1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:31,210 --> 00:00:33,432 Good afternoon , ladies and gentlemen , 3 00:00:33,432 --> 00:00:35,377 thank you very much for being here 4 00:00:35,377 --> 00:00:37,670 today . It is my pleasure to introduce 5 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:39,902 Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin , the 6 00:00:39,902 --> 00:00:41,791 third Secretary will deliver some 7 00:00:41,791 --> 00:00:43,791 opening remarks and then we'll have 8 00:00:43,791 --> 00:00:45,958 time for a few questions . I will call 9 00:00:45,958 --> 00:00:48,069 on those journalists and we'll ask to 10 00:00:48,069 --> 00:00:50,236 limit any follow up since we do have a 11 00:00:50,236 --> 00:00:52,402 limited amount of time available today 12 00:00:52,402 --> 00:00:54,569 with that over to you . Mr Secretary , 13 00:00:54,569 --> 00:00:56,710 thanks Good afternoon everyone . It's 14 00:00:56,710 --> 00:00:59,430 great to be back at NATO and let me 15 00:00:59,430 --> 00:01:03,010 thank Secretary General Stoltenberg for 16 00:01:03,010 --> 00:01:05,730 hosting all of us this week . And for 17 00:01:05,730 --> 00:01:07,720 his steadfast leadership of this 18 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:10,540 alliance . Today was our first meeting 19 00:01:10,540 --> 00:01:12,770 at the ministerial level since the 20 00:01:12,770 --> 00:01:16,390 historic Madrid summit in june and it's 21 00:01:16,390 --> 00:01:19,420 been a very productive day . President 22 00:01:19,420 --> 00:01:21,880 biden's newly released national 23 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:24,720 security strategy underscores the 24 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:27,900 profound importance of NATO and working 25 00:01:27,900 --> 00:01:30,830 with like minded allies and partners to 26 00:01:30,830 --> 00:01:34,360 magnify our strength and bolster our 27 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,030 shared security . You know , it's 28 00:01:37,030 --> 00:01:39,780 always great to get to spend time with 29 00:01:39,780 --> 00:01:42,860 our outstanding allies and that's 30 00:01:42,860 --> 00:01:46,590 especially true at moments of challenge 31 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:49,584 for more than seven decades . This 32 00:01:49,584 --> 00:01:52,570 great alliance has made all of our 33 00:01:52,570 --> 00:01:55,430 proud , proud democracies , both 34 00:01:55,430 --> 00:01:58,970 stronger and safer in the place of 35 00:01:58,970 --> 00:02:01,560 europe's largest security crisis since 36 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:04,990 World war two , NATO stands more 37 00:02:04,990 --> 00:02:08,710 unified and more resolute than ever . 38 00:02:10,020 --> 00:02:12,131 I think some of you have heard me say 39 00:02:12,131 --> 00:02:14,730 before that I actually started working 40 00:02:14,730 --> 00:02:18,460 with NATO back in 1975 as a young 41 00:02:18,460 --> 00:02:21,600 lieutenant and I have never seen it 42 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:25,840 so united today . This proud 43 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,160 alliance of free country stands 44 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:31,390 together to condemn Russia's illegal 45 00:02:31,390 --> 00:02:33,990 and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine . 46 00:02:35,130 --> 00:02:37,019 You know , Putin thought he could 47 00:02:37,019 --> 00:02:39,186 easily conquer his peaceful neighbor . 48 00:02:39,740 --> 00:02:43,210 Yet the Kremlin's war of choice is now 49 00:02:43,210 --> 00:02:44,390 in its eighth month 50 00:02:46,570 --> 00:02:50,380 Putin's mobilization effort , His 51 00:02:50,380 --> 00:02:53,950 bellicose rhetoric , his cruel attacks 52 00:02:53,950 --> 00:02:56,920 on civilian targets and his hollow 53 00:02:56,920 --> 00:02:59,980 attempt to annex Ukrainian territory . 