1 00:00:00,210 --> 00:00:04,030 Good afternoon everybody , just a few 2 00:00:04,030 --> 00:00:06,197 things and then I'll go ahead and take 3 00:00:06,197 --> 00:00:08,370 your questions . So today Secretary 4 00:00:08,370 --> 00:00:10,570 Austin participated in the US Africa 5 00:00:10,570 --> 00:00:12,800 Leaders summit along with Secretary of 6 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:15,440 State antony Blinken and other U . S . 7 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:17,551 Government leaders . The summit which 8 00:00:17,551 --> 00:00:19,551 runs december 13 through 15 here in 9 00:00:19,551 --> 00:00:21,662 Washington D . C . Brings together US 10 00:00:21,662 --> 00:00:23,884 and African senior leaders and provides 11 00:00:23,884 --> 00:00:25,773 an opportunity to convene African 12 00:00:25,773 --> 00:00:28,130 governments , civil society , diaspora 13 00:00:28,130 --> 00:00:30,074 communities from across the United 14 00:00:30,074 --> 00:00:31,908 States and the private sector in 15 00:00:31,908 --> 00:00:33,852 pursuit of a shared vision for the 16 00:00:33,852 --> 00:00:36,100 future of US Africa relations on the 17 00:00:36,100 --> 00:00:37,989 margins of the summit , Secretary 18 00:00:37,989 --> 00:00:39,820 Austin also participated in a 19 00:00:39,820 --> 00:00:42,042 multilateral meeting with the President 20 00:00:42,042 --> 00:00:44,260 of Somalia , Djibouti and as well as a 21 00:00:44,260 --> 00:00:46,482 bilateral meeting with the president of 22 00:00:46,482 --> 00:00:48,649 Angola to discuss security development 23 00:00:48,649 --> 00:00:50,880 cooperation and deepening our US Angola 24 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:53,640 partnerships . In addition , Secretary 25 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:55,473 Austin also co chaired the peace 26 00:00:55,473 --> 00:00:57,473 security and governance forum today 27 00:00:57,473 --> 00:00:59,473 with Secretary of State Blinken and 28 00:00:59,473 --> 00:01:01,418 Administrator of the United States 29 00:01:01,418 --> 00:01:03,473 Agency for International Development 30 00:01:03,473 --> 00:01:05,362 Samantha Power . Security related 31 00:01:05,362 --> 00:01:07,084 challenges in Africa are often 32 00:01:07,084 --> 00:01:09,020 multifaceted and rooted in weak 33 00:01:09,030 --> 00:01:11,460 governance solutions require across 34 00:01:11,460 --> 00:01:13,238 government and interministerial 35 00:01:13,238 --> 00:01:15,404 collaboration and community engagement 36 00:01:15,404 --> 00:01:18,030 and Integration . Secretary Austin 37 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:19,762 along with Secretary Blinken , 38 00:01:19,762 --> 00:01:21,707 administer and administrator power 39 00:01:21,707 --> 00:01:24,040 appreciated the opportunity to discuss 40 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:26,910 these critical issues with and learn 41 00:01:26,910 --> 00:01:28,966 from leaders from across the African 42 00:01:28,966 --> 00:01:31,360 continent , collaboration with African 43 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:33,460 nations institutions and peoples is 44 00:01:33,460 --> 00:01:35,682 essential to the US approach to working 45 00:01:35,682 --> 00:01:37,793 with partners to promote stability in 46 00:01:37,793 --> 00:01:39,990 Africa separately , Secretary Austin 47 00:01:39,990 --> 00:01:41,934 will host Egyptian President Abdel 48 00:01:41,934 --> 00:01:44,157 fattah el Sisi at the pentagon tomorrow 49 00:01:44,157 --> 00:01:45,768 to discuss regional security 50 00:01:45,768 --> 00:01:47,601 cooperation and read out of that 51 00:01:47,601 --> 00:01:49,657 engagement will be forthcoming . And 52 00:01:49,657 --> 00:01:51,712 finally the department would like to 53 00:01:51,712 --> 00:01:53,823 wish our National Guard a happy 386th 54 00:01:53,823 --> 00:01:57,230 birthday on this date in 16 36 the 55 00:01:57,230 --> 00:01:59,063 first militia regiments in north 56 00:01:59,063 --> 00:02:01,286 America were organized in massachusetts 57 00:02:01,286 --> 00:02:03,452 to better defend the massachusetts bay 58 00:02:03,452 --> 00:02:05,619 colony today . Our incredible National 59 00:02:05,619 --> 00:02:07,508 Guard Service members , Servin 50 60 00:02:07,508 --> 00:02:09,452 states , three territories and the 61 00:02:09,452 --> 00:02:11,619 District of Columbia conducting a full 62 00:02:11,619 --> 00:02:13,786 range of operations at home and abroad 63 00:02:13,786 --> 00:02:16,008 in defense of our nation , truly living 64 00:02:16,008 --> 00:02:17,952 up to their motto , always ready , 65 00:02:17,952 --> 00:02:19,952 always there . And with that I will 66 00:02:19,952 --> 00:02:22,286 take your questions will start with a P . 67 00:02:22,286 --> 00:02:24,397 Tara had um several U . S . Officials 68 00:02:24,397 --> 00:02:27,140 have confirmed that the U . S . Intends 69 00:02:27,140 --> 00:02:30,210 to send patriot missile defense systems 70 00:02:30,210 --> 00:02:33,330 to Ukraine . Can you confirm this ? And 71 00:02:33,510 --> 00:02:35,788 as part of this , would there be U . S . 72 00:02:35,788 --> 00:02:38,010 Troops providing training in Germany or 73 00:02:38,010 --> 00:02:39,954 in other nearby locations ? Yeah , 74 00:02:39,954 --> 00:02:42,010 thanks for the question . So I don't 75 00:02:42,010 --> 00:02:44,066 have anything to announce today . As 76 00:02:44,066 --> 00:02:46,288 we've discussed before . We do maintain 77 00:02:46,288 --> 00:02:48,343 a robust dialogue with our Ukrainian 78 00:02:48,343 --> 00:02:50,177 partners with our allies and our 79 00:02:50,177 --> 00:02:52,177 international partners on Ukraine's 80 00:02:52,177 --> 00:02:54,232 security assistance needs to include 81 00:02:54,232 --> 00:02:56,399 battlefield capabilities that they may 82 00:02:56,399 --> 00:02:59,740 need as well as air defense . And so 83 00:02:59,750 --> 00:03:02,970 um in light of Russia's cruel and 84 00:03:02,970 --> 00:03:05,192 continued heavy bombardment of innocent 85 00:03:05,192 --> 00:03:07,303 civilians and civilian infrastructure 86 00:03:07,303 --> 00:03:09,470 in Ukraine will continue to have those 87 00:03:09,470 --> 00:03:12,220 discussions uh and look at capabilities 88 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:14,329 that they'll need to defend their 89 00:03:14,329 --> 00:03:16,384 territory . But again , I don't have 90 00:03:16,384 --> 00:03:18,718 anything to announce today are patriots . 91 00:03:18,718 --> 00:03:20,662 One of the systems that are in the 92 00:03:20,662 --> 00:03:22,662 realm of possibility because of the 93 00:03:22,662 --> 00:03:24,773 intensified attacks by Russia . So as 94 00:03:24,773 --> 00:03:27,540 always we will look at a full spectrum 95 00:03:27,540 --> 00:03:30,390 of security assistance and defensive 96 00:03:30,390 --> 00:03:32,557 capabilities that are available within 97 00:03:32,557 --> 00:03:34,779 our common inventories when we consider 98 00:03:34,779 --> 00:03:37,540 Ukraine's needs . And so when and if we 99 00:03:37,540 --> 00:03:39,318 have something to announce will 100 00:03:39,318 --> 00:03:41,540 certainly do that . Let me go ahead and 101 00:03:41,540 --> 00:03:43,262 go to jennifer . I'm trying to 102 00:03:43,262 --> 00:03:45,207 understand what the issue with the 103 00:03:45,207 --> 00:03:47,620 patriots has been up until now because 104 00:03:47,630 --> 00:03:49,519 it's not new that Russia has been 105 00:03:49,519 --> 00:03:52,810 striking um civilian targets and 106 00:03:52,810 --> 00:03:54,977 they've wanted air defense . We're now 107 00:03:54,977 --> 00:03:57,440 into the 10th , 11th month . Is the 108 00:03:57,450 --> 00:03:59,330 issue that you need to alter the 109 00:03:59,330 --> 00:04:01,274 patriots . Are you concerned about 110 00:04:01,274 --> 00:04:03,608 technology falling into the wrong hands ? 