize the 11:44.190 --> 11:46.630 environment by adding more forces in 11:46.630 --> 11:48.630 the western part of his country and 11:48.630 --> 11:51.160 along Belarus , in addition to 11:51.170 --> 11:54.010 additional naval activity in the 11:54.010 --> 11:56.121 Mediterranean in the north atlantic . 11:56.121 --> 11:58.570 So he clearly is providing himself many 11:58.580 --> 12:01.530 options . Lots more capabilities for 12:01.540 --> 12:03.484 exactly what purpose we don't know 12:03.484 --> 12:05.596 right now . And because we don't know 12:05.596 --> 12:07.707 exactly what his purpose is , we want 12:07.707 --> 12:09.762 to make sure we're ready on the NATO 12:09.762 --> 12:11.929 front to defend our allies . Barbara , 12:11.929 --> 12:14.190 I want to follow up on TIM jets 12:14.190 --> 12:16.246 question you said at the beginning , 12:16.440 --> 12:18.460 the current situation demands we 12:18.470 --> 12:22.050 reinforce . So what specifically 12:22.640 --> 12:25.050 demands the reinforcement that you are 12:25.050 --> 12:27.440 laying out today ? And the reason I 12:27.440 --> 12:30.910 asked this this is bilateral , as you 12:30.910 --> 12:34.130 said originally , uh you spoke at 12:34.130 --> 12:36.700 length several days ago about the NATO 12:36.710 --> 12:38.740 response force ? They have not 12:38.750 --> 12:41.040 activated that you are moving ahead 12:41.050 --> 12:43.580 bilaterally . Not under the NATO 12:43.580 --> 12:47.370 umbrella . Uh Anyhow . So what 12:47.370 --> 12:50.030 signal does that send that you're not 12:50.030 --> 12:53.590 waiting for a NATO vote ? And what is 12:53.590 --> 12:55.812 the current situation that demands this 12:55.812 --> 12:58.590 reinforcement outside of Russia outside 12:58.590 --> 13:00.646 of Ukraine . I don't think I heard a 13:00.646 --> 13:03.540 specific answer . I think the signal it 13:03.540 --> 13:05.970 sends that we're that we're moving 13:05.980 --> 13:09.240 additional U . S . Forces into allied 13:09.240 --> 13:11.760 territory at the request and with the 13:11.770 --> 13:15.340 invitation of those countries is that 13:15.350 --> 13:17.940 we take our NATO commitments very very 13:17.940 --> 13:20.630 seriously . Uh and I put that right in 13:20.630 --> 13:23.400 the opening statement . Um And as for I 13:23.400 --> 13:25.800 think your question is why now 13:25.810 --> 13:29.060 uh I don't understand . 13:29.740 --> 13:31.800 I don't I'd like an explanation why 13:31.800 --> 13:35.350 you're doing this now without the vote 13:35.360 --> 13:38.140 at NATO which does not appear readily 13:38.140 --> 13:40.290 apparent for them to activate the 13:40.290 --> 13:42.346 response force . What has led you to 13:42.346 --> 13:45.130 say okay , the United States will act 13:45.130 --> 13:47.130 on a bilateral basis . You have the 13:47.130 --> 13:49.352 invitations , you could have waited for 13:49.352 --> 13:52.040 a NATO vote . You decided not to . So 13:52.040 --> 13:54.207 what is it ? It's not it's not just us 13:54.207 --> 13:56.151 barb other nations and I mentioned 13:56.151 --> 13:58.207 Denmark , the UK France . I mean the 13:58.207 --> 14:00.373 other nations , other NATO nations are 14:00.373 --> 14:03.200 likewise um discussing in bilateral 14:03.200 --> 14:05.311 ways with eastern flank nations . The 14:05.311 --> 14:07.680 addition of forces and capabilities to 14:07.680 --> 14:09.736 those nations . So it's not just the 14:09.736 --> 14:11.902 United States , it's other NATO allies 14:11.902 --> 14:13.847 that are doing this . And you talk 14:13.847 --> 14:16.013 about this vote thing , let's be clear 14:16.013 --> 14:18.180 what what I think you're getting at is 14:18.180 --> 14:20.124 the NATO response force . That's a 14:20.124 --> 14:22.190 40,000 person strong force that is 14:22.190 --> 14:25.440 designed for high readiness . Um And uh 14:25.450 --> 14:27.506 that is a decision that the alliance 14:27.506 --> 14:29.728 and the only the alliance can make , we 14:29.728 --> 14:31.839 have a contribution to that . We have 14:31.839 --> 14:34.061 gotten those forces alerted to be ready 14:34.061 --> 14:36.339 to go if needed and they still will be . 14:36.339 --> 14:39.170 We also can if the president decides as 14:39.170 --> 14:41.114 commander in chief to take some of 14:41.114 --> 14:43.226 those alerted alerted forces and move 14:43.226 --> 14:45.930 them in a bilateral arrangement as well . 14:45.930 --> 14:48.180 He he can do that . Um as I said at the 14:48.180 --> 14:50.347 top , it's not like the alliance has a 14:50.347 --> 14:52.458 veto authority on any of those troops 14:52.458 --> 14:54.513 that were put on prepare to deploy . 14:54.513 --> 14:56.990 But in terms of why now here's just a 14:56.990 --> 14:59.160 couple of factors . He Mr Putin 14:59.160 --> 15:02.130 continues to add forces , uh combined 15:02.130 --> 15:04.690 arms offensive capabilities even over 15:04.690 --> 15:06.950 just the last 24 hours , he continues 15:06.950 --> 15:09.300 to add in Western Russia and Belarus 15:09.300 --> 15:10.911 and again , as I said in the 15:10.911 --> 15:13.078 mediterranean and the north atlantic , 15:13.078 --> 15:14.800 he has shown no signs of being 15:14.800 --> 15:16.856 interested or willing to de escalate 15:16.856 --> 15:18.911 the tensions . And it's not just the 15:18.911 --> 15:21.133 United States that's noticed this , our 15:21.133 --> 15:23.189 NATO allies have noticed this and we 15:23.189 --> 15:25.411 have been in constant communication and 15:25.411 --> 15:27.467 consultation with them and they have 15:27.467 --> 15:29.411 expressed their concerns . We have 15:29.411 --> 15:29.040 shared our perspectives on what we're 15:29.040 --> 15:31.040 seeing with them . They have shared 15:31.040 --> 15:32.984 their perspectives on what they're 15:32.984 --> 15:34.984 seeing with us . And as a result of 15:34.984 --> 15:37.040 these bilateral discussions , we are 15:37.040 --> 15:39.096 now prepared to make these moves . I 15:39.096 --> 15:41.040 say again , two things , these are 15:41.040 --> 15:42.818 temporary moves , not permanent 15:42.818 --> 15:44.540 deployments , not , you know , 15:44.540 --> 15:46.429 permanent basing and to we're not 15:46.429 --> 15:48.540 ruling out the possibility that there 15:48.540 --> 15:50.651 will be more coming up in future days 15:50.651 --> 15:54.000 and weeks ? The bottom line here is you 15:54.000 --> 15:56.390 cannot the United States , the pentagon , 15:56.390 --> 15:58.830 the White House . You right now could 15:58.830 --> 16:01.800 not rule out the possibility that Putin 16:01.800 --> 16:04.450 could make a move outside of Ukraine 16:04.530 --> 16:08.140 into an east european country that's uh 16:08.150 --> 16:10.317 friendly with NATO , friendly with the 16:10.317 --> 16:12.539 U . S . And allied . You can't rule out 16:12.539 --> 16:14.650 that he's going to make an additional 16:14.650 --> 16:16.817 move