54 00:02:59,980 --> 00:03:02,980 All show how Ukraine's courage and 55 00:03:02,980 --> 00:03:06,680 skill have disrupted Russia's hope for 56 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:09,020 a quick war of conquest . 57 00:03:10,380 --> 00:03:13,160 NATO continues to make clear that we 58 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:15,490 will not be dragged into Russia's war 59 00:03:15,490 --> 00:03:19,120 of choice . But we will stand by 60 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:21,760 Ukraine as it fights to defend itself 61 00:03:22,590 --> 00:03:25,490 and we will continue to strengthen 62 00:03:25,500 --> 00:03:29,100 NATO's collective defense . NATO has 63 00:03:29,100 --> 00:03:32,520 responded robustly and decisively to 64 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:36,210 Russia's imperial invasion . In our 65 00:03:36,210 --> 00:03:39,140 determination to protect every inch of 66 00:03:39,140 --> 00:03:42,110 NATO territory is unwavering . 67 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:45,862 Allies have placed tens of thousands of 68 00:03:45,870 --> 00:03:48,700 troops under direct NATO command along 69 00:03:48,700 --> 00:03:51,110 with significant air and naval assets . 70 00:03:51,820 --> 00:03:53,876 And I'm deeply proud of the progress 71 00:03:53,876 --> 00:03:55,876 that we've made in the past several 72 00:03:55,876 --> 00:03:57,910 months to protect all allies from 73 00:03:57,910 --> 00:04:01,020 Russian aggression . Today we discussed 74 00:04:01,020 --> 00:04:03,110 the work that we've done since the 75 00:04:03,110 --> 00:04:06,220 recent NATO summit and I know that we 76 00:04:06,220 --> 00:04:08,890 are laser focus on implementing the 77 00:04:08,890 --> 00:04:10,779 decisions taken by our leaders in 78 00:04:10,779 --> 00:04:13,920 Madrid . We discussed additional steps 79 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:15,642 that the alliance is taking to 80 00:04:15,642 --> 00:04:18,680 strengthen our collective defense and 81 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:20,236 we had frank and productive 82 00:04:20,236 --> 00:04:22,430 conversations about how Russia's 83 00:04:22,430 --> 00:04:24,940 invasion of Ukraine affects allied 84 00:04:24,940 --> 00:04:28,070 security . We discussed our efforts to 85 00:04:28,070 --> 00:04:30,210 address the critical issue of 86 00:04:30,220 --> 00:04:32,600 ammunition stockpiles and defense 87 00:04:32,610 --> 00:04:36,190 industrial capacity and I'm confident 88 00:04:36,190 --> 00:04:38,720 that our work here will help ensure 89 00:04:38,730 --> 00:04:40,619 that our allies maintain credible 90 00:04:40,619 --> 00:04:42,800 deterrence and defense while we 91 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:46,610 continue our steadfast support 92 00:04:46,620 --> 00:04:48,890 of the brave citizens of Ukraine 93 00:04:51,110 --> 00:04:53,820 and we all know that we all share the 94 00:04:53,820 --> 00:04:57,030 responsibility to procure , prepare and 95 00:04:57,030 --> 00:04:59,630 provide ready capabilities and forces 96 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:02,320 to prepare this alliance for challenges 97 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:05,700 to come . Now . We were joined today by 98 00:05:05,710 --> 00:05:08,610 Finland and Sweden , two proud 99 00:05:08,610 --> 00:05:10,721 democracies that are close to joining 100 00:05:10,721 --> 00:05:13,470 NATO . Their decision to apply for 101 00:05:13,470 --> 00:05:17,100 membership is an historic step . It 102 00:05:17,100 --> 00:05:19,640 reflects the power of NATO's core 103 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:22,620 democratic values and NATO's critical 104 00:05:22,620 --> 00:05:25,270 role in upholding the rules based 105 00:05:25,280 --> 00:05:27,660 international order and their 106 00:05:27,660 --> 00:05:29,980 membership will greatly enhance the 107 00:05:29,980 --> 00:05:32,460 alliance's capabilities and strengths . 