111 00:04:03,608 --> 00:04:05,719 What is the issue with the patriots ? 112 00:04:05,719 --> 00:04:07,552 Again , I don't have anything to 113 00:04:07,552 --> 00:04:09,774 announce today , jennifer in regards to 114 00:04:09,774 --> 00:04:11,886 any new air defense capabilities that 115 00:04:11,886 --> 00:04:13,774 we may or may not be providing to 116 00:04:13,774 --> 00:04:15,997 Ukraine . But when you send patriots to 117 00:04:15,997 --> 00:04:18,108 other countries , do you alter them ? 118 00:04:18,108 --> 00:04:20,219 Are they changed technologically ? So 119 00:04:20,219 --> 00:04:22,820 that uh is it a different version than 120 00:04:22,820 --> 00:04:25,910 what the US has or sense to NATO ? So 121 00:04:25,910 --> 00:04:28,400 broadly speaking ? And any of our 122 00:04:28,410 --> 00:04:30,450 defense relationships and security 123 00:04:30,450 --> 00:04:32,506 cooperation relationships with other 124 00:04:32,506 --> 00:04:34,672 countries as a variety of factors that 125 00:04:34,672 --> 00:04:36,850 go into consideration as you know , uh 126 00:04:36,860 --> 00:04:38,804 through the foreign military sales 127 00:04:38,804 --> 00:04:40,804 process that goes through the State 128 00:04:40,804 --> 00:04:42,971 Department uh as a matter of operation 129 00:04:42,971 --> 00:04:44,749 security , we don't discuss the 130 00:04:44,749 --> 00:04:46,471 specifics when it comes to the 131 00:04:46,471 --> 00:04:49,000 schematics or the capabilities of those 132 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:52,290 particular systems . And so like any 133 00:04:52,290 --> 00:04:54,290 other system , there's a variety of 134 00:04:54,290 --> 00:04:56,346 considerations . And can you confirm 135 00:04:56,346 --> 00:04:58,690 that the U . S . Plans to send troops 136 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:01,800 to Ukraine to track the weapons that 137 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:03,856 have already been sent ? There was a 138 00:05:03,856 --> 00:05:06,100 report yesterday . So I did see the 139 00:05:06,110 --> 00:05:08,930 article that you're referring to as you 140 00:05:08,930 --> 00:05:12,020 know , back in May when conditions 141 00:05:12,020 --> 00:05:14,700 permitted . We reopened the Office of 142 00:05:14,700 --> 00:05:16,860 Defense Cooperation in the office of 143 00:05:16,860 --> 00:05:19,660 the Defense attache at the embassy . As 144 00:05:19,660 --> 00:05:22,070 we've mentioned before that team there , 145 00:05:22,070 --> 00:05:25,180 the defense attache office maintains a 146 00:05:25,180 --> 00:05:28,330 small team that do conduct 147 00:05:28,340 --> 00:05:30,880 inspections in terms of capabilities 148 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:34,270 that we are providing to Ukraine . Uh 149 00:05:34,280 --> 00:05:36,502 in terms of the numbers associated with 150 00:05:36,502 --> 00:05:38,447 that mission . Again we're talking 151 00:05:38,447 --> 00:05:40,280 small numbers . We don't discuss 152 00:05:40,280 --> 00:05:42,810 specifics for operations , security 153 00:05:42,810 --> 00:05:44,977 reasons and force protection reasons . 154 00:05:44,977 --> 00:05:47,199 Let me go ahead and go to jane and then 155 00:05:47,199 --> 00:05:49,366 I'll come back to one . Thank you very 156 00:05:49,366 --> 00:05:51,477 much on the missile defense systems . 157 00:05:51,477 --> 00:05:54,330 South Korea has been stated 158 00:05:54,340 --> 00:05:57,670 that it has no intention to 159 00:05:57,670 --> 00:06:00,400 participate in the U . S . Missile 160 00:06:00,410 --> 00:06:03,390 defense systems . What is the U . S . 161 00:06:03,390 --> 00:06:06,050 Position on this ? Do you think that 162 00:06:06,060 --> 00:06:09,940 are okay militaries independent . This 163 00:06:09,950 --> 00:06:13,020 defense system can sufficiently 164 00:06:13,030 --> 00:06:16,260 defend against the North korean 165 00:06:16,260 --> 00:06:18,670 missiles . Yeah . Thanks Danny . So I 166 00:06:18,670 --> 00:06:21,540 don't have any comment to provide on 167 00:06:21,550 --> 00:06:24,270 any policy statements or operational 168 00:06:24,270 --> 00:06:26,720 statements that the Republic of Korea 169 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:28,942 may have made . As you know , we have a 170 00:06:28,942 --> 00:06:32,290 very deep uh security cooperation 171 00:06:32,290 --> 00:06:34,512 relationship with the Republic of Korea 172 00:06:34,512 --> 00:06:37,140 as allies in the indo pacific region 173 00:06:37,140 --> 00:06:39,210 and our focus continues to remain on 174 00:06:39,210 --> 00:06:41,830 working closely with them to ensure the 175 00:06:41,830 --> 00:06:44,400 defense of the Republic of Korea and 176 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:46,710 the broader indo pacific region , do 177 00:06:46,710 --> 00:06:49,520 you think that the reason South Korea 178 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,600 is not participating in the U . S . M . 179 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:55,730 B system is because 180 00:06:56,170 --> 00:06:59,800 china chinese pressure ? Yeah , again I 181 00:06:59,810 --> 00:07:02,032 don't have anything on that nor would I 182 00:07:02,032 --> 00:07:04,088 want to speculate on why South Korea 183 00:07:04,088 --> 00:07:06,310 maybe doing what it's doing , I'd refer 184 00:07:06,310 --> 00:07:08,254 you to them , but let me let me go 185 00:07:08,254 --> 00:07:08,220 ahead and go to or in here . Can you 186 00:07:08,220 --> 00:07:10,387 update us on the status of training at 187 00:07:10,387 --> 00:07:12,720 graphics and the training under Sag you . 188 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:14,609 Does does that remain training on 189 00:07:14,609 --> 00:07:16,831 individual systems or has that expanded 190 00:07:16,831 --> 00:07:18,942 beyond individual systems to to wider 191 00:07:18,942 --> 00:07:21,109 or larger training in any way ? Yeah . 192 00:07:21,109 --> 00:07:23,276 So so no new updates to provide on the 193 00:07:23,276 --> 00:07:25,498 on the training front ? Again , we have 194 00:07:25,498 --> 00:07:27,553 been training Ukrainians for a while 195 00:07:27,553 --> 00:07:29,820 now on the systems that we provide to 196 00:07:29,820 --> 00:07:33,100 them . Uh And so um we're constantly 197 00:07:33,100 --> 00:07:35,100 looking at ways that we can support 198 00:07:35,100 --> 00:07:37,211 Ukraine and in this case , you know , 199 00:07:37,211 --> 00:07:39,544 training is one of them . Thank you sir . 200 00:07:39,544 --> 00:07:42,770 Uh Ask you on Turkey and Syria and Iraq , 201 00:07:42,780 --> 00:07:46,430 what's the pentagon's assessment of our 202 00:07:46,430 --> 00:07:48,550 U . S . Troops still at risk due to 203 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:50,616 Turkish military activity , be it in 204 00:07:50,616 --> 00:07:54,240 Syria or Iraq ? And secondly , has d o 205 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:57,680 d been able to convince uh Turkey to 206 00:07:57,690 --> 00:07:59,912 hold off on the on the land offensive . 207 00:07:59,912 --> 00:08:01,968 Do you believe that if you have as a 208 00:08:01,968 --> 00:08:04,079 temporary permanent ? Uh So I don't I 209 00:08:04,079 --> 00:08:05,912 don't want to speak for Turkey . 