beyond Ukraine . We're not ruling 16:16.817 --> 16:18.428 anything in or out with this 16:18.428 --> 16:20.483 announcement . Barb this isn't about 16:20.483 --> 16:22.650 making this . I don't this isn't about 16:22.650 --> 16:22.340 an intel assessment about what Mr Putin 16:22.340 --> 16:24.740 will or won't do . As I said again in 16:24.740 --> 16:26.851 my opening statement , we still don't 16:26.851 --> 16:29.160 believe he's made a decision to further 16:29.160 --> 16:32.140 invade Ukraine . And if he does further 16:32.140 --> 16:34.084 invade Ukraine , obviously there's 16:34.084 --> 16:36.307 gonna be consequences for that . But he 16:36.307 --> 16:38.196 has many options and capabilities 16:38.196 --> 16:40.362 available to him as to how he might do 16:40.362 --> 16:42.940 that . And we simply don't know um we 16:42.940 --> 16:46.890 want to make sure that he knows any 16:46.890 --> 16:50.130 move on . NATO is going is going to be 16:50.150 --> 16:52.094 resisted and it's going to be it's 16:52.094 --> 16:54.440 going to trickle trigger Article five 16:54.450 --> 16:56.617 and we're going to be committed to the 16:56.617 --> 16:58.770 defense of our allies and that's what 16:58.770 --> 17:01.910 this is all about . Yeah . David , when 17:02.390 --> 17:05.610 President biden previewed this last 17:05.610 --> 17:07.666 week and he said he would be sending 17:07.666 --> 17:09.832 forces in the near term ? He also said 17:10.140 --> 17:14.020 not a lot Is did 17:14.030 --> 17:16.330 you consider 3000 ? Not a lot . And how 17:16.330 --> 17:20.050 does 1000 to 1000 17:21.140 --> 17:24.960 troops ? Infantry troops staff 17:25.540 --> 17:27.484 the kind of force that you've been 17:27.484 --> 17:29.960 describing , that Russia has been 17:29.960 --> 17:33.170 amassing in Western Russia . 17:34.110 --> 17:37.530 We think that these orders that the 17:37.530 --> 17:40.220 secretary is giving today are very much 17:40.220 --> 17:41.998 in keeping with the president's 17:41.998 --> 17:45.710 comments . And to your other question , 17:45.890 --> 17:48.950 I remind again , um , 17:49.340 --> 17:52.660 that we hold the option open of 17:53.040 --> 17:56.820 additional force movements if that's 17:56.830 --> 18:00.190 desired and needed . Um , uh , so the 18:00.190 --> 18:03.510 steps I'm talking about today , um , uh , 18:03.520 --> 18:05.742 could very well be preliminary steps to 18:05.742 --> 18:07.853 future ones that we might take . Um , 18:07.853 --> 18:10.020 and to your other question about , you 18:10.020 --> 18:12.242 know , is that enough ? Again , I think 18:12.242 --> 18:14.409 it's worth reminding that Romania as a 18:14.409 --> 18:16.687 sovereign state has their own military , 18:16.687 --> 18:18.798 uh , and a very capable one at that . 18:18.798 --> 18:20.687 Um , and it's not just the United 18:20.687 --> 18:22.853 States sending a striker squadron . As 18:22.853 --> 18:24.909 I mentioned earlier , the french are 18:24.909 --> 18:24.420 going to be sending additional troops . 18:24.420 --> 18:26.420 I'll let them speak to what they're 18:26.420 --> 18:28.698 gonna do and on what timeline . And uh , 18:28.698 --> 18:30.809 and how much and as I also said in my 18:30.809 --> 18:33.031 opening statement , other countries are 18:33.031 --> 18:35.790 likewise um , uh , moving forward to 18:35.790 --> 18:38.090 provide bolstering capabilities to NATO 18:38.090 --> 18:41.570 allies on the eastern flank . Will it 18:41.570 --> 18:44.040 take these troops to get in position ? 18:44.040 --> 18:47.660 And do you expect infantry 18:48.370 --> 18:51.010 combat team from fort Bragg to jump in . 18:51.740 --> 18:54.820 I'm not going to talk about uh , the 18:54.820 --> 18:57.780 specifics of their movement , but as I 18:57.780 --> 18:59.669 said in my opening statement , we 18:59.669 --> 19:01.780 expect them to start moving in coming 19:01.780 --> 19:03.780 days . I don't have a more specific 19:03.780 --> 19:06.002 timeline for you . Uh in terms of exact 19:06.002 --> 19:09.150 departure date and exact arrival . Um 19:09.160 --> 19:11.271 obviously it'll be , it'll be obvious 19:11.271 --> 19:13.438 when they get there and certainly will 19:13.438 --> 19:15.660 try to keep you informed all the way in 19:15.660 --> 19:17.882 court . I just want to see you , you've 19:17.882 --> 19:20.049 made it clear several times that these 19:20.049 --> 19:22.104 troops won't be brought into Ukraine 19:22.104 --> 19:24.216 and they won't be in combat . But can 19:24.216 --> 19:26.438 you rule out that any of these troops , 19:26.438 --> 19:28.327 specifically , some from the 82nd 19:28.327 --> 19:30.493 Airborne might be brought into Ukraine 19:30.493 --> 19:30.060 in the coming days to help with a 19:30.060 --> 19:31.949 noncombatant evacuation . Is that 19:31.949 --> 19:34.004 possible that they could be used for 19:34.004 --> 19:35.782 that ? As I think you heard the 19:35.782 --> 19:38.410 secretary say on Friday , uh our troops 19:38.410 --> 19:40.632 are multi mission capable and they will 19:40.632 --> 19:42.132 be prepared for a range of 19:42.132 --> 19:43.966 contingencies and I won't go any 19:43.966 --> 19:46.132 further than that . Is that one reason 19:46.132 --> 19:48.354 though , that the 82nd specifically was 19:48.354 --> 19:47.990 identified as one of the units to go 19:47.990 --> 19:50.323 forward early . Is that because of that , 19:50.323 --> 19:52.323 that capability , because they they 19:52.323 --> 19:54.490 they are as you know , already a ready 19:54.490 --> 19:56.157 force . They are already at a 19:56.157 --> 19:58.101 heightened state of alert . That's 19:58.101 --> 20:00.157 that's that's the reason dot tre for 20:00.157 --> 20:02.660 that , for that , for that force and 20:02.940 --> 20:06.140 they are multi mission capable . They 20:06.140 --> 20:08.196 can do a lot of things . It's a very 20:08.196 --> 20:10.740 versatile uh force and uh and I think 20:10.740 --> 20:13.520 their versatility , um their ability to 20:13.530 --> 20:16.630 move quickly um and to conduct a range 20:16.640 --> 20:18.430 of missions across a range of 20:18.430 --> 20:20.910 contingencies , which is well proven , 20:20.920 --> 20:23.180 that's the reason why the secretary has 20:23.180 --> 20:26.230 ordered them to go , okay , let me get , 20:26.240 --> 20:28.462 I promise I'll get to everybody , but I 20:28.462 --> 20:30.351 haven't done other than leech , I 20:30.351 --> 20:32.573 haven't done anybody on the phone and I 20:32.573 --> 20:35.710 need to do that . Sylvie . No , thank 20:35.710 --> 20:38.390 you . Um , I would like to know how 20:38.390 --> 20:41.680 many um , soldier you're going to send 20:41.690 --> 20:45.680 to Poland because you said 2000 from 20:45.690 --> 20:49.600 us to Germany and Poland . So how many 20:49.610 --> 20:51.666 people , how many soldiers will will 20:51.666 --> 20:54.100 you have in Poland ? All in all ? The 20:54.110 --> 20:56.840 majority of the 2000 that will be 20:56.840 --> 20:59.190 moving from Fort Bragg will be going to 20:59.190 --> 21:02.860 Poland , the the 21:03.240 --> 21:05.510 18th Airborne Corps . As I said in my 21:05.510 --> 21:07.560 opening statement , that's going to 21:07.560 --> 21:09.960 Germany that they're going to form a 21:09.970 --> 21:12.140 joint task force headquarters . Uh , 21:12.150 --> 21:14.720 and that's usually depending on the 21:14.730 --> 21:16.810 need and the task at hand . Uh , 21:16.820 --> 21:19.042 several 100 people . So the majority of 21:19.042 --> 21:21.270 the 2000 that I mentioned , uh , that 21:21.270 --> 21:24.100 comprise the 82nd Airborne Brigade 21:24.100 --> 21:26.433 combat team . They , that , that , that , 21:26.433 --> 21:28.600 that leading element that they'll be , 21:28.600 --> 21:31.550 they'll be going to Poland . Um , kelly 21:31.560 --> 21:32.616 from news nation . 