108 00:05:33,030 --> 00:05:35,650 So I encourage all of our valued allies 109 00:05:35,650 --> 00:05:38,930 to ratify the protocols for accession 110 00:05:38,940 --> 00:05:41,420 as soon as possible so that we can 111 00:05:41,420 --> 00:05:43,850 welcome both of these highly capable 112 00:05:43,860 --> 00:05:46,670 democratic partners into the alliance . 113 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:51,070 Let me say again . NATO poses no threat 114 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:54,470 to Russia and seeks no confrontation 115 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:57,190 with Russia . But our defensive 116 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:00,620 alliance will , as it always has 117 00:06:00,630 --> 00:06:03,600 protect every inch of NATO territory . 118 00:06:04,710 --> 00:06:07,220 NATO's preeminent task has not changed 119 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:09,680 to defend each and every ally 120 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:12,110 sovereignty and territorial integrity 121 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:14,830 and America remains profoundly 122 00:06:14,830 --> 00:06:18,370 committed to that task And to our NATO 123 00:06:18,370 --> 00:06:21,530 allies and to Article five , 124 00:06:22,850 --> 00:06:25,017 I want to thank you all for being here 125 00:06:25,017 --> 00:06:27,239 today and with that I'm happy to take a 126 00:06:27,239 --> 00:06:29,517 few questions . Thank you Mr Secretary . 127 00:06:29,517 --> 00:06:31,461 Our first question will go to Phil 128 00:06:31,461 --> 00:06:32,739 Stewart from Reuters . 129 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:40,780 Thank you . Um so a senior NATO 130 00:06:40,780 --> 00:06:42,720 official said on Wednesday , that 131 00:06:42,730 --> 00:06:44,897 Russia that the Russian nuclear strike 132 00:06:44,897 --> 00:06:47,170 on Ukraine would potentially provoke a 133 00:06:47,170 --> 00:06:49,380 physical response . Those quotes , 134 00:06:49,390 --> 00:06:52,190 physical response from NATO itself . Um 135 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:54,790 Are the U . S . And its allies prepared 136 00:06:54,790 --> 00:06:56,679 to potentially respond with force 137 00:06:56,805 --> 00:06:58,638 against Russia ? Should it use a 138 00:06:58,638 --> 00:07:00,885 nuclear weapon in Ukraine ? And how did 139 00:07:00,885 --> 00:07:02,941 Russia's threats of a nuclear strike 140 00:07:02,941 --> 00:07:04,941 factor in today's meeting of NATO's 141 00:07:04,941 --> 00:07:07,163 nuclear planning group ? Did NATO agree 142 00:07:07,163 --> 00:07:09,975 to any changes to its nuclear policy or 143 00:07:09,975 --> 00:07:11,753 planning as a result ? Thanks . 144 00:07:16,010 --> 00:07:19,500 In terms of what we're planning for 145 00:07:19,510 --> 00:07:23,180 any potential uh event that could 146 00:07:23,180 --> 00:07:25,470 happen Phil , you know , I never 147 00:07:25,470 --> 00:07:29,390 speculate on on on what could could 148 00:07:29,390 --> 00:07:33,120 happen . And so I won't I won't bother 149 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:35,064 to walk down the road of trying to 150 00:07:35,064 --> 00:07:38,630 answer a hypothetical question , but uh 151 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:40,529 but it is the business of NATO to 152 00:07:40,529 --> 00:07:43,660 ensure that we have the ability to 153 00:07:43,660 --> 00:07:46,890 defend NATO . Uh and so that is the 154 00:07:46,900 --> 00:07:49,520 topic that we always discuss whenever 155 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:51,409 we meet , we're always looking to 156 00:07:51,409 --> 00:07:53,076 ensure that we have the right 157 00:07:53,076 --> 00:07:56,850 capabilities uh and uh in place to not 158 00:07:56,850 --> 00:08:00,100 only uh defend NATO , but also to 159 00:08:00,110 --> 00:08:02,840 sustain our efforts going forward . In 160 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:05,710 terms of Russia's comments , uh you've 