210 00:08:05,912 --> 00:08:08,134 Certainly I would refer you to them for 211 00:08:08,134 --> 00:08:10,800 their views on a on a particular on 212 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,022 that particular matter . From a U . S . 213 00:08:13,022 --> 00:08:15,850 Standpoint , I can tell you that the 214 00:08:15,860 --> 00:08:17,916 partnered operations with the Syrian 215 00:08:17,916 --> 00:08:20,080 democratic forces have resumed . They 216 00:08:20,090 --> 00:08:22,700 resumed in full on december 9th . Again 217 00:08:22,710 --> 00:08:25,800 our focus is on working with those 218 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:27,900 local partners to prevent the 219 00:08:27,900 --> 00:08:31,590 reconstitution of ISIS . Uh And uh just 220 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:34,370 leave it at that I guess was two weeks 221 00:08:34,370 --> 00:08:37,170 ago when uh D . O . D publicly stated 222 00:08:37,170 --> 00:08:39,750 that U . S . Troops were at risk due to 223 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:42,000 certain military activities . Obviously 224 00:08:42,010 --> 00:08:44,066 Turkish airstrikes being one of them 225 00:08:44,066 --> 00:08:46,240 have U . S . Troops been put at risk 226 00:08:46,250 --> 00:08:48,900 after or since then . Not to my 227 00:08:48,900 --> 00:08:51,011 knowledge . And again this is exactly 228 00:08:51,011 --> 00:08:54,140 why we need to continue to keep that 229 00:08:54,140 --> 00:08:55,918 region stable and to be able to 230 00:08:55,918 --> 00:08:57,696 continue to work with our local 231 00:08:57,696 --> 00:08:59,751 partners in the region uh to prevent 232 00:08:59,751 --> 00:09:02,960 again the rise of ISIS . But well , you 233 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:05,190 know , Turkey remains a very close NATO 234 00:09:05,190 --> 00:09:07,357 ally will continue to consult and work 235 00:09:07,357 --> 00:09:10,930 closely with Turkey . Uh And you know , 236 00:09:10,940 --> 00:09:12,884 nothing to add beyond that at this 237 00:09:12,884 --> 00:09:14,996 point . Let me go ahead and go to the 238 00:09:14,996 --> 00:09:16,996 phones here , Jeff . Segal task and 239 00:09:16,996 --> 00:09:19,880 purpose . Thank you . Does d . O . D 240 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:22,210 have any update on the army's 241 00:09:22,210 --> 00:09:24,890 investigation into bizarre pictures 242 00:09:24,890 --> 00:09:28,250 that were posted on social media . Yeah . 243 00:09:28,260 --> 00:09:30,427 Thanks Jeff . I do not . I would refer 244 00:09:30,427 --> 00:09:32,260 you back to the army for for any 245 00:09:32,260 --> 00:09:34,316 information on that in the status of 246 00:09:34,316 --> 00:09:36,482 their investigation . Let me go to joe 247 00:09:36,482 --> 00:09:39,920 Gould defense news . Hi Pat . Thanks 248 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:42,550 for taking my question . Um , another 249 00:09:42,550 --> 00:09:45,730 question on oversight of arms 250 00:09:45,730 --> 00:09:48,080 deliveries to Ukraine . Um , I want to 251 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:50,590 say back in november , you had said to 252 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:52,430 date there have been no illicit 253 00:09:52,430 --> 00:09:54,652 diversions and I just want to see if we 254 00:09:54,652 --> 00:09:56,763 could get you on the record . Is that 255 00:09:56,763 --> 00:09:58,763 still the case ? Have there been no 256 00:09:58,763 --> 00:10:01,700 diversions of of us arms to Ukraine ? 257 00:10:03,010 --> 00:10:05,121 That's correct , joe at this point we 258 00:10:05,121 --> 00:10:08,900 have no information that would no 259 00:10:08,900 --> 00:10:10,678 credible information that would 260 00:10:10,678 --> 00:10:13,800 indicate that there's been any um 261 00:10:13,810 --> 00:10:16,900 diversion of Ukrainian assistance 262 00:10:16,910 --> 00:10:20,780 um , into illicit means again and 263 00:10:20,780 --> 00:10:22,502 and I think the results on the 264 00:10:22,502 --> 00:10:24,447 battlefield in this case speak for 265 00:10:24,447 --> 00:10:26,447 themselves . We continue to see the 266 00:10:26,447 --> 00:10:28,558 Ukrainians take the capabilities that 267 00:10:28,558 --> 00:10:30,613 they're being provided by the United 268 00:10:30,613 --> 00:10:32,780 States and the international community 269 00:10:32,780 --> 00:10:34,947 and using it to great effect to defend 270 00:10:34,947 --> 00:10:36,836 their nation and regain sovereign 271 00:10:36,836 --> 00:10:40,040 territory . Let me go ahead and go to 272 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:42,151 Rio from Nikkei . Then I'll come back 273 00:10:42,151 --> 00:10:42,140 in the room . 274 00:10:45,730 --> 00:10:49,280 Hi , thank you very much for taking my 275 00:10:49,290 --> 00:10:51,950 question the chinese and indian 276 00:10:51,950 --> 00:10:55,000 military forces crushed on the disputed 277 00:10:55,010 --> 00:10:57,121 border this week for the past time in 278 00:10:57,121 --> 00:11:00,080 nearly two years . How much is the 279 00:11:00,090 --> 00:11:03,130 pentagon concerns that this crash could 280 00:11:03,130 --> 00:11:05,463 lead to a bigger military confrontation . 281 00:11:05,463 --> 00:11:07,686 Is the pentagon willing to provide more 282 00:11:07,686 --> 00:11:09,940 military support to India to help them 283 00:11:09,950 --> 00:11:12,100 handle china's military threats as 284 00:11:12,100 --> 00:11:14,156 their border ? Thank you very much . 285 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:17,570 Yeah . Thanks . Rio . So I can tell you 286 00:11:17,570 --> 00:11:19,660 that D O . D . Continues to closely 287 00:11:19,660 --> 00:11:22,260 watch developments along the line of 288 00:11:22,260 --> 00:11:24,550 actual control at the India china 289 00:11:24,550 --> 00:11:27,550 border . Uh , we have seen the PRC 290 00:11:27,550 --> 00:11:29,830 continue to amass forces and build 291 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:33,440 military infrastructure along 292 00:11:33,450 --> 00:11:36,270 the so called L . A . C . But I would 293 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:38,336 defer you to India in terms of their 294 00:11:38,336 --> 00:11:40,870 views . It does reflect though , uh , 295 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:42,880 and it's important to point out the 296 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:46,410 growing trend by the PRC to assert 297 00:11:46,410 --> 00:11:50,180 itself and to be provocative uh , in 298 00:11:50,180 --> 00:11:53,050 areas directed towards us allies and 299 00:11:53,050 --> 00:11:55,610 our partners in the indo pacific and we 300 00:11:55,610 --> 00:11:57,790 will continue to remain steadfast in 301 00:11:57,790 --> 00:12:00,012 our commitment to ensuring the security 302 00:12:00,012 --> 00:12:02,480 of our partners and we fully support 303 00:12:02,490 --> 00:12:04,990 India's ongoing efforts to de escalate 304 00:12:04,990 --> 00:12:07,046 this situation . Let me come back to 305 00:12:07,046 --> 00:12:08,950 the room clarification . And the 306 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:10,738 partner of patrols with the sdf 307 00:12:10,890 --> 00:12:13,430 restarting at the same pace as when you 308 00:12:13,430 --> 00:12:15,486 left off ? And are they restarting ? 