21:36.640 --> 21:38.973 Hi john , thanks for taking my question . 21:38.973 --> 21:40.973 Um , I know you said we will adjust 21:40.973 --> 21:43.084 this posture as conditions evolve . I 21:43.084 --> 21:45.251 was curious because we're seeing , you 21:45.251 --> 21:47.473 know , ordinary Ukrainians , teachers , 21:47.473 --> 21:49.473 moms , dads dentist learning to use 21:49.473 --> 21:51.584 guns to defend themselves ? There are 21:51.584 --> 21:53.807 calls in Washington for the pentagon to 21:53.807 --> 21:53.680 support them ? Are any of these troops 21:53.680 --> 21:55.680 going to help them and how will the 21:55.680 --> 21:57.902 President's order change the mission of 21:57.902 --> 21:59.791 the florida National Guard troops 21:59.791 --> 22:02.124 currently in Ukraine . As I said at the , 22:02.124 --> 22:04.291 at the top kelly that the president is 22:04.291 --> 22:06.458 being clear and and I think we made it 22:06.458 --> 22:08.680 eminently clear in my opening statement 22:08.680 --> 22:08.030 that these troops will not be going to 22:08.030 --> 22:11.730 Ukraine uh , to participate in the , in 22:11.730 --> 22:13.897 the defense of Ukraine . The President 22:13.897 --> 22:16.063 has been very clear about that . These 22:16.063 --> 22:18.150 forces are going to uh , to reassure 22:18.150 --> 22:20.500 and to bolster capabilities inside 22:20.510 --> 22:24.020 NATO's eastern flank . Uh , and as for 22:24.020 --> 22:26.770 the florida National Guard trainers , 22:26.770 --> 22:28.770 they are still in Ukraine . There's 22:28.770 --> 22:30.770 been no decision to to change their 22:30.770 --> 22:33.440 status . They are still there providing 22:33.450 --> 22:35.506 advice and assist to Ukrainian armed 22:35.506 --> 22:37.728 forces . Um , and if and when there's a 22:37.728 --> 22:39.728 a need to make a different decision 22:39.728 --> 22:41.561 about their presence there , the 22:41.561 --> 22:43.617 Secretary will absolutely do that in 22:43.617 --> 22:45.783 consultation with the european command 22:45.783 --> 22:47.839 Commander , General Walters . But no 22:47.839 --> 22:50.190 decision has been made yet Tony to 22:50.190 --> 22:52.860 paseo . Hey John , when you said it 22:52.860 --> 22:55.240 will , it will be obvious that the 82nd 22:55.240 --> 22:57.407 airborne arrives . I want to piggyback 22:57.407 --> 22:59.629 on David Martin's question isn't likely 22:59.629 --> 23:01.573 they're going to parachute in as a 23:01.573 --> 23:03.518 symbolic drop to send a message to 23:03.518 --> 23:05.684 Putin ? Yeah , again , I I don't , I'm 23:05.684 --> 23:07.907 not going to talk about the their their 23:07.907 --> 23:10.300 travel there . Uh , and uh , and how 23:10.300 --> 23:13.250 they're going to arrive . I don't 23:13.250 --> 23:16.350 anticipate . It will be a tactical 23:16.350 --> 23:18.628 operation in that regard though , Tony , 23:23.040 --> 23:25.207 David I said I don't expect it's going 23:25.207 --> 23:27.318 to be some sort of tactical operation 23:27.318 --> 23:29.540 but I don't have additional information 23:29.540 --> 23:31.651 today about that . Uh And and and and 23:31.651 --> 23:33.818 quite frankly I'm not sure that that's 23:33.818 --> 23:35.873 all that relevant . Uh They're going 23:35.873 --> 23:39.290 and they're going to bolster uh our 23:39.290 --> 23:42.060 capabilities uh in NATO and that's the 23:42.060 --> 23:45.510 most important part here . Uh 23:45.620 --> 23:47.780 David . I didn't say no . I said I 23:47.780 --> 23:49.836 don't expect that there will be some 23:49.836 --> 23:52.170 sort of tactical operation here who 23:52.170 --> 23:54.059 will command these troops . Is it 23:54.059 --> 23:56.720 general Walters and that splitting his 23:56.730 --> 23:59.610 role ? He already has a split roll as a 23:59.620 --> 24:01.953 as a supreme allied commander in europe . 24:02.140 --> 24:04.370 Ultimately he will be the top of the 24:04.370 --> 24:06.592 chain of command for them while they're 24:06.592 --> 24:08.759 in Europe . I don't have uh you know , 24:08.759 --> 24:10.370 I don't have more additional 24:10.370 --> 24:12.600 information about the C2 arrangement 24:12.610 --> 24:16.120 right now . But we can get that . Let 24:16.120 --> 24:18.287 me go back to the phones here , Tara , 24:18.287 --> 24:19.287 cop , 24:27.220 --> 24:30.530 nothing hurt . Carla bob . Hey , thanks 24:30.530 --> 24:32.530 for doing . Sorry john , I'm on , I 24:32.530 --> 24:35.610 didn't meet myself and meet myself . Um 24:35.610 --> 24:37.666 can you talk about whatever whatever 24:37.666 --> 24:39.721 additional airlift capacity might be 24:39.721 --> 24:41.832 needed to shift these troops . Um and 24:41.832 --> 24:43.888 what role air mobility command would 24:43.888 --> 24:46.800 play in this ? I don't have specifics 24:46.800 --> 24:49.830 on the airlift here . Uh Tara obviously 24:49.840 --> 24:53.150 um uh this is a reasonable amount of of 24:53.150 --> 24:56.420 forces that that will uh that air 24:56.420 --> 24:58.420 mobility command will be able to to 24:58.420 --> 25:00.810 transport . I I don't uh I don't 25:00.810 --> 25:03.700 foresee there is a need for some sort 25:03.700 --> 25:06.400 of surge of airlift activity to get to 25:06.400 --> 25:08.860 get these folks over there . Go ahead 25:08.860 --> 25:11.880 carla . Hey thanks for doing this John 25:11.890 --> 25:14.112 most of my questions were answered . So 25:14.112 --> 25:16.279 I just need a couple of clarifications 25:16.279 --> 25:18.300 that 8500 forces that now remain on 25:18.300 --> 25:20.356 heightened readiness . So that means 25:20.356 --> 25:22.578 that 2000 additional troops were put on 25:22.578 --> 25:24.522 readiness . Where are those people 25:24.522 --> 25:27.170 located ? And then my second follow up 25:27.240 --> 25:29.840 is concerning the National Guard forces 25:29.840 --> 25:31.951 that are still in Ukraine . Does that 25:31.951 --> 25:33.896 mean that since you're not sending 25:33.896 --> 25:36.118 anymore to help with their security and 25:36.118 --> 25:38.396 they're not pulling out that D . O . D . 