161 00:08:05,710 --> 00:08:08,200 heard me say a number of times and also 162 00:08:08,210 --> 00:08:11,970 our leadership say that 163 00:08:11,980 --> 00:08:15,850 irresponsible and reckless rhetoric 164 00:08:15,860 --> 00:08:18,340 is dangerous . And so as we've 165 00:08:18,340 --> 00:08:21,560 witnessed nuclear saber rattling , we 166 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:23,671 don't think that's very helpful . And 167 00:08:23,671 --> 00:08:27,050 again it's it's dangerous uh NATO again 168 00:08:27,050 --> 00:08:29,610 does not pose any threat to Russia , 169 00:08:29,620 --> 00:08:33,150 this is Russia's war of choice . Uh and 170 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:35,271 as we look at things and as I look at 171 00:08:35,271 --> 00:08:37,600 indications and warnings , uh I don't 172 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:40,430 see any need to make any changes to 173 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:42,551 what we're doing right now . But this 174 00:08:42,551 --> 00:08:44,496 is the thing , as you heard me say 175 00:08:44,496 --> 00:08:46,440 yesterday that we're focused on 24 176 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:50,220 hours a day , seven days a week . So 177 00:08:50,230 --> 00:08:52,397 if there is a need to make changes and 178 00:08:52,397 --> 00:08:54,397 we will certainly do that , I would 179 00:08:54,397 --> 00:08:56,563 also say that one change that could be 180 00:08:56,563 --> 00:08:59,210 made today is that Russia could choose 181 00:08:59,210 --> 00:09:01,720 to deescalate and could choose to end 182 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,890 this war because Putin started this war 183 00:09:04,890 --> 00:09:07,690 by as a matter of choice . Uh and he 184 00:09:07,690 --> 00:09:10,100 has uh he has a certainly has a choice 185 00:09:10,100 --> 00:09:13,550 to that he could make to uh to cease 186 00:09:13,560 --> 00:09:16,210 his aggressive behavior and redeploy 187 00:09:16,210 --> 00:09:18,490 his forces from the sovereign territory 188 00:09:18,490 --> 00:09:21,330 of Ukraine . Thank you sir . Next 189 00:09:21,330 --> 00:09:23,830 question will go to lily bear politico . 190 00:09:23,830 --> 00:09:27,740 Eu thank you very 191 00:09:27,740 --> 00:09:29,962 much . I have two brief questions . The 192 00:09:29,962 --> 00:09:31,962 first is there has been a big focus 193 00:09:31,962 --> 00:09:33,796 over the past days on ramping up 194 00:09:33,796 --> 00:09:35,950 production of weapons . But are you 195 00:09:35,950 --> 00:09:38,320 also asking your european partners to 196 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:40,500 raise long term defense spending 197 00:09:40,500 --> 00:09:42,556 targets ? And the second question is 198 00:09:42,556 --> 00:09:44,611 when it comes to air defense systems 199 00:09:44,611 --> 00:09:47,020 for Ukraine , when can we expect new 200 00:09:47,020 --> 00:09:49,060 systems designated for Ukraine to 201 00:09:49,070 --> 00:09:51,510 actually be delivered and be fully 202 00:09:51,510 --> 00:09:55,060 operational ? Thank you . In terms of 203 00:09:55,060 --> 00:09:57,680 new systems that are being uh that we 204 00:09:57,680 --> 00:10:00,270 are focused on providing as you know , 205 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:03,590 we were providing systems that can meet 206 00:10:03,590 --> 00:10:07,190 the immediate immediate needs were also 207 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:09,570 procuring systems that will take longer 208 00:10:09,570 --> 00:10:13,390 to uh to produce and introduced 209 00:10:13,390 --> 00:10:15,890 into the into the theater ? Some of 210 00:10:15,890 --> 00:10:17,779 these systems could take weeks or 211 00:10:17,779 --> 00:10:20,001 months . Other systems may take years . 