1 00:00:00,150 --> 00:00:03,309 Questions . So first , I would like to 2 00:00:03,319 --> 00:00:05,440 underscore Secretary Austin's 3 00:00:05,449 --> 00:00:07,616 Appreciation and thanks to our service 4 00:00:07,616 --> 00:00:09,838 members for their extraordinary work in 5 00:00:09,838 --> 00:00:11,727 close coordination with the State 6 00:00:11,727 --> 00:00:14,250 Department to help safely evacuate us 7 00:00:14,260 --> 00:00:16,450 government personnel out of Sudan over 8 00:00:16,459 --> 00:00:18,889 the weekend . As he highlighted in his 9 00:00:18,899 --> 00:00:21,066 statement regarding the operation , us 10 00:00:21,066 --> 00:00:23,121 forces carried out this mission with 11 00:00:23,121 --> 00:00:24,899 precision and professionalism . 12 00:00:24,899 --> 00:00:26,899 Secretary Austin also expressed his 13 00:00:26,899 --> 00:00:28,955 thanks to our allies and partners to 14 00:00:28,955 --> 00:00:31,066 include Djibouti , Ethiopia and Saudi 15 00:00:31,066 --> 00:00:33,232 Arabia who are critical to the success 16 00:00:33,232 --> 00:00:35,288 of this operation . In terms of next 17 00:00:35,288 --> 00:00:37,177 steps , us Africa Command and the 18 00:00:37,177 --> 00:00:39,343 Department of Defense continue to work 19 00:00:39,343 --> 00:00:41,566 closely with the State Department which 20 00:00:41,566 --> 00:00:43,455 has the lead for helping American 21 00:00:43,455 --> 00:00:45,399 citizens wishing to depart Sudan . 22 00:00:45,399 --> 00:00:47,177 Those efforts include providing 23 00:00:47,177 --> 00:00:48,955 intelligence , surveillance and 24 00:00:48,955 --> 00:00:51,121 reconnaissance capabilities to observe 25 00:00:51,121 --> 00:00:53,288 potential land routes out of Sudan and 26 00:00:53,288 --> 00:00:55,343 detect threats and positioning naval 27 00:00:55,343 --> 00:00:57,399 assets off the coast of Sudan should 28 00:00:57,399 --> 00:00:59,750 they be needed . In addition , Africa 29 00:00:59,759 --> 00:01:01,981 command has established a deconfliction 30 00:01:01,981 --> 00:01:03,926 cell at its headquarters in Stuart 31 00:01:03,926 --> 00:01:05,870 Germany which helps to enable good 32 00:01:05,870 --> 00:01:07,815 communication among our allies and 33 00:01:07,815 --> 00:01:09,926 partners . Secretary Austin continues 34 00:01:09,926 --> 00:01:12,037 to convene daily meetings with Africo 35 00:01:12,037 --> 00:01:14,259 joint staff and other key dod officials 36 00:01:14,259 --> 00:01:16,259 on the situation in Sudan . And has 37 00:01:16,259 --> 00:01:18,148 committed the department to fully 38 00:01:18,148 --> 00:01:20,092 support state department's ongoing 39 00:01:20,092 --> 00:01:22,230 efforts . Turning to other updates , 40 00:01:22,239 --> 00:01:24,295 the department continues to actively 41 00:01:24,295 --> 00:01:26,128 conduct the Secretary of Defense 42 00:01:26,128 --> 00:01:28,183 directed comprehensive review of dod 43 00:01:28,183 --> 00:01:29,949 security programs policies and 44 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:32,129 procedures . In the wake of recent 45 00:01:32,139 --> 00:01:34,306 unauthorized disclosure of documents . 46 00:01:34,540 --> 00:01:36,318 Toward that end , the dod Chief 47 00:01:36,318 --> 00:01:38,540 Information Officer issued a memo today 48 00:01:38,540 --> 00:01:40,707 that provides implementing guidance to 49 00:01:40,707 --> 00:01:42,929 the dod components and validating their 50 00:01:42,929 --> 00:01:45,151 compliance with cyber security controls 51 00:01:45,151 --> 00:01:47,318 on all systems and networks , focusing 52 00:01:47,318 --> 00:01:48,929 on access control , auditing 53 00:01:48,929 --> 00:01:51,040 capabilities and user activity 54 00:01:51,050 --> 00:01:53,489 monitoring . We will post a copy of the 55 00:01:53,500 --> 00:01:55,739 memo to defense dot gov later today . 