309 00:12:15,486 --> 00:12:17,263 Because there's been a pause in 310 00:12:17,263 --> 00:12:17,120 airstrikes and then have a separate 311 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:19,231 question . Sure . So I'd refer you to 312 00:12:19,231 --> 00:12:21,398 centcom to get more specifics , but my 313 00:12:21,398 --> 00:12:23,231 understanding is , yes , they've 314 00:12:23,231 --> 00:12:26,045 reviewed they've fully resumed the pace 315 00:12:26,045 --> 00:12:29,085 of patrols prior to the previous 316 00:12:29,085 --> 00:12:31,475 suspension of this . Now , there was a 317 00:12:31,475 --> 00:12:33,795 Reuters Reuters story yesterday about 318 00:12:33,805 --> 00:12:36,027 the Nigerian eyewitness accounts of the 319 00:12:36,027 --> 00:12:38,138 Nigerian military killing civilians , 320 00:12:38,138 --> 00:12:40,083 including Children ? Do you have a 321 00:12:40,083 --> 00:12:42,305 comment and be are you reviewing any of 322 00:12:42,305 --> 00:12:44,138 the military assistance given to 323 00:12:44,138 --> 00:12:47,010 Nigeria . So again , the reports are 324 00:12:47,010 --> 00:12:49,620 very concerning . We support State 325 00:12:49,620 --> 00:12:52,280 Department's efforts on this . You know 326 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:55,390 what , what they've said publicly um 327 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:57,310 and would call again on on an 328 00:12:57,310 --> 00:12:59,254 investigation to take place by the 329 00:12:59,254 --> 00:13:01,477 Nigerian government . But beyond that , 330 00:13:01,477 --> 00:13:03,810 referee to State Department . Thank you . 331 00:13:03,810 --> 00:13:05,990 Thanks Pat , do you have any update or 332 00:13:05,990 --> 00:13:08,212 additional information on the increased 333 00:13:08,212 --> 00:13:11,020 US rotations to Australia particularly 334 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:14,330 numbers units when you expect those new 335 00:13:14,330 --> 00:13:17,880 rotations to begin ? And additionally , 336 00:13:17,890 --> 00:13:20,001 is that expected just to be in Darwin 337 00:13:20,001 --> 00:13:21,779 or is that they're gonna be new 338 00:13:21,779 --> 00:13:23,668 facilities in Australia for those 339 00:13:23,668 --> 00:13:25,890 rotations ? Yeah . Thanks . Travis . So 340 00:13:25,890 --> 00:13:27,834 as you know , as part of the Osman 341 00:13:27,834 --> 00:13:29,970 discussions , this was an area that 342 00:13:29,970 --> 00:13:32,700 Secretary Austin highlighted um was 343 00:13:32,700 --> 00:13:34,867 part of the discussion and that was to 344 00:13:34,867 --> 00:13:37,270 look at increasing the number of 345 00:13:37,270 --> 00:13:39,290 rotational deployments . Um what I 346 00:13:39,290 --> 00:13:41,346 would tell you is , in terms of next 347 00:13:41,346 --> 00:13:43,457 steps , our staffs will work together 348 00:13:43,457 --> 00:13:45,623 to identify the specifics of those but 349 00:13:45,623 --> 00:13:48,530 they will entail air land and sea 350 00:13:48,540 --> 00:13:51,450 opportunities . And so as more details 351 00:13:51,475 --> 00:13:53,642 become available ? We'll we'll be sure 352 00:13:53,642 --> 00:13:55,808 to provide this . Is there any kind of 353 00:13:55,808 --> 00:13:55,645 timeline and when you think more 354 00:13:55,645 --> 00:13:57,534 details might be released , is it 355 00:13:57,534 --> 00:13:59,756 something near term or is it gonna be a 356 00:13:59,756 --> 00:14:01,978 few months out any sense of that ? Um , 357 00:14:01,978 --> 00:14:04,145 I I can tell you that there's a lot of 358 00:14:04,145 --> 00:14:06,367 interest in moving this forward , but I 359 00:14:06,367 --> 00:14:06,125 don't want to put a timeline on it 360 00:14:06,305 --> 00:14:09,805 right now . Thank you general follow up 361 00:14:09,805 --> 00:14:13,645 on the , on the petrol . Can you tell 362 00:14:13,645 --> 00:14:15,756 us if it is though , those petals are 363 00:14:15,756 --> 00:14:17,978 now closer to the Turkish border or are 364 00:14:17,978 --> 00:14:20,034 they further down in the south ? And 365 00:14:20,034 --> 00:14:23,470 again , I refer you to centcom for more 366 00:14:23,470 --> 00:14:25,800 specifics . But my understanding is 367 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:27,820 again , uh , they are resuming the 368 00:14:27,820 --> 00:14:30,140 patrols that they conducted previously 369 00:14:30,140 --> 00:14:32,140 in the again , without getting into 370 00:14:32,140 --> 00:14:34,580 specifics into the specific areas , but 371 00:14:34,590 --> 00:14:37,030 in the , in the operations areas that 372 00:14:37,030 --> 00:14:39,030 they previously had been conducting 373 00:14:39,030 --> 00:14:42,770 operations in . Also last week , we 374 00:14:42,770 --> 00:14:45,000 heard some like we heard from you from 375 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:46,889 State Department that you are not 376 00:14:46,889 --> 00:14:48,778 encouraging , you're not enabling 377 00:14:48,778 --> 00:14:51,300 Ukrainian forces to strike the Russian 378 00:14:51,650 --> 00:14:54,900 posts in Russian territory . But we 379 00:14:54,900 --> 00:14:57,011 also saw some stories saying that now 380 00:14:57,011 --> 00:14:59,860 after the Russians striking more and 381 00:14:59,860 --> 00:15:01,890 more inside Ukraine and targeting 382 00:15:01,900 --> 00:15:04,440 infrastructure , the pentagon is okay 383 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:08,440 with Ukrainian to strike inside the 384 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:10,384 Russian territories . I mean , the 385 00:15:10,384 --> 00:15:12,607 official Russian state territories um , 386 00:15:13,100 --> 00:15:15,660 could you confirm or what has there 387 00:15:15,660 --> 00:15:17,460 been any change in the Defense 388 00:15:17,460 --> 00:15:19,571 Department's position ? Yeah . Thanks 389 00:15:19,571 --> 00:15:21,682 costume . So , so look , our focus is 390 00:15:21,682 --> 00:15:24,000 on enabling Ukraine to defend their 391 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,360 territory . They were invaded by Russia 392 00:15:26,370 --> 00:15:29,440 almost a year ago . Um , you know , 393 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:31,662 we've seen some significant progress by 394 00:15:31,662 --> 00:15:33,440 them on the front lines to take 395 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:35,440 territory back and that remains our 396 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:37,496 focus as I think you've heard others 397 00:15:37,496 --> 00:15:39,384 say , uh , there's no interest in 398 00:15:39,384 --> 00:15:41,670 escalation of this conflict . We remain 399 00:15:41,670 --> 00:15:43,590 solely focused on helping Ukraine 400 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:45,780 defend its country and take back its 401 00:15:45,790 --> 00:15:47,679 sovereign territory . Thank you . 