212 00:10:20,001 --> 00:10:22,970 For example , you heard us mention a 213 00:10:22,980 --> 00:10:24,990 couple of days ago that we're gonna 214 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:27,290 provide Ukraine with 18 additional high 215 00:10:27,290 --> 00:10:30,080 mars will purchase , we purchase those 216 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:32,240 high MArs but it'll be a couple of 217 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:34,518 years before they're actually produced . 218 00:10:34,518 --> 00:10:36,573 And introduced in the meantime we've 219 00:10:36,573 --> 00:10:39,030 provided four high MARS systems that 220 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:40,970 can be that will be introduced 221 00:10:40,980 --> 00:10:42,980 immediately and that will give them 222 00:10:42,980 --> 00:10:45,202 additional capability to the one to the 223 00:10:45,202 --> 00:10:47,424 capabilities that they have right now . 224 00:10:47,424 --> 00:10:49,591 And by the way they've been using that 225 00:10:49,591 --> 00:10:51,702 capability very very effectively . Um 226 00:10:51,702 --> 00:10:53,702 and the first part of your question 227 00:10:53,702 --> 00:10:53,480 again was 228 00:10:53,490 --> 00:10:58,290 yeah 229 00:10:58,300 --> 00:11:01,580 you've heard us uh say that uh , you 230 00:11:01,580 --> 00:11:05,130 know 2% of uh other 231 00:11:05,140 --> 00:11:07,970 uh good card 232 00:11:08,570 --> 00:11:12,540 GDP thank you is is what we would 233 00:11:12,540 --> 00:11:16,010 expect that they would invest . Uh but 234 00:11:16,020 --> 00:11:18,370 as we see things develop we would 235 00:11:18,370 --> 00:11:21,340 encourage countries to go above that 2% 236 00:11:21,350 --> 00:11:24,040 because uh we're gonna have to invest 237 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:27,870 more in expanding uh industrial bases 238 00:11:27,870 --> 00:11:29,814 and and and making sure that we're 239 00:11:29,814 --> 00:11:32,110 doing the right things to replace those 240 00:11:32,110 --> 00:11:34,221 things that some of those things that 241 00:11:34,221 --> 00:11:36,400 we provided to Ukraine . Thank you . 242 00:11:36,410 --> 00:11:38,330 Our next question will go to Liz 243 00:11:38,330 --> 00:11:39,520 frieden Fox 244 00:11:42,500 --> 00:11:45,800 Secretary Austin today referring to the 245 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:47,967 U . S . National security strategy you 246 00:11:47,967 --> 00:11:49,967 called China the most consequential 247 00:11:49,967 --> 00:11:52,580 challenge the U . S . Is facing . Um 248 00:11:52,590 --> 00:11:54,820 it's china's a priority for the U . S . 249 00:11:54,830 --> 00:11:57,440 Is it a priority for NATO ? And if so 250 00:11:57,450 --> 00:11:59,672 how is NATO going to respond to china's 251 00:11:59,672 --> 00:12:03,480 rise ? Yeah . So you have 252 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:06,070 heard me talk about or describe china 253 00:12:06,650 --> 00:12:09,720 as a as a pacing challenge and we've 254 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:11,553 described I've described it as a 255 00:12:11,553 --> 00:12:13,664 challenge . You also see it addressed 256 00:12:13,664 --> 00:12:15,887 in our newly released national security 257 00:12:15,887 --> 00:12:17,942 strategy . And I think you heard the 258 00:12:17,942 --> 00:12:20,164 National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan 259 00:12:20,164 --> 00:12:23,480 talk about this most recently again uh 260 00:12:23,490 --> 00:12:27,390 China has uh the economy it has uh has 261 00:12:27,390 --> 00:12:30,740 invested in technology . Uh It has uh 262 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,890 you know the military capability to 263 00:12:33,900 --> 00:12:36,720 challenge the status quo in a number of 264 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:39,110 places . And so we see that as a longer 265 00:12:39,110 --> 00:12:41,080 term challenge . You know china is 266 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,420 addressed in our our 267 00:12:44,430 --> 00:12:47,220 strategic strategic concepts uh 268 00:12:47,230 --> 00:12:50,670 