25:38.396 --> 25:37.780 At this point does not feel that their 25:37.780 --> 25:41.670 safety is threatened . Thanks on the uh 25:42.040 --> 25:44.262 on the numbers . I think I'm just gonna 25:44.262 --> 25:46.096 leave it the way I couched in my 25:46.096 --> 25:48.750 opening statement because you know I 25:48.760 --> 25:51.760 don't uh there's really no changes here . 25:52.340 --> 25:55.360 As I said , the 8500 are still on 25:55.370 --> 25:57.426 prepare to deploy orders . They have 25:57.426 --> 25:59.660 not been activated . We have as you 26:00.040 --> 26:02.500 clearly no now activated others to move 26:02.500 --> 26:06.300 them as a U . S . Decision . 26:06.300 --> 26:08.210 So I and I and as I said I think 26:08.210 --> 26:11.110 earlier to I think Sylvia's question 26:11.120 --> 26:13.287 there are additional in in addition to 26:13.287 --> 26:16.380 the 8500 . Yes the secretary has uh put 26:16.380 --> 26:19.130 on prepare to deploy additional uh U . 26:19.130 --> 26:21.130 S . Forces . I'm not prepared to go 26:21.130 --> 26:23.630 into detail about that today . Um When 26:23.630 --> 26:26.350 and if we are able to speak to future 26:26.350 --> 26:28.350 movements , we will speak to future 26:28.350 --> 26:30.461 movements . We will be as transparent 26:30.461 --> 26:32.683 with you as we possibly can . But we're 26:32.683 --> 26:34.794 also going to need to be as you might 26:34.794 --> 26:36.961 understand , a little careful with the 26:36.961 --> 26:39.128 amount of detail that we put out there 26:39.128 --> 26:41.350 ahead of time . So we'll do the best we 26:41.350 --> 26:41.200 can to be transparent with you on the 26:41.200 --> 26:44.530 National Guard . Um Again , no change 26:44.530 --> 26:47.470 to their to their presence or posture 26:47.480 --> 26:50.920 in in Ukraine , as I've said many times , 26:50.920 --> 26:52.976 the secretary takes their safety and 26:52.976 --> 26:55.070 their security to be a paramount 26:55.070 --> 26:56.681 concern . We are in constant 26:56.681 --> 26:58.681 communication with european command 26:58.681 --> 27:00.681 about their presence , what they're 27:00.681 --> 27:02.403 doing . Uh and if and when the 27:02.403 --> 27:04.800 secretary believes that it is the 27:04.800 --> 27:07.030 appropriate time for them to leave , If 27:07.030 --> 27:09.252 it's sooner than their deployment is up 27:09.252 --> 27:11.308 then then he'll make that decision . 27:11.308 --> 27:13.970 And again we'll let you know but right 27:13.970 --> 27:15.748 now they're still they're still 27:15.748 --> 27:17.520 providing training advice and 27:17.520 --> 27:19.409 assistance to the Ukrainian armed 27:19.409 --> 27:20.742 forces . Helen cooper . 27:24.440 --> 27:28.150 Hey Kirby , thanks for for doing this . 27:28.160 --> 27:31.130 Um I'm still I'm still trying to figure 27:31.130 --> 27:33.820 out the I'm still a little bit stuck on 27:33.820 --> 27:35.987 the numbers . You said that you're not 27:35.987 --> 27:38.790 ruling out uh possible additional 27:38.790 --> 27:42.070 troops to being deployed uh to Europe . 27:42.080 --> 27:43.858 Are you saying that would be in 27:43.858 --> 27:46.360 addition to the 8500 who were on higher 27:46.360 --> 27:49.220 alert , Exactly what I'm saying . Uh 27:49.230 --> 27:53.180 the vast majority 8500 are designed for 27:53.180 --> 27:55.402 the NATO response force ? That response 27:55.402 --> 27:57.430 force has not been activated as I 27:57.440 --> 27:59.730 mentioned in the opening but we are not 27:59.730 --> 28:01.841 ruling out the possibility that there 28:01.841 --> 28:04.620 will be other us moves inside Europe . 28:04.620 --> 28:06.842 In other words , just like we're moving 28:06.842 --> 28:09.460 the striker squadron from uh from 28:09.460 --> 28:12.170 Germany to Romania , there could be 28:12.170 --> 28:14.380 other movements inside europe in trust 28:14.380 --> 28:16.700 theater moves that we would speak to . 28:16.710 --> 28:18.877 We're not ruling that out . We're also 28:18.877 --> 28:20.877 not ruling out the possibility that 28:20.877 --> 28:20.830 additional forces from the United 28:20.830 --> 28:22.997 States could deploy to europe . All we 28:22.997 --> 28:25.163 can speak to today are the troops that 28:25.163 --> 28:27.260 that we've announced . Um And as 28:27.270 --> 28:29.630 decisions get made if there's a need , 28:29.640 --> 28:31.418 as I said in my opening , we're 28:31.418 --> 28:33.570 constantly looking at the conditions 28:33.570 --> 28:35.626 there . If we believe the conditions 28:35.626 --> 28:37.737 warrant , if we believe consultations 28:37.737 --> 28:40.970 with the allies also uh would demand 28:40.970 --> 28:43.081 additional U . S . Force capability . 28:43.240 --> 28:44.851 Well , we'll entertain those 28:44.851 --> 28:46.684 discussions and we'll make those 28:46.684 --> 28:46.660 decisions and we'll announce them . 28:47.810 --> 28:50.032 Louis Martinez , you're on higher alert 28:50.032 --> 28:52.840 right now . Sorry Helene , I cut you 28:52.840 --> 28:55.350 off I think . Are there additional 28:55.350 --> 28:57.572 troops in the U . S . Who are on higher 28:57.572 --> 28:58.572 alert right now , 29:01.440 --> 29:03.496 paul McLeary , I'm sorry Louie Louie 29:03.496 --> 29:07.250 Martinez . Hey john 29:07.260 --> 29:09.600 um question is about your comments 29:09.600 --> 29:11.544 earlier saying that NATO matters . 29:11.544 --> 29:13.544 You're saying that these troops are 29:13.544 --> 29:15.600 going under unilateral um us control 29:15.600 --> 29:17.822 that this is a U . S . Mission . Um are 29:17.822 --> 29:19.933 you inferring that these troops would 29:19.933 --> 29:22.430 immediately transition to NATO control 29:22.440 --> 29:25.340 um Should NATO decide to activate the 29:25.340 --> 29:27.370 NATO response force ? And another 29:27.370 --> 29:30.690 question as well about the there's a 29:30.690 --> 29:34.070 deployment ongoing right now in Estonia 29:34.070 --> 29:36.181 of some F . Fifteens . Have they been 29:36.181 --> 29:38.348 extended beyond the current in date of 29:38.348 --> 29:41.300 this week ? Thank you . I don't have 29:41.300 --> 29:44.740 anything on the F- 15's Louis . I can 29:44.750 --> 29:48.120 ask about that but I might my hunch is 29:48.130 --> 29:50.510 that you know that there's there's no 29:50.510 --> 29:52.677 plans to extend them . But let me just 29:52.677 --> 29:55.260 check on that . And then to your other 29:55.260 --> 29:59.140 question . Um uh These forces are going 29:59.150 --> 30:02.010 uh under bilateral arrangements between 30:02.010 --> 30:04.121 the United States and the and the and 30:04.121 --> 30:07.270 the country in in the country's um uh 30:07.280 --> 30:10.290 in question in this case Poland Germany 30:10.300 --> 30:12.470 and Romania . Uh And they will remain 30:12.470 --> 30:15.670 under