402 00:15:47,950 --> 00:15:51,040 Thanks general . Um stepping away from 403 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:53,800 a specific system like the patriots , 404 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:55,890 but a system that involves usually a 405 00:15:55,890 --> 00:15:58,112 lot of training for U . S . Personnel , 406 00:15:58,112 --> 00:16:01,360 what part or parts of the pentagon uh 407 00:16:01,370 --> 00:16:03,592 say okay , how do we make this training 408 00:16:03,592 --> 00:16:05,710 abbreviated ? So we can get the 409 00:16:05,710 --> 00:16:08,320 Ukrainians to use it quicker ? Uh Am I 410 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:10,320 making myself Okay ? I think you're 411 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:13,610 asking me to speculate , is there a 412 00:16:13,610 --> 00:16:15,610 specific group of folks here at the 413 00:16:15,610 --> 00:16:17,666 pentagon who said we have to come up 414 00:16:17,666 --> 00:16:19,960 with ways to make train so broadly 415 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:22,330 speaking , let's use high mars for 416 00:16:22,330 --> 00:16:24,810 example or or nay Sams . Right . So any 417 00:16:24,810 --> 00:16:27,530 of those systems as part of the process 418 00:16:27,530 --> 00:16:29,610 is going to entail taking a look at 419 00:16:29,620 --> 00:16:32,570 what it would require to train the 420 00:16:32,570 --> 00:16:34,737 Ukrainians , what it would require for 421 00:16:34,737 --> 00:16:37,810 them to sustain it um and then operate 422 00:16:37,810 --> 00:16:39,977 it . Right . And so so that's going to 423 00:16:39,977 --> 00:16:43,200 be built into any plan to provide 424 00:16:43,210 --> 00:16:46,540 equipment uh to the Ukrainians . And so 425 00:16:46,540 --> 00:16:48,930 in the case of high mars um providing 426 00:16:48,930 --> 00:16:51,900 them with working with in this case the 427 00:16:51,900 --> 00:16:54,580 army , the U . S . Army uh to look at 428 00:16:54,770 --> 00:16:56,826 what the training program would look 429 00:16:56,826 --> 00:16:59,770 like and how we could facilitate that 430 00:16:59,780 --> 00:17:02,110 in the most effective efficient way 431 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:04,550 possible . So Mr understanding you 432 00:17:04,550 --> 00:17:06,800 correctly . So in the case of like you 433 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:08,856 said the army , those folks would be 434 00:17:08,856 --> 00:17:11,090 okay . How can we look at the way that 435 00:17:11,100 --> 00:17:13,267 the training best suited for the means 436 00:17:13,267 --> 00:17:15,544 to get there quickly , correct quicker . 437 00:17:15,544 --> 00:17:17,711 Okay . All right , no problem . Let me 438 00:17:17,711 --> 00:17:19,711 go to the phones here and I'll come 439 00:17:19,711 --> 00:17:21,878 right . Yeah . Uh can you give us some 440 00:17:21,878 --> 00:17:24,950 idea uh scope of the training general , 441 00:17:24,950 --> 00:17:27,117 I mean , how many Ukrainians are being 442 00:17:27,117 --> 00:17:29,690 trained in Germany or elsewhere right 443 00:17:29,690 --> 00:17:33,030 now ? And how many U . S . Soldiers or 444 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:35,490 service members are involved in in 445 00:17:35,490 --> 00:17:38,950 training the Ukrainians ? Um jim we can 446 00:17:38,950 --> 00:17:41,172 get those numbers for I don't have them 447 00:17:41,172 --> 00:17:43,394 right here in front of me , but U . S . 448 00:17:43,394 --> 00:17:45,570 European Command does have a number 449 00:17:45,580 --> 00:17:47,636 that they've provided in terms of by 450 00:17:47,636 --> 00:17:49,691 system that we can get that to you . 451 00:17:49,691 --> 00:17:51,913 Okay , let me go to the phone here will 452 00:17:51,913 --> 00:17:55,720 dunlop A . F . P . Hi thank 453 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:58,450 you . Um So without getting into 454 00:17:58,450 --> 00:18:01,160 specific systems , um the U . S . And 455 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:03,216 other countries have been working to 456 00:18:03,216 --> 00:18:05,271 bolster Ukraine's air defenses for a 457 00:18:05,271 --> 00:18:04,860 couple of months now . Where does that 458 00:18:04,860 --> 00:18:06,693 process stand ? And how close is 459 00:18:06,693 --> 00:18:08,638 Ukraine to having the required air 460 00:18:08,638 --> 00:18:12,010 defenses ? Yeah . Thanks . Will . So 461 00:18:12,020 --> 00:18:14,076 you know , from a U . S . Standpoint 462 00:18:14,076 --> 00:18:16,187 we've been providing Ukraine with air 463 00:18:16,187 --> 00:18:18,350 defense , air defense systems for a 464 00:18:18,350 --> 00:18:22,060 while Now . Again I mentioned the SAM's 465 00:18:22,070 --> 00:18:24,430 we've provided Stingers , we've 466 00:18:24,430 --> 00:18:28,260 provided uh counter um yes capabilities 467 00:18:28,270 --> 00:18:31,100 uh and it's and it's not just the US as 468 00:18:31,100 --> 00:18:33,322 you know , our allies and international 469 00:18:33,322 --> 00:18:35,433 partners have been doing the same and 470 00:18:35,433 --> 00:18:37,520 so we continue to consult and advise 471 00:18:37,530 --> 00:18:40,250 our Ukrainian partners on how best to 472 00:18:40,260 --> 00:18:43,020 integrate their air defense systems uh 473 00:18:43,030 --> 00:18:44,752 in the meantime , again , as I 474 00:18:44,752 --> 00:18:47,760 mentioned earlier , we recognize that 475 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:51,710 with the air threat that Russia poses 476 00:18:51,710 --> 00:18:54,520 to Ukraine , that air defense continues 477 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:56,610 to be a priority topic of discussion 478 00:18:56,610 --> 00:18:58,777 when it comes to security assistance . 479 00:18:58,777 --> 00:19:00,888 And so we'll continue to look at ways 480 00:19:00,888 --> 00:19:03,150 that we can best support Ukraine to 481 00:19:03,150 --> 00:19:06,450 protect their population and to protect 482 00:19:06,460 --> 00:19:09,840 their their broader infrastructure uh 483 00:19:09,850 --> 00:19:12,730 to be able to survive these attacks . I 484 00:19:12,730 --> 00:19:15,600 will also say that we continue to see 485 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:17,970 Ukraine employed to great effect the 486 00:19:17,970 --> 00:19:20,320 capabilities that they have and without 487 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:23,150 going into specific numbers can say 488 00:19:23,150 --> 00:19:24,983 that that they have been able to 489 00:19:24,983 --> 00:19:28,470 successfully intercept in many cases 490 00:19:28,470 --> 00:19:31,650 destroy Russian missile and drone 491 00:19:31,650 --> 00:19:34,540 strikes . Um but all that said , we've 492 00:19:34,540 --> 00:19:36,860 all seen the the images on television 493 00:19:37,140 --> 00:19:40,130 and social media of those missiles and 494 00:19:40,130 --> 00:19:42,352 drones that did get through . And so we 495 00:19:42,352 --> 00:19:44,463 know that that more continues to need 496 00:19:44,463 --> 00:19:46,630 to be done . Thank you . Alright , let 497 00:19:46,630 --> 00:19:50,110 me go to heather us and I great um 498 00:19:50,120 --> 00:19:52,430 going back to the vaccines that we were 499 00:19:52,430 --> 00:19:54,690 discussing last week , um Covid 19 now 500 00:19:54,690 --> 00:19:57,023 that the house has passed the N . D . A . 501 00:19:57,023 --> 00:19:59,023 And it looks likely that the Senate 502 00:19:59,023 --> 00:20:00,690 will too , Has there been any 503 00:20:00,690 --> 00:20:02,801 preparation for what will happen once 504 00:20:02,801 --> 00:20:04,634 the vaccine mandate is no longer 505 00:20:04,634 --> 00:20:06,857 allowed to be in effect ? Yeah . Thanks 506 00:20:06,857 --> 00:20:08,912 heather . So as as mentioned again , 507 00:20:08,912 --> 00:20:11,600 we're not gonna comment on potential or 508 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:14,150 pending legislation . Um you've heard 509 00:20:14,150 --> 00:20:16,630 us be very clear that the secretary uh 510 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:19,420 still supports maintaining the mandate 511 00:20:19,540 --> 00:20:21,762 and we'll just leave it at that . Thank 512 00:20:21,762 --> 00:20:23,984 you . All right , let me go back to the 513 00:20:23,984 --> 00:20:27,010 room , write a question on oversight . 