document in NATO . So uh 269 00:12:50,680 --> 00:12:53,730 certainly that's the thing that uh NATO 270 00:12:53,730 --> 00:12:57,380 countries have uh have been focused 271 00:12:57,380 --> 00:13:00,140 on of course the most pressing issue 272 00:13:00,140 --> 00:13:02,440 right now is Russia And as it has 273 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:06,190 invaded uh Ukraine . But but certainly 274 00:13:06,190 --> 00:13:09,020 china is the thing that uh that we the 275 00:13:09,020 --> 00:13:11,187 United States of America will focus on 276 00:13:11,187 --> 00:13:13,242 as we even as we deal with the tough 277 00:13:13,242 --> 00:13:15,310 very tough problem that Russia has 278 00:13:15,310 --> 00:13:17,350 presented us with and presented the 279 00:13:17,350 --> 00:13:20,550 alliance with uh and again china is 280 00:13:20,550 --> 00:13:22,940 addressed in the strategic concepts 281 00:13:22,940 --> 00:13:26,920 document for NATO . 282 00:13:26,930 --> 00:13:30,390 Is there a chance that you said hi mars 283 00:13:30,390 --> 00:13:32,446 some of them could take years to get 284 00:13:32,446 --> 00:13:34,446 into Ukraine . Uh Could it become a 285 00:13:34,446 --> 00:13:38,070 forever war in Ukraine ? Well , I 286 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:41,120 certainly uh won't speculate on how 287 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:43,009 long the war is going to last and 288 00:13:43,009 --> 00:13:44,842 certainly we don't want to see a 289 00:13:44,842 --> 00:13:47,340 forever war is working in today . As 290 00:13:47,340 --> 00:13:49,229 you heard me say earlier , it's a 291 00:13:49,229 --> 00:13:51,830 choice of one man Putin . And so I 292 00:13:51,830 --> 00:13:54,460 would call upon him to change his 293 00:13:54,460 --> 00:13:57,650 decision uh and cease what he's done to 294 00:13:57,660 --> 00:14:01,420 terrorize uh and uh and murder innocent 295 00:14:01,420 --> 00:14:04,380 civilians . So thank you sir . Our next 296 00:14:04,380 --> 00:14:06,436 question . Final question will go to 297 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:08,750 Marenco from Kiev Independent . 298 00:14:10,990 --> 00:14:13,260 Mr Secretary , what is the reason 299 00:14:13,260 --> 00:14:15,093 behind the U . S . Not providing 300 00:14:15,093 --> 00:14:17,970 Ukraine with artillery pieces like M . 301 00:14:17,980 --> 00:14:21,890 1 98 ? Uh They are pretty old 302 00:14:21,900 --> 00:14:24,280 but still their goods not as more than 303 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:28,150 as one M . Three . Um Table seven 304 00:14:28,570 --> 00:14:30,737 but there are more than their good and 305 00:14:30,737 --> 00:14:32,737 there's so many of them and they're 306 00:14:32,737 --> 00:14:34,903 going out the operation of the U . S . 307 00:14:34,903 --> 00:14:36,903 Armed forces . So why not unfolding 308 00:14:36,903 --> 00:14:38,903 them while Ukraine is asking for as 309 00:14:38,903 --> 00:14:41,126 many artillery pieces as possible . And 310 00:14:41,126 --> 00:14:43,014 the quantity also matters for its 311 00:14:43,014 --> 00:14:45,237 growing military . So why not unfolding 312 00:14:45,237 --> 00:14:47,237 them too . Great question . I think 313 00:14:47,237 --> 00:14:49,181 you're testing my knowledge of our 314 00:14:49,181 --> 00:14:52,190 tactical systems here . Right , Okay . 315 00:14:52,190 --> 00:14:54,523 You may be aware of the fact that the M . 316 00:14:54,523 --> 00:14:57,910 Triple seven is a is a superior weapon 317 00:14:57,910 --> 00:15:01,330 system in terms of its ability to fire 318 00:15:01,340 --> 00:15:04,670 long at longer ranges and it is a very 319 00:15:04,670 --> 00:15:07,550 accurate weapons systems . And the 320 00:15:07,550 --> 00:15:10,750 Ukrainians have have been very happy 321 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:12,871 with that weapon system . Any effects 322 00:15:12,871 --> 00:15:14,871 that they've been able to create to 323 00:15:14,871 --> 00:15:16,871 create using it . They've also been 324 00:15:16,871 --> 00:15:19,650 provided a number of other 155 325 00:15:19,660 --> 00:15:22,130 howitzers from various countries . 