U . S . Chain of command . That 30:15.670 --> 30:18.350 is a separate and distinct Mission than 30:18.350 --> 30:20.350 the NATO response force which we've 30:20.350 --> 30:22.572 talked about . Our contribution to that 30:22.572 --> 30:26.170 being the bulk of that 8500 that we 30:26.170 --> 30:28.337 talked about last week . That would be 30:28.337 --> 30:30.226 under you know , NATO command and 30:30.226 --> 30:32.880 control structure . Uh I'm not going to 30:32.880 --> 30:35.240 hypothesize or speculate about the 30:35.250 --> 30:37.650 future for these US units and and uh 30:37.650 --> 30:39.650 and what it's gonna look like going 30:39.650 --> 30:41.650 forward . There's no expectation at 30:41.650 --> 30:43.870 this time that they would necessarily 30:43.870 --> 30:45.926 have to fall under some sort of NATO 30:45.926 --> 30:48.148 command and control . Uh They are going 30:48.148 --> 30:51.110 uh as a as a U . S . Contribution in 30:51.110 --> 30:52.943 consultation with the allies and 30:52.943 --> 30:55.166 question to help bolster their defenses 30:55.166 --> 30:57.388 and improve and to show and demonstrate 30:57.388 --> 30:59.443 our commitment to the defense of our 30:59.443 --> 31:01.554 our NATO allies ? And again , I don't 31:01.554 --> 31:03.499 foresee any uh command and control 31:03.499 --> 31:06.640 changes for them going forward , paul 31:06.640 --> 31:10.630 McLeary . Hi john um is the 31:10.630 --> 31:12.760 United States prepared to negotiate 31:12.760 --> 31:14.704 with the Russians over the ages of 31:14.704 --> 31:18.070 shore sites in Poland and Romania or 31:18.070 --> 31:19.903 allow possibly allow for Russian 31:19.903 --> 31:22.340 inspections to those sites ? I look , 31:22.340 --> 31:24.580 I'm not gonna speak to uh the 31:24.580 --> 31:26.636 negotiator . I'm not gonna certainly 31:26.636 --> 31:28.700 not negotiate here in public . Um We 31:28.700 --> 31:32.190 have laid out a very serious set of 31:32.190 --> 31:35.770 proposals uh diplomatically to Russia . 31:36.640 --> 31:40.370 Uh as I said at the outset , um 31:40.380 --> 31:42.860 a european news outlet decided to 31:42.860 --> 31:45.082 publish that proposal . You can go look 31:45.082 --> 31:46.638 for it yourself . But it it 31:46.638 --> 31:49.990 demonstrates what we've said publicly 31:50.000 --> 31:52.111 is the same as what we've been saying 31:52.111 --> 31:54.167 privately uh to the Russians that we 31:54.167 --> 31:55.944 are willing with an eye towards 31:55.944 --> 31:58.820 reciprocity to consider addressing 31:58.820 --> 32:00.598 mutual security concerns on the 32:00.598 --> 32:02.653 european continent and I leave it at 32:02.653 --> 32:04.376 that and refer you to my State 32:04.376 --> 32:06.598 Department colleagues . Again , I'm not 32:06.598 --> 32:08.764 I'm not gonna negotiate here in public 32:08.764 --> 32:10.764 and go back into the room jenny . I 32:10.764 --> 32:13.980 think we're done career issues . It was 32:13.980 --> 32:16.950 reported that the United States and 32:16.950 --> 32:19.920 South Korea are 32:19.930 --> 32:23.600 coordinating the post Department of 32:23.610 --> 32:26.790 Joint exercise . As you know 32:26.790 --> 32:29.870 that North Korea continues to 32:29.870 --> 32:33.060 conduct winter military exercises . 32:33.540 --> 32:37.470 Why us and South Korea exercises is 32:37.480 --> 32:41.350 always postponed or canceled . Can you 32:41.350 --> 32:44.420 come on janie , I mean as I've said 32:44.420 --> 32:46.770 many times we take our readiness on the 32:46.770 --> 32:48.548 peninsula very , very seriously 32:48.548 --> 32:50.603 decisions about how we preserve that 32:50.603 --> 32:52.381 readiness and maintain it ? Our 32:52.381 --> 32:54.548 decisions we make in lockstep with our 32:54.548 --> 32:56.659 South korean allies and that includes 32:56.659 --> 32:58.970 training events . You talk about it is 32:58.970 --> 33:01.026 if we have not done any or we're not 33:01.026 --> 33:04.170 doing any or that or that you know that 33:04.340 --> 33:06.370 that we're not taking training 33:06.370 --> 33:09.280 seriously . That is not the case . But 33:09.290 --> 33:12.950 as we do anywhere in the world uh we do 33:12.950 --> 33:15.630 the same in Korea . We constantly 33:15.640 --> 33:19.410 evaluate and review our training uh 33:19.420 --> 33:21.610 exercises are training events , 33:21.630 --> 33:25.050 training and education and adapt it as 33:25.050 --> 33:27.570 conditions warrant . And and that's no 33:27.570 --> 33:29.626 different than than what what you're 33:29.626 --> 33:32.360 seeing on the korean peninsula . Sure . 33:32.440 --> 33:35.460 And the South Koreans want 33:36.340 --> 33:39.320 additional funding missile deployment 33:39.480 --> 33:43.220 to in the Korea to defend 33:43.230 --> 33:46.370 against the North korean missile threat . 33:46.380 --> 33:49.350 Of course , china is didn't want this . 33:49.940 --> 33:52.460 Mhm . Are you considering this ? 33:53.840 --> 33:57.410 We are constantly consulting with our 33:57.410 --> 33:59.632 South korean allies about readiness and 33:59.632 --> 34:01.799 capabilities . I have no announcements 34:01.799 --> 34:03.743 on missile defense systems to make 34:03.743 --> 34:05.970 today . Thank you . If I may take you 34:05.970 --> 34:09.750 back to the readout of the call of the 34:09.760 --> 34:12.200 Secretary Austin with the Conference of 34:12.200 --> 34:14.520 the United Arab Emirates . There is an 34:14.520 --> 34:16.576 announcement in fact and the readout 34:16.576 --> 34:18.790 that a U . S . S . Cole will be 34:18.790 --> 34:21.300 deployed and also fifth generation 34:21.300 --> 34:24.700 fighters aircraft sent to United Arab 34:24.710 --> 34:27.030 Emirates . Can you talk a little bit 34:27.040 --> 34:29.620 with some details about what is the 34:29.620 --> 34:31.953 mission ? What are we trying to achieve ? 34:31.953 --> 34:34.520 What is the also some details about 34:34.520 --> 34:37.140 what they will be doing ? I think it's 34:37.140 --> 34:39.196 very much in keeping what we've said 34:39.196 --> 34:41.418 just in the last few days as we've seen 34:41.418 --> 34:44.150 attacks on Al Dhafra , we take our 34:44.160 --> 34:46.160 defense relationship very seriously 34:46.160 --> 34:48.720 with the emiratis . Um We recognized 34:48.720 --> 34:51.130 the threats that they are very that 34:51.130 --> 34:53.400 they are under in a very real way . Um 34:53.400 --> 34:55.178 And some of the things that the 34:55.178 --> 34:58.520 secretary discussed yesterday and you 34:58.520 --> 35:00.131 saw in our read out with his 35:00.131 --> 35:02.131 counterpart is that , you know , we 35:02.131 --> 35:04.360 want to we want to add to their their 35:04.360 --> 35:06.471 ability to help defend themselves and 35:06.471 --> 35:09.250 to and to demonstrate Clearly and 35:09.250 --> 35:11.740 tangibly our commitment to this to this 35:11.750 --> 35:13.806 important partnership . And so these 35:13.806 --> 35:17.270 are two tangible ways in which we 35:17.270 --> 35:20.010 believe we can help help help the 35:20.010 --> 35:22.380 emiratis deal with these very serious 35:22.380 --> 35:25.130 threats . Um And again we're not going 35:25.130 --> 35:27.130 to rule out additional steps . As I 35:27.130 --> 35:29.019 said yesterday , we're constantly 35:29.019 --> 35:31.074 looking at this uh to make sure that 35:31.074 --> 35:33.186 we're best postured to to help defend 35:33.186 --> 35:35.352 our interests and the interests of our 35:35.352 --> 35:37.130 partners and the emiratis are a 35:37.130 --> 35:39.352 terrific strong partner in the region . 