514 00:20:27,020 --> 00:20:29,242 A G . A . O . Report came out this week 515 00:20:29,242 --> 00:20:31,450 that said um quite a bit of further 516 00:20:31,450 --> 00:20:33,340 actions are needed to implement 517 00:20:33,350 --> 00:20:35,690 predictive maintenance um to sustain 518 00:20:35,690 --> 00:20:38,240 weapons systems . This comes nearly two 519 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:40,210 decades after D . O . D . First 520 00:20:40,220 --> 00:20:42,370 mentioned predictive maintenance as a 521 00:20:42,370 --> 00:20:44,960 priori . And the report itself calls 522 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:46,990 for more sustained focus from 523 00:20:46,990 --> 00:20:49,330 leadership . And so I was wondering um 524 00:20:49,340 --> 00:20:51,670 is that a concern that has reached you 525 00:20:51,670 --> 00:20:55,170 in OsD and um where does predictive 526 00:20:55,180 --> 00:20:57,750 maintenance stand as a technological 527 00:20:57,750 --> 00:20:59,860 priority ? Um In your view for the 528 00:20:59,860 --> 00:21:02,330 military coming in the next year ? Yeah 529 00:21:02,340 --> 00:21:04,562 thanks very much for the question . I'm 530 00:21:04,562 --> 00:21:04,530 not seeing the report but we can 531 00:21:04,530 --> 00:21:07,200 certainly uh take that question and and 532 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:09,311 come back to you . Thank you . Let me 533 00:21:09,311 --> 00:21:11,367 go to Courtney . Did did the U . S . 534 00:21:11,367 --> 00:21:13,589 Military have any role in the detention 535 00:21:13,589 --> 00:21:16,220 or moving the lockerbie suspect ? Yeah . 536 00:21:16,230 --> 00:21:18,680 Thanks Courtney appreciate it . So as 537 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:21,760 it relates to the lockerbie suspect , 538 00:21:21,770 --> 00:21:23,714 I'd refer you to the Department of 539 00:21:23,714 --> 00:21:25,937 Justice . I just don't have anything to 540 00:21:25,937 --> 00:21:27,937 provide from here on that . But I'm 541 00:21:27,937 --> 00:21:29,937 asking specifically about a U . S . 542 00:21:29,937 --> 00:21:31,992 Military will now that he's here . I 543 00:21:31,992 --> 00:21:31,100 don't know if there would be any 544 00:21:31,100 --> 00:21:33,322 operational security . So I mean was he 545 00:21:33,322 --> 00:21:35,600 used on a us was he moved on the U . S . 546 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:37,656 Military plane . Is there any role ? 547 00:21:37,656 --> 00:21:39,267 Again I'm not gonna have any 548 00:21:39,267 --> 00:21:41,378 information to provide from here ? Um 549 00:21:41,378 --> 00:21:43,890 So I'd refer you to doj since it was 550 00:21:43,890 --> 00:21:46,001 their operation to bring him back and 551 00:21:46,001 --> 00:21:48,590 really they're the ones to talk to uh 552 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:50,600 the various aspects of how they did 553 00:21:50,600 --> 00:21:52,711 that and yeah just leave it at that . 554 00:21:52,711 --> 00:21:55,920 Thank you Tony patriots one more time . 555 00:21:55,930 --> 00:21:57,986 Uh Maybe this is a suicide mission . 556 00:21:57,986 --> 00:22:01,850 But is it our patriots to Ukraine under 557 00:22:01,850 --> 00:22:03,430 active consideration by the 558 00:22:03,430 --> 00:22:05,500 administration ? I think a senior 559 00:22:05,500 --> 00:22:07,722 defense officials said this a few weeks 560 00:22:07,722 --> 00:22:10,330 ago but I just found that isn't under 561 00:22:10,330 --> 00:22:12,441 active consideration . You just can't 562 00:22:12,441 --> 00:22:15,000 talk about the status of the review . 563 00:22:15,010 --> 00:22:18,500 Yeah . Thanks Tony . Um so again 564 00:22:18,510 --> 00:22:21,100 don't have anything to announce um as a 565 00:22:21,100 --> 00:22:23,044 matter of policy . We're not gonna 566 00:22:23,044 --> 00:22:26,090 preview or discuss potential or you 567 00:22:26,090 --> 00:22:28,630 know speculate on any security 568 00:22:28,630 --> 00:22:31,310 assistance um you know prior to any 569 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:33,900 type of announcement so or discuss 570 00:22:33,900 --> 00:22:35,900 whether or not it may or may not be 571 00:22:35,900 --> 00:22:39,690 under consideration . We continuously 572 00:22:39,690 --> 00:22:42,080 look at a wide range of capabilities 573 00:22:42,090 --> 00:22:44,146 and when and if we have something to 574 00:22:44,146 --> 00:22:46,368 announce , we'll be sure to do that . I 575 00:22:46,368 --> 00:22:48,590 need to ask you an N . D . A question . 576 00:22:48,590 --> 00:22:50,812 Not not a dollar question but buried in 577 00:22:50,812 --> 00:22:52,979 there is a section that criticizes the 578 00:22:52,979 --> 00:22:55,040 pentagon's ubiquitous sustained an 579 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:56,984 overwhelming use of the controlled 580 00:22:56,984 --> 00:22:59,710 unclassified information label . It 581 00:22:59,710 --> 00:23:02,070 talks about the uneven application of C . 582 00:23:02,070 --> 00:23:04,292 O . I . And they're concerned about the 583 00:23:04,292 --> 00:23:06,540 extent and efficient efficacy of 584 00:23:06,540 --> 00:23:08,510 training , oversight and guidance 585 00:23:08,510 --> 00:23:10,770 provided the D . O . D . Officials who 586 00:23:10,770 --> 00:23:12,937 put the stamp on everything but coffee 587 00:23:12,937 --> 00:23:15,103 cups you've been here a long time . Is 588 00:23:15,103 --> 00:23:17,200 that label being overused ? And does 589 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:19,256 the Senate , do the Senate and House 590 00:23:19,256 --> 00:23:21,478 legislators have a point ? It's time to 591 00:23:21,478 --> 00:23:23,700 review and issue some guidance and when 592 00:23:23,700 --> 00:23:26,800 to use this label . Yeah . Thanks . Um 593 00:23:26,810 --> 00:23:29,420 so again , given the fact that this is 594 00:23:29,420 --> 00:23:31,476 pending legislation , I really don't 595 00:23:31,476 --> 00:23:33,698 want to get into that . I will say that 596 00:23:33,698 --> 00:23:35,642 we have policies and procedures in 597 00:23:35,642 --> 00:23:37,142 place when it comes to the 598 00:23:37,142 --> 00:23:38,809 classification of information 599 00:23:38,809 --> 00:23:40,864 throughout the department . So right 600 00:23:40,864 --> 00:23:42,976 now I don't have any announcements to 601 00:23:42,976 --> 00:23:44,864 make in terms of changes to those 602 00:23:44,864 --> 00:23:47,720 policies . But certainly if if and when 603 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:49,720 we do we'll be sure to let you know 604 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:51,887 that pending both the House and Senate 605 00:23:51,887 --> 00:23:53,998 have approved this . President hasn't 606 00:23:53,998 --> 00:23:53,860 signed it yet . I mean , so that's 607 00:23:53,870 --> 00:23:55,970 pending legislation . Your briefing 608 00:23:55,970 --> 00:23:58,081 books . All see you I too . I mean is 609 00:23:58,081 --> 00:24:00,248 is this thing over the years from your 610 00:24:00,248 --> 00:24:02,359 professional experience ? You've been 611 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:04,303 here in awhile and you've seen the 612 00:24:04,303 --> 00:24:06,526 markings change left and right . Yeah . 613 00:24:06,526 --> 00:24:08,692 Thanks Tony . My response is see you . 614 00:24:08,692 --> 00:24:08,250 I I'm sorry 615 00:24:16,030 --> 00:24:19,390 yesterday Australia signed a legally 616 00:24:19,390 --> 00:24:21,840 binding security pact with Vanuatu . 