326 00:15:22,140 --> 00:15:24,960 We've seen countries , a lot of NATO 327 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:27,470 countries that have won 55 capability 328 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:30,780 introduce different systems . And so 329 00:15:30,790 --> 00:15:32,860 uh you know , one of the limiting 330 00:15:32,860 --> 00:15:35,670 factors is not just the howitzer but 331 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:38,390 but it is also the the ammunition for 332 00:15:38,390 --> 00:15:41,690 that howitzer . So again , we provided 333 00:15:41,690 --> 00:15:44,340 them with with the most accurate weapon 334 00:15:44,350 --> 00:15:47,290 in the inventory and also the one that 335 00:15:47,300 --> 00:15:50,660 uh that can shoot at longer ranges . 336 00:15:50,670 --> 00:15:53,570 Our allies continue to step up to the 337 00:15:53,570 --> 00:15:55,990 plate and and deliver great capability . 338 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:59,910 Uh And and so I think the 19 or eight , 339 00:15:59,920 --> 00:16:03,630 a lot of numbers , a lot of uh A lot of 340 00:16:03,630 --> 00:16:05,852 systems in the inventory as you pointed 341 00:16:05,852 --> 00:16:07,797 out . But the Triple seven I think 342 00:16:07,797 --> 00:16:10,019 gives them more of what they need , the 343 00:16:10,019 --> 00:16:12,430 ability to shoot at a bit longer range 344 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:14,440 and and the accuracy that they that 345 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:17,970 they deserve . So um the final comment 346 00:16:17,970 --> 00:16:19,970 I would make by the way is that our 347 00:16:19,970 --> 00:16:22,740 allies , uh you know , we met yesterday 348 00:16:22,740 --> 00:16:26,240 in the Ukraine uh defense contact group 349 00:16:26,250 --> 00:16:29,200 and we encouraged our allies to provide 350 00:16:29,210 --> 00:16:32,700 um as much of what Ukraine said that it 351 00:16:32,710 --> 00:16:35,910 urgently needed as quickly as possible . 352 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:38,760 Uh and what it described what the 353 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:40,871 leadership described that they needed 354 00:16:40,871 --> 00:16:44,120 yesterday , uh most was 355 00:16:44,780 --> 00:16:47,100 air defense capability . So you've 356 00:16:47,100 --> 00:16:49,156 heard the United States say that you 357 00:16:49,156 --> 00:16:51,730 know , we're gonna provide nay Sams , 358 00:16:51,740 --> 00:16:54,330 you heard us say yesterday that Germany 359 00:16:54,330 --> 00:16:56,690 is providing an irish T system and 360 00:16:56,690 --> 00:16:59,360 that's being moved in as we speak . Uh 361 00:16:59,370 --> 00:17:02,760 And just today , one of our allies uh 362 00:17:02,770 --> 00:17:04,881 came back one day later and said that 363 00:17:04,881 --> 00:17:07,103 they were gonna push in additional hawk 364 00:17:07,103 --> 00:17:09,920 systems which uh which the uh 365 00:17:09,930 --> 00:17:12,770 Ukrainians had asked for . So we thank 366 00:17:12,770 --> 00:17:15,660 Spain for its uh it's very very rapid 367 00:17:15,670 --> 00:17:18,250 response . We would encourage the rest 368 00:17:18,250 --> 00:17:22,160 of our allies uh to uh to dig deep and 369 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:24,382 uh and provide additional capability as 370 00:17:24,382 --> 00:17:26,438 well . And I feel confident that our 371 00:17:26,438 --> 00:17:28,438 allies would do that . So thank you 372 00:17:28,438 --> 00:17:30,604 very much . Thank you . Mr Secretary , 373 00:17:30,604 --> 00:17:30,540 ladies and gentlemen , that is all the 374 00:17:30,540 --> 00:17:32,540 time we have available today . This 375 00:17:32,540 --> 00:17:34,596 concludes our press briefing . Thank 376 00:17:34,596 --> 00:17:34,070 you .