35:40.320 --> 35:42.542 Secretary Austin and General Milley are 35:42.542 --> 35:44.431 on the hill today for closed door 35:44.431 --> 35:46.598 meetings about the Afghan withdrawal . 35:46.970 --> 35:49.137 And there are notes that came out from 35:49.137 --> 35:51.359 an NSS meeting that suggested on August 35:51.359 --> 35:54.540 14 their preparations had not been made 35:54.550 --> 35:58.390 for where to evacuate . Both 35:58.470 --> 36:02.170 americans and afghan civilians who had 36:02.170 --> 36:05.570 applied for S . I . V . Status in those 36:05.580 --> 36:07.802 late hours . Those decisions were still 36:07.802 --> 36:10.180 being made as well as the taliban were 36:10.180 --> 36:13.250 moving into Kabul . Is that accurate ? 36:13.260 --> 36:15.390 And is that true that at that late 36:15.390 --> 36:17.880 stage preparations had not been made as 36:17.880 --> 36:21.130 to where uh where to evacuate 36:21.140 --> 36:23.280 americans and others ? I'm not gonna 36:23.280 --> 36:25.680 speak to leaked documents . Uh What I 36:25.680 --> 36:29.240 can tell you is that uh that we were 36:29.240 --> 36:31.240 all working as an inter agency very 36:31.240 --> 36:34.360 very hard uh throughout the summer but 36:34.360 --> 36:37.390 certainly in august uh to make sure we 36:37.390 --> 36:39.860 were best postured to conduct an 36:39.860 --> 36:42.490 evacuation . Um if one was needed and 36:42.490 --> 36:44.712 clearly one was needed . Um And I would 36:44.712 --> 36:48.620 point you to you know as early as uh in 36:48.620 --> 36:52.130 the spring . Um The Defense Department 36:52.130 --> 36:54.690 was already trying to you know gaming 36:54.690 --> 36:57.250 out what a noncombatant evacuation 36:57.250 --> 36:59.880 would look like . Um And the secretary 36:59.880 --> 37:02.620 pre positioned forces uh well before 37:02.620 --> 37:05.280 august preposition forces in the region 37:05.290 --> 37:07.457 so that if they were needed to respond 37:07.457 --> 37:09.568 quickly they could . And in fact they 37:09.568 --> 37:12.250 did within 48 hours we were able to get 37:12.620 --> 37:15.370 Some 3000 troops on the ground at the 37:15.370 --> 37:18.460 Kabul Airport Because we had been pre 37:18.460 --> 37:20.682 positioned and prepared for those kinds 37:20.682 --> 37:22.738 of contingencies . But again I'm not 37:22.738 --> 37:24.904 going to talk about the details and in 37:24.904 --> 37:27.440 leaked documents . Um we conducted two 37:27.440 --> 37:30.490 press briefings a day for those 17 days 37:30.490 --> 37:32.323 here at the Pentagon . And we're 37:32.323 --> 37:34.546 nothing but transparent about the steps 37:34.546 --> 37:36.660 we were taking literally in real time 37:36.730 --> 37:38.952 about what we're doing to try to get as 37:38.952 --> 37:40.786 many people out and as safely as 37:40.786 --> 37:44.510 possible a couple on on Russian 37:44.510 --> 37:46.510 Ukraine a couple of times here this 37:46.510 --> 37:48.399 morning , you have said . And the 37:48.399 --> 37:50.454 secretary , I believe also said that 37:50.454 --> 37:52.890 this is a temporary deployment . So if 37:52.890 --> 37:56.190 you can say that it's temporary , I 37:56.190 --> 37:58.510 want to try this question again . What 37:58.510 --> 38:00.920 is the exit strategy ? How will you 38:00.920 --> 38:03.500 know when you're successful in a 38:03.510 --> 38:06.260 temporary deployment ? Kinetic , what's 38:06.260 --> 38:08.482 the measure of success ? The measure of 38:08.482 --> 38:10.649 success , as I've said before ? Barb , 38:10.649 --> 38:14.250 is that NATO's eastern flank 38:14.720 --> 38:17.480 is appropriately postured and prepared 38:17.800 --> 38:20.440 to defend itself and that we are part 38:20.440 --> 38:22.662 of that defense . That's the measure of 38:22.662 --> 38:24.940 success here and to make it very clear . 38:24.940 --> 38:26.996 Secondarily not only to our allies , 38:26.996 --> 38:29.107 but to Mr Putin that we take our NATO 38:29.107 --> 38:30.940 commitments seriously . As for a 38:30.940 --> 38:33.162 specific timeline , I'm not prepared to 38:33.162 --> 38:35.329 give you that right now . As I said in 38:35.329 --> 38:37.162 my opening statement , these are 38:37.162 --> 38:39.218 temporary moves . We will constantly 38:39.218 --> 38:41.273 evaluate the conditions there on the 38:41.273 --> 38:43.329 continent to determine how long they 38:43.329 --> 38:45.496 need to be , but they are not meant to 38:45.496 --> 38:47.718 be permanent . Uh and as we are able to 38:47.718 --> 38:49.870 redeploy , in other words , to remove 38:49.870 --> 38:52.037 those troops or send them to different 38:52.037 --> 38:54.148 places and perhaps back to their home 38:54.148 --> 38:56.203 stations will obviously let you guys 38:56.203 --> 38:58.870 know um let's see , I got a few more 38:58.870 --> 39:02.840 Phil Stewart . Thanks real quick . 39:02.840 --> 39:04.951 You , you you mentioned that you hope 39:04.951 --> 39:07.118 the situation in europe doesn't get to 39:07.118 --> 39:09.229 the point where you need to use these 39:09.229 --> 39:11.229 forces . But I'd like you to talk a 39:11.229 --> 39:11.050 little bit about your concerns about 39:11.050 --> 39:13.106 spillover . Uh you know , is there a 39:13.106 --> 39:15.450 risk of this conflict or any conflict 39:15.820 --> 39:17.931 between Russia and Ukraine could have 39:17.931 --> 39:21.480 spillover uh in in countries that are 39:21.490 --> 39:24.190 under the NATO umbrella . And and if 39:24.190 --> 39:26.480 not if you're not prepared to say that , 39:26.490 --> 39:29.250 then what do these deployments amount 39:29.250 --> 39:33.240 you ? Thanks Phil I at the risk of 39:33.920 --> 39:37.410 of Sounding repetitive here . I mean , 39:37.410 --> 39:39.577 we've we've kind of been talking about 39:39.577 --> 39:41.632 this . We don't exactly know what Mr 39:41.632 --> 39:43.688 Putin has in mind . We don't exactly 39:43.688 --> 39:45.930 know what he's gonna do . Um and if it 39:45.930 --> 39:48.097 is another invasion and it does end up 39:48.097 --> 39:50.263 in armed conflict , the one thing that 39:50.263 --> 39:52.263 we've learned specifically over the 39:52.263 --> 39:54.208 last 20 years is armed conflict is 39:54.208 --> 39:54.180 difficult to predict with any great 39:54.180 --> 39:57.250 specificity . What we want to make sure 39:57.260 --> 40:01.000 is that that there's a clear signal 40:01.010 --> 40:02.677 that we're not gonna tolerate 40:02.677 --> 40:04.870 aggression against our NATO allies and 40:04.870 --> 40:06.870 that's what we're that's what we're 40:06.870 --> 40:09.037 that's what we're doing here . I can't 40:09.037 --> 40:11.203 be perfectly predictive about how this 40:11.203 --> 40:13.037 is gonna go . And it's precisely 40:13.037 --> 40:12.850 because we can't be perfectly 40:12.850 --> 40:15.017 predictive that we want to be prepared 40:15.017 --> 40:17.294 and and we want to be ready . Courtney , 40:17.294 --> 40:20.280 I have one more on Afghanistan . The 40:20.280 --> 40:23.130 Axios report seems to indicate that on 40:23.140 --> 40:25.362 August 14 there still wasn't a plan for 40:25.362 --> 40:27.260 where to send civilians Afghan 40:27.260 --> 40:29.204 civilians during this noncombatant 40:29.204 --> 40:31.260 evacuation . But US troops were told 40:31.260 --> 40:33.482 the first we're told to deploy two days 40:33.482 --> 40:35.538 earlier . So I guess the question is 40:35.538 --> 40:37.482 when the U . S . Troops were given 40:37.482 --> 40:39.593 their orders to deploy to Afghanistan 40:39.593 --> 40:41.760 for the non combatant evacuation , did 40:41.760 --> 40:43.816 they know where they would be taking 40:43.816 --> 40:45.927 civilians yet ? We were still working 40:45.927 --> 40:47.649 very hard . We had we had some 40:47.649 --> 40:50.120 temporary safe havens that that that we 40:50.320 --> 40:52.700 that we knew we could use but we also 40:52.790 --> 40:54.901 knew that we might need more . And so 40:54.901 --> 40:57.012 there were constant discussions about 40:57.012 --> 40:59.179 about doing that . And as you saw , we 40:59.179 --> 41:01.290 ended up with several half a dozen or 41:01.290 --> 41:03.346 so , not just not just in the region 41:03.346 --> 41:05.457 but elsewhere . Um So there were very 41:05.457 --> 41:07.623 active discussions about that . Yeah . 41:07.710 --> 41:09.960 Ah Sandman from Marfa . 41:11.310 --> 41:13.310 Yes , I have a question about North 41:13.310 --> 41:15.820 Korea . Ever since North Korea launched 41:15.820 --> 41:18.550 their multiple missile launch us has 41:18.550 --> 41:20.494 been said they are looking for the 41:20.494 --> 41:22.840 additional measures to hold Dprk 41:22.840 --> 41:25.760 accountable for their Mr lunch . So , 41:25.760 --> 41:27.816 can you tell me about the additional 41:27.816 --> 41:30.630 measure us looking for ? So , So it's a 41:30.640 --> 41:33.500 regime mission of large scale us rok 41:33.510 --> 41:35.510 joint taxes can be honored with the 41:35.510 --> 41:37.454 option as an additional measure to 41:37.454 --> 41:40.710 North Korea . Yeah , I don't know if I 41:40.710 --> 41:42.877 got everything there in the question . 41:42.877 --> 41:46.160 Uh but um again , we condemn these 41:46.160 --> 41:48.380 launches were monitor them as closely 41:48.380 --> 41:50.547 as we can . We certainly calling north 41:50.547 --> 41:52.658 North Korea to meet their obligations 41:52.658 --> 41:54.380 under U . S . Security Council 41:54.380 --> 41:56.602 resolutions and stop these provocations 41:56.602 --> 41:58.769 in the meantime here at the Department 41:58.769 --> 42:00.769 of Defense . We're gonna do what we 42:00.769 --> 42:02.713 have to do to make sure our rok us 42:02.713 --> 42:04.824 alliance is as strong as flexible and 42:04.824 --> 42:06.824 as capable as possible . And that's 42:06.824 --> 42:08.824 what our focus is on here heather . 42:10.400 --> 42:12.344 Thank you so much . Can you talk a 42:12.344 --> 42:14.400 little bit more about the cold being 42:14.400 --> 42:16.511 sent to you ? I . E . To help with um 42:16.511 --> 42:18.733 patrols and how that will affect um the 42:18.733 --> 42:20.844 Harry S . Truman carrier strike group 42:20.844 --> 42:22.956 that's under NATO command right now . 42:22.956 --> 42:26.030 Uh the USs cole will be making a port 42:26.030 --> 42:29.130 visit in the U . A . E . And then uh my 42:29.130 --> 42:31.130 understanding is that she will have 42:31.130 --> 42:33.920 opportunities to do some joint training 42:33.930 --> 42:37.290 um with with the Emirati Navy . That is 42:37.290 --> 42:39.600 not unusual . We do that almost every 42:39.600 --> 42:43.260 day in the gulf region . Um and and 42:43.260 --> 42:46.810 we're glad to be able to uh to send her 42:46.850 --> 42:50.430 to that mission . It won't have any 42:50.800 --> 42:53.520 practical or tangible effect on what 42:53.520 --> 42:55.830 the USs Harry S . Truman and and uh and 42:55.830 --> 42:57.941 the rest of the strike group is doing 42:57.941 --> 43:00.670 right now in the mediterranean . J . J . 43:00.670 --> 43:01.670 Green . 43:11.000 --> 43:13.860 Okay J . J . I'm not getting you dan 43:13.860 --> 43:16.670 the moth . Hey , good morning , thanks 43:16.670 --> 43:18.980 for your time . Um wanted to see if I 43:18.980 --> 43:21.091 could dry out a bit on the strikers . 43:21.091 --> 43:23.258 Is that something specifically Romania 43:23.258 --> 43:25.424 asked for ? Uh and and I guess what is 43:25.424 --> 43:27.313 the messaging value of having the 43:27.313 --> 43:29.313 strikers there And then a follow up 43:29.313 --> 43:31.258 question . Uh Fifth Corps ? Uh the 43:31.258 --> 43:33.480 Army's Fifth Corps was activated a year 43:33.480 --> 43:35.720 and a half ago or so with sort of the 43:35.720 --> 43:37.831 idea that they could potentially be a 43:37.831 --> 43:39.942 headquarters for this kind of thing . 43:39.942 --> 43:42.164 Are they involved ? Uh And do we expect 43:42.164 --> 43:44.220 General Donahue , general parrilla , 43:44.220 --> 43:46.387 anyone like that to be going forward ? 43:46.387 --> 43:49.030 Thank you on the strikers . I mean , 43:49.040 --> 43:51.330 this was the result of a discussion 43:51.330 --> 43:53.108 that the secretary had with the 43:53.108 --> 43:55.052 Romanian Minister of Defense , and 43:55.052 --> 43:56.997 there was a good exchange back and 43:56.997 --> 43:59.108 forth about what sort of capabilities 43:59.108 --> 44:01.219 that they might need in my desire and 44:01.219 --> 44:03.330 sort of how we could best fill that . 