617 00:24:21,850 --> 00:24:24,017 Was America involved at all with those 618 00:24:24,017 --> 00:24:26,128 discussions . And what's your overall 619 00:24:26,128 --> 00:24:28,450 view of the importance about in 620 00:24:28,450 --> 00:24:31,130 security arrangements in the pacific I 621 00:24:31,140 --> 00:24:33,307 appreciate the question . I don't have 622 00:24:33,307 --> 00:24:35,029 any insight into that . We can 623 00:24:35,029 --> 00:24:37,140 certainly take that question and come 624 00:24:37,140 --> 00:24:40,550 back to you . Thank you . Uh 625 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:44,290 Secretary Austin directly approach us . 626 00:24:44,290 --> 00:24:47,450 Concerns about chinese involvement in 627 00:24:47,450 --> 00:24:49,660 africa during his meeting with the 628 00:24:49,660 --> 00:24:52,640 African leaders and how much that could 629 00:24:52,650 --> 00:24:56,230 heart us military relations 630 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:59,420 with these countries . Thank you . Yeah 631 00:24:59,430 --> 00:25:02,160 thanks very much . So we'll certainly 632 00:25:02,170 --> 00:25:05,030 be sure to provide a readout of the the 633 00:25:05,030 --> 00:25:08,020 discussions today . Um We do continue 634 00:25:08,020 --> 00:25:11,450 to communicate with our partners that 635 00:25:11,460 --> 00:25:13,682 engaging in certain types of activities 636 00:25:13,682 --> 00:25:15,940 with the P . R . C . Uh May have some 637 00:25:15,940 --> 00:25:17,890 negative ramifications on their 638 00:25:17,890 --> 00:25:20,320 relationships with us . Uh So for 639 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:24,190 example um you've heard various leaders 640 00:25:24,190 --> 00:25:26,246 talk about the challenges associated 641 00:25:26,246 --> 00:25:29,750 with huawei telecommunications basing 642 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:32,480 issues . Uh So that will be an item of 643 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:34,480 continued discussion I'm sure . But 644 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:36,702 beyond that I don't have any additional 645 00:25:36,702 --> 00:25:38,758 details . Okay let me go back out to 646 00:25:38,758 --> 00:25:40,980 the phone here real quick carla bob B O 647 00:25:40,980 --> 00:25:43,350 A . Hey thank you so much for doing 648 00:25:43,350 --> 00:25:45,330 this Pat . Um I have a question on 649 00:25:45,330 --> 00:25:48,620 Belarus . There's reports coming out of 650 00:25:48,630 --> 00:25:50,352 military convoys moving in the 651 00:25:50,352 --> 00:25:52,800 direction of the Ukrainian border uh in 652 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:55,070 Belarus is the pentagon concerned about 653 00:25:55,070 --> 00:25:57,770 a possible escalation of war for a re 654 00:25:57,770 --> 00:26:00,530 invasion from the north ? Yeah thanks 655 00:26:00,530 --> 00:26:03,750 Carlos . So we we obviously continue to 656 00:26:03,750 --> 00:26:06,230 keep a close eye on the situation in 657 00:26:06,230 --> 00:26:09,090 the region to include activities in 658 00:26:09,090 --> 00:26:11,034 Belarus . I don't want to get into 659 00:26:11,034 --> 00:26:13,900 specific intelligence but I will say 660 00:26:13,910 --> 00:26:16,310 that it's our assessment right now that 661 00:26:16,310 --> 00:26:19,110 we do not see any type of impending 662 00:26:19,120 --> 00:26:22,460 cross border activity by Belarus at 663 00:26:22,460 --> 00:26:25,800 this time , we gotta Tara and then I'm 664 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:28,160 gonna go back into the , um , and if 665 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:30,327 this one has to be taken , it's okay . 666 00:26:30,327 --> 00:26:32,549 Can you give us a breakdown of the cost 667 00:26:32,549 --> 00:26:34,660 of the Patriot missile defense system 668 00:26:34,660 --> 00:26:36,438 and how much one of the missile 669 00:26:36,438 --> 00:26:38,480 interceptors cost ? Um , we can get 670 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:40,369 back to you with whatever we have 671 00:26:40,369 --> 00:26:42,480 that's publicly available and not see 672 00:26:42,480 --> 00:26:46,140 you eye on that in general , where 673 00:26:46,150 --> 00:26:48,650 its performance , how it would fit in 674 00:26:48,650 --> 00:26:51,320 with the knee Sam's , uh , in all the 675 00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:53,542 air defense systems that you provided , 676 00:26:53,542 --> 00:26:55,542 how it would work with the others . 677 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:59,030 Okay . Yeah , we can . I mean , so 678 00:26:59,030 --> 00:27:01,308 broadly speaking , you know , just any , 679 00:27:01,308 --> 00:27:03,252 any type of integrated air defense 680 00:27:03,252 --> 00:27:06,610 system , uh , is going to , to look at 681 00:27:06,610 --> 00:27:08,721 the various capabilities based on the 682 00:27:08,721 --> 00:27:10,777 various threats and the idea is that 683 00:27:10,777 --> 00:27:12,666 they would work together with the 684 00:27:12,666 --> 00:27:14,888 command and control function to be able 685 00:27:14,888 --> 00:27:16,750 to address those . Um , but I 686 00:27:16,750 --> 00:27:18,917 understand the intent of your question 687 00:27:18,917 --> 00:27:21,083 and we'll and we'll take that back and 688 00:27:21,083 --> 00:27:23,083 come back with whatever in terms of 689 00:27:23,083 --> 00:27:25,194 area of coverage , like what the area 690 00:27:25,194 --> 00:27:27,139 of protection Patriot gives versus 691 00:27:27,139 --> 00:27:29,139 versus . Absolutely . Let me let me 692 00:27:29,139 --> 00:27:31,250 come back to you on that one . Okay , 693 00:27:31,250 --> 00:27:33,417 I'll come right back to you jane , let 694 00:27:33,417 --> 00:27:32,590 me go to the phone here , Lara . 695 00:27:32,590 --> 00:27:36,350 Seligman politico Hi , Pat , thanks for 696 00:27:36,350 --> 00:27:38,406 doing this . Um , just to go back to 697 00:27:38,406 --> 00:27:40,406 the Patriot question for a minute , 698 00:27:40,406 --> 00:27:42,183 we've heard from senior D O . D 699 00:27:42,183 --> 00:27:44,239 officials that patriot is one of the 700 00:27:44,239 --> 00:27:46,360 systems , the U . S . Is considering 701 00:27:46,360 --> 00:27:48,650 going to Ukraine . Um , so without 702 00:27:48,660 --> 00:27:50,882 confirming whether this announcement is 703 00:27:50,900 --> 00:27:53,170 imminent , can you talk about whether 704 00:27:53,170 --> 00:27:55,480 the department is considering moving 705 00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:58,400 existing patriot systems or new 706 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:01,340 contracts , contracting for new systems 707 00:28:01,340 --> 00:28:03,340 with the manufacturer ? Thank you . 708 00:28:03,340 --> 00:28:06,630 Yeah . Thanks laura again . Um , and 709 00:28:06,630 --> 00:28:08,852 with great respect and apologies to all 710 00:28:08,852 --> 00:28:11,450 of you , I don't mean to sound like a 711 00:28:11,460 --> 00:28:13,516 broken record here , but again , I'm 712 00:28:13,516 --> 00:28:15,460 not gonna I don't have anything to 713 00:28:15,460 --> 00:28:18,620 announce and I'm not going to talk 714 00:28:18,620 --> 00:28:20,810 about or speculate on things that may 715 00:28:20,810 --> 00:28:23,650 or may not be under consideration . Um 716 00:28:23,660 --> 00:28:25,549 and as always when and if there's 717 00:28:25,549 --> 00:28:27,716 something to announced , we'll be sure 718 00:28:27,716 --> 00:28:29,827 to to do that . Thank you . Alright , 719 00:28:29,827 --> 00:28:32,230 let me go back here . Yes ma'am . Japan 720 00:28:32,230 --> 00:28:34,250 is expected to announce its new 721 00:28:34,250 --> 00:28:37,100 national security strategies and the 722 00:28:37,100 --> 00:28:39,220 draft of national security strategy 723 00:28:39,220 --> 00:28:42,140 states that Japan and us will work 724 00:28:42,150 --> 00:28:45,900 together regarding Japan's new counter 725 00:28:45,900 --> 00:28:48,730 strike capability that strikes an enemy 726 00:28:48,730 --> 00:28:52,140 missile base . My question is , how 727 00:28:52,150 --> 00:28:55,220 have us coordinated with Japan so far 728 00:28:55,230 --> 00:28:58,210 on Japan's possession of counter strike 729 00:28:58,220 --> 00:29:01,120 capability . And how will the U . S . 730 00:29:01,130 --> 00:29:03,670 Perceive such discussions with Japan 731 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:06,170 following the release of Japan's ? 732 00:29:06,770 --> 00:29:09,310 Sure , well , we've always been very 733 00:29:09,310 --> 00:29:11,740 clear that the United States broadly 734 00:29:11,740 --> 00:29:13,907 supports efforts of our allies and our 735 00:29:13,907 --> 00:29:16,260 partners to include Japan in bolstering 736 00:29:16,260 --> 00:29:18,650 their self defense capabilities . But 737 00:29:18,650 --> 00:29:21,520 as it relates to Japan's defense 738 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:24,070 strategy or any capabilities that they 739 00:29:24,070 --> 00:29:25,903 may or doctrine that they may be 740 00:29:25,903 --> 00:29:28,126 seeking to implement . I'd refer you to 741 00:29:28,126 --> 00:29:30,070 the government of Japan for that . 742 00:29:30,070 --> 00:29:32,292 Thank you . Let me do one more from the 743 00:29:32,292 --> 00:29:32,220 phone here . Gordon liu bold Wall 744 00:29:32,220 --> 00:29:35,540 Street Journal . Thanks . My question 745 00:29:35,540 --> 00:29:37,651 has been asked and not answered a few 746 00:29:37,651 --> 00:29:39,873 times . So I think I'll yield my time . 747 00:29:39,873 --> 00:29:42,330 Thanks . Alright , Okay . Thank you 748 00:29:42,330 --> 00:29:44,163 very much . Ladies and gentlemen 749 00:29:44,163 --> 00:29:47,880 appreciate it louis . And then janie 750 00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:52,410 um , to to party first . Do you have an 751 00:29:52,410 --> 00:29:54,890 update on how many missiles ? Just 752 00:29:54,890 --> 00:29:57,100 believe that Russia has fired , you 753 00:29:57,100 --> 00:29:59,044 know , precision guided missiles , 754 00:29:59,044 --> 00:30:00,878 missiles ? Russia has fired into 755 00:30:00,878 --> 00:30:02,878 Ukraine ? We used to get those that 756 00:30:02,878 --> 00:30:04,878 kind of information before . I just 757 00:30:04,878 --> 00:30:06,989 wondered if you've seen anything that 758 00:30:06,989 --> 00:30:09,490 could provide an update . Um , yeah , I 759 00:30:09,490 --> 00:30:11,657 don't have any specifics to provide on 760 00:30:11,657 --> 00:30:15,570 numbers Back on November 29 . Um , 761 00:30:15,580 --> 00:30:18,640 I'm gonna quote you here uh , you said 762 00:30:18,650 --> 00:30:20,817 regarding discussion of patriots , you 763 00:30:20,817 --> 00:30:22,761 said right now we have no plans to 764 00:30:22,761 --> 00:30:24,928 provide patriot batteries to Ukraine . 765 00:30:25,340 --> 00:30:27,451 But again , we'll have to continue to 766 00:30:27,451 --> 00:30:29,507 have those discussions when you were 767 00:30:29,507 --> 00:30:31,618 talking about those discussions where 768 00:30:31,618 --> 00:30:33,840 you're referring internally or were you 769 00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:36,062 referring to discussions with Ukraine ? 770 00:30:36,062 --> 00:30:38,310 And there's your statement from more 771 00:30:38,310 --> 00:30:40,421 than 29 . Still hold that right now . 772 00:30:40,421 --> 00:30:42,588 We have no plans to provide patriots , 773 00:30:42,588 --> 00:30:45,460 uh , to Ukraine . Yeah . So again , 774 00:30:45,470 --> 00:30:47,303 Louie , I don't have anything to 775 00:30:47,303 --> 00:30:50,040 announce . And if you look at the the 776 00:30:50,050 --> 00:30:53,270 duration of this campaign uh , and the 777 00:30:53,530 --> 00:30:55,560 the way that the United States has 778 00:30:55,560 --> 00:30:57,727 worked with our allies and partners to 779 00:30:57,727 --> 00:30:59,940 provide security assistance to Ukraine 780 00:30:59,950 --> 00:31:02,020 through mechanisms like the Defense 781 00:31:02,020 --> 00:31:04,640 contact group ? Uh there is an ongoing 782 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:06,870 discussion to continuously look at 783 00:31:06,870 --> 00:31:09,490 Ukraine's security assistance needs and 784 00:31:09,490 --> 00:31:11,540 as those needs evolve based on the 785 00:31:11,540 --> 00:31:13,596 situation on the ground and based on 786 00:31:13,596 --> 00:31:15,762 the threat , we continue to have those 787 00:31:15,762 --> 00:31:17,929 internal conversations not only within 788 00:31:17,929 --> 00:31:20,040 the U . S . Department of Defense but 789 00:31:20,040 --> 00:31:21,762 with the broader international 790 00:31:21,762 --> 00:31:23,929 community . And one of the things that 791 00:31:23,929 --> 00:31:25,984 I can that I would say that uh we've 792 00:31:25,984 --> 00:31:27,818 been very consistent about is as 793 00:31:27,818 --> 00:31:29,762 requirements have developed and as 794 00:31:29,762 --> 00:31:31,762 we've worked with Ukraine trying to 795 00:31:31,762 --> 00:31:33,873 rapidly get those capabilities to the 796 00:31:33,873 --> 00:31:36,600 battlefield . You saw about a month ago , 797 00:31:36,610 --> 00:31:38,721 a little over a month ago when Russia 798 00:31:38,721 --> 00:31:41,630 started uh massively bombarding 799 00:31:41,640 --> 00:31:44,780 Ukraine from the air , we were able to 800 00:31:44,780 --> 00:31:46,891 very quickly work with our allies and 801 00:31:46,891 --> 00:31:48,590 partners to get air defense 802 00:31:48,590 --> 00:31:50,646 capabilities there too , including a 803 00:31:50,646 --> 00:31:52,701 psalms and we've got six more on the 804 00:31:52,701 --> 00:31:56,300 way . So um You know right now 805 00:31:56,310 --> 00:31:58,570 again I don't have anything to announce 806 00:31:58,580 --> 00:32:01,720 but we're gonna continue to adapt . 807 00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:03,831 We're gonna 10 . You continue to stay 808 00:32:03,831 --> 00:32:06,053 flexible and we're going to continue to 809 00:32:06,053 --> 00:32:08,053 work with Ukraine to ensure they're 810 00:32:08,053 --> 00:32:10,220 getting what they need . So just leave 811 00:32:10,220 --> 00:32:10,080 it at that Janie , thank you . Just 812 00:32:10,090 --> 00:32:12,690 thank you sir . I just for my previous 813 00:32:12,690 --> 00:32:16,400 occasions , uh China has 814 00:32:16,400 --> 00:32:19,810 won the South Korea not to join the US 815 00:32:19,820 --> 00:32:23,130 decided defense system ? How can you 816 00:32:23,140 --> 00:32:27,110 comment on this final occasions , what 817 00:32:27,120 --> 00:32:29,650 would you happen if South Korea did not 818 00:32:29,660 --> 00:32:32,220 participate in the U . S . Missile 819 00:32:32,250 --> 00:32:35,500 defense system ? Again , J and I 820 00:32:35,500 --> 00:32:37,500 apologize , I just don't wanna talk 821 00:32:37,500 --> 00:32:39,830 about hypotheticals . Again , Republic 822 00:32:39,830 --> 00:32:42,052 of Korea continues to be a close ally , 823 00:32:42,052 --> 00:32:44,850 will continue to work alongside them 824 00:32:44,850 --> 00:32:47,600 shoulder to shoulder , uh , to defend 825 00:32:47,600 --> 00:32:49,910 not only South Korea but also the 826 00:32:49,910 --> 00:32:52,243 broader indo pacific region . Thank you . 827 00:32:52,243 --> 00:32:53,270 Thank you ladies and gentlemen .