44:03.330 --> 44:05.790 And in the in the context of that 44:05.800 --> 44:09.290 mutual dialogue , uh we decided 44:09.290 --> 44:11.880 that these 1000 troops from the striker 44:11.890 --> 44:13.890 striker squadron in Germany fit the 44:13.890 --> 44:16.001 bill quite nicely . And again , we're 44:16.001 --> 44:18.168 going to keep talking to Romania going 44:18.168 --> 44:20.279 forward and and we'll see , we'll see 44:20.279 --> 44:22.446 what uh what the future holds there in 44:22.446 --> 44:24.334 terms of any potential additional 44:24.334 --> 44:27.640 capabilities . Um On the Fifth Corps 44:27.650 --> 44:29.230 dan , I don't have anything 44:29.230 --> 44:31.452 specifically on that for you other than 44:31.452 --> 44:33.508 to say , as I said in my opener , uh 44:33.508 --> 44:36.220 that what we're doing right now is 44:36.220 --> 44:39.010 sending um Headquarters element from 44:39.010 --> 44:41.720 the 18th Airborne Corps uh to go to 44:41.730 --> 44:44.040 Germany again , as a headquarters 44:44.050 --> 44:46.217 elements . So it's several 100 folks , 44:46.217 --> 44:48.990 I don't have any other headquarters 44:49.000 --> 44:51.910 uh or or staff 44:52.390 --> 44:54.501 elements to speak to . But again , if 44:54.501 --> 44:56.501 that changes , we certainly will be 44:56.501 --> 44:58.723 transparent about it as for what Uh you 44:58.723 --> 45:02.130 know , who's going in uh you know by 45:02.130 --> 45:04.590 name . Again , I'd refer you to the 45:04.600 --> 45:08.300 18th Airborne Corps for that . Um Let's 45:08.300 --> 45:12.250 see uh nancy thanks . Um in 45:12.250 --> 45:14.361 light of these um bilateral decisions 45:14.361 --> 45:16.528 you described across the alliance with 45:16.528 --> 45:18.583 the US France and others , could you 45:18.583 --> 45:20.639 help me understand at what point you 45:20.639 --> 45:22.806 would use the NATO response force ? Um 45:22.806 --> 45:24.917 isn't what you're describing a series 45:24.917 --> 45:26.972 of de facto NATO response force is , 45:26.972 --> 45:28.972 I'm trying to understand it or what 45:28.972 --> 45:28.810 conditions you the alliance would need 45:28.810 --> 45:31.110 a NATO response force given that there 45:31.110 --> 45:33.110 are all these agreements being made 45:33.110 --> 45:35.166 across the alliance , so it's a NATO 45:35.166 --> 45:38.710 decision to activate the response force 45:38.710 --> 45:41.080 and to employ it . It is a as I as I 45:41.080 --> 45:44.340 briefed back last week , it's a 40,000 45:44.340 --> 45:46.562 person strong force , it does . Half of 45:46.562 --> 45:49.520 that 20,000 is uh what they call a 45:49.520 --> 45:52.840 ready very ready joint task force uh 45:52.850 --> 45:55.950 capability across a combined arms 45:56.190 --> 45:59.830 um sets of military um 45:59.840 --> 46:03.600 capabilities . And so the decision to 46:03.980 --> 46:06.202 to activate it and to deploy , it would 46:06.202 --> 46:09.140 be a NATO decision . Um So we obviously 46:09.150 --> 46:11.940 respect that process . In the meantime 46:12.030 --> 46:14.810 we're having discussions with allies 46:14.810 --> 46:16.770 and partners about about their own 46:16.770 --> 46:18.826 capabilities there , particularly on 46:18.826 --> 46:20.937 the eastern flank . And as we've said 46:20.937 --> 46:22.770 all along if we feel like we can 46:22.770 --> 46:24.326 contribute to some of their 46:24.326 --> 46:26.660 capabilities and um and to help with 46:26.670 --> 46:29.650 help with their defense , we're serious 46:29.650 --> 46:33.060 about doing that . And so I wouldn't um 46:33.070 --> 46:34.903 I wouldn't get too wrapped up in 46:34.903 --> 46:37.360 comparing this versus that . Um We're 46:37.360 --> 46:41.290 we're sending forces and units that we 46:41.290 --> 46:43.512 have worked out in a bilateral way with 46:43.512 --> 46:46.040 these countries to meet their needs . 46:46.050 --> 46:48.680 Um and and to demonstrate our resolve 46:48.690 --> 46:51.510 to the defense of NATO's eastern flank . 46:51.510 --> 46:55.200 The the readiness the nrf the NATO 46:55.210 --> 46:57.432 readiness force . I mean that's uh that 46:57.432 --> 46:59.543 also is multi mission , multi capable 46:59.580 --> 47:02.080 um and very flexible but again the 47:02.080 --> 47:04.302 decision to employ that would really be 47:04.302 --> 47:06.469 one for the for the alliance to make . 47:06.469 --> 47:09.240 And as I said earlier it's not like 47:09.240 --> 47:12.570 NATO has veto power over our ability to 47:12.580 --> 47:15.310 unilaterally send troops uh in in a 47:15.310 --> 47:17.588 bilateral arrangement with with allies . 47:17.588 --> 47:21.500 And so um uh some of the forces 47:21.500 --> 47:23.556 that are designated for the response 47:23.556 --> 47:25.611 force , they have not been activated 47:25.611 --> 47:27.778 but but if there comes a time where we 47:27.778 --> 47:29.833 might want to employ some of them as 47:29.833 --> 47:32.056 well in a more bilateral relationship , 47:32.056 --> 47:34.278 we're certainly not going to close that 47:34.278 --> 47:36.222 option off to the secretary of the 47:36.222 --> 47:40.050 president Jared Suba Hi 47:40.050 --> 47:42.106 Mr Kirby if I could bring it back to 47:42.106 --> 47:44.161 the announcement yesterday about the 47:44.161 --> 47:46.439 deployment to the United Arab Emirates . 47:46.439 --> 47:48.772 The statement said that the fifth U . S . 47:48.772 --> 47:50.717 Fifth generation aircraft would be 47:50.717 --> 47:50.680 deployed quote to assist the U . A . E . 47:50.680 --> 47:53.000 Against the current threat unquote . Do 47:53.000 --> 47:55.222 you happen to know what Air Force units 47:55.222 --> 47:57.111 will deploy and will us pilots be 47:57.111 --> 47:59.333 engaged in targeting Houthi projectiles 47:59.333 --> 48:01.380 or potentially launch sites inside 48:01.380 --> 48:03.269 Yemen ? Thanks . I don't have the 48:03.269 --> 48:05.380 specific unit right now . I think you 48:05.380 --> 48:07.602 know like like all things we have to we 48:07.602 --> 48:09.769 we when we get a request like this and 48:09.769 --> 48:11.991 we will work it out . We source it just 48:11.991 --> 48:14.213 like we've been talking about this with 48:14.213 --> 48:14.190 these europe moves . There was a 48:14.190 --> 48:16.134 discussion with Romania about what 48:16.134 --> 48:18.301 their capabilities were and we sourced 48:18.301 --> 48:20.468 it with the striker squadron from from 48:20.468 --> 48:22.634 Germany . So I don't have specifics on 48:22.634 --> 48:24.857 units today and I'm certainly not going 48:24.857 --> 48:26.857 to get into specific R . O . E . Or 48:26.857 --> 48:29.023 operations there . They're going to to 48:29.023 --> 48:31.246 demonstrate to first of all demonstrate 48:31.246 --> 48:33.412 our commitment to our Emirati partners 48:33.412 --> 48:35.690 but also to be prepared to deal with 48:35.690 --> 48:37.468 very real threats that that the 48:37.468 --> 48:39.634 emiratis are under . And quite frankly 48:39.634 --> 48:41.746 it's not just the emiratis , it's our 48:41.746 --> 48:43.690 people there at all to offer to so 48:43.690 --> 48:43.130 we're gonna do what we need to do to 48:43.130 --> 48:46.260 protect our troops and our and our 48:46.260 --> 48:49.880 partners . Um and you can um I think 48:49.880 --> 48:52.047 I'll just leave it at that rather than 48:52.047 --> 48:53.936 get into hypotheticals about what 48:53.936 --> 48:56.047 they'll be doing . Okay . Thanks very 48:56.047 --> 48:55.500 much everybody