56 00:01:56,180 --> 00:01:57,902 And as we've made very clear , 57 00:01:57,902 --> 00:02:00,124 Secretary Austin and the dod are taking 58 00:02:00,124 --> 00:02:01,902 this unauthorized disclosure of 59 00:02:01,902 --> 00:02:03,847 documents very seriously and we'll 60 00:02:03,847 --> 00:02:05,902 continue to do so . Separately . The 61 00:02:05,902 --> 00:02:08,013 secretary concluded a very successful 62 00:02:08,013 --> 00:02:10,124 trip last week to Sweden where he met 63 00:02:10,124 --> 00:02:11,902 with his counterpart to discuss 64 00:02:11,902 --> 00:02:14,013 security related topics shared by our 65 00:02:14,013 --> 00:02:16,013 two nations . During the visit . He 66 00:02:16,013 --> 00:02:18,180 emphasized us support for Sweden's bid 67 00:02:18,180 --> 00:02:20,291 to join NATO and that we look forward 68 00:02:20,291 --> 00:02:22,402 to them soon becoming the 32nd member 69 00:02:22,402 --> 00:02:24,236 of the alliance from there . The 70 00:02:24,236 --> 00:02:26,458 Secretary and General Milley hosted the 71 00:02:26,458 --> 00:02:28,624 11 th Ukraine defense contact group at 72 00:02:28,624 --> 00:02:30,791 Ramstein Air Base , which continues to 73 00:02:30,791 --> 00:02:32,902 be an essential forum for identifying 74 00:02:32,902 --> 00:02:32,830 synchronizing , ensuring the delivery 75 00:02:32,839 --> 00:02:34,699 of military capabilities . The 76 00:02:34,710 --> 00:02:36,488 Ukrainians need to defend their 77 00:02:36,488 --> 00:02:38,599 homeland against Russian aggression . 78 00:02:38,599 --> 00:02:40,543 With that . I'm happy to take your 79 00:02:40,543 --> 00:02:42,766 questions . We'll go ahead and go first 80 00:02:42,766 --> 00:02:45,149 to Reuters . Uh You mentioned uh naval 81 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:47,990 assets um near Sudan . Uh How many 82 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,222 naval assets are there ? And , and what 83 00:02:50,222 --> 00:02:52,444 is the expectation that they would do ? 84 00:02:52,444 --> 00:02:54,667 Would they go into port and help assist 85 00:02:54,667 --> 00:02:56,722 people coming out or , or what's the 86 00:02:56,722 --> 00:02:58,778 plan um for that ? And then I have a 87 00:02:58,778 --> 00:02:58,660 separate follow up ? Sure , thanks 88 00:02:58,669 --> 00:03:00,780 Idris . Uh So right now we've got the 89 00:03:00,780 --> 00:03:03,500 US S which is off the coast of Sudan , 90 00:03:03,509 --> 00:03:06,710 near Port Sudan . Uh It will uh stay 91 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:08,887 there awaiting further orders . Should 92 00:03:08,887 --> 00:03:11,759 it be needed uh to support ? Also en 93 00:03:11,770 --> 00:03:14,320 route is the US S polar . So again , 94 00:03:14,330 --> 00:03:16,509 those capabilities will be there . 95 00:03:16,570 --> 00:03:19,029 Should we , should we need to use them 96 00:03:19,039 --> 00:03:20,872 in support of state department's 97 00:03:20,872 --> 00:03:23,095 efforts ? And , and on the evacuation , 98 00:03:23,095 --> 00:03:25,206 does secretary believe that the State 99 00:03:25,206 --> 00:03:27,428 Department requested an evacuation in a 100 00:03:27,428 --> 00:03:29,539 timely manner or does he believe that 101 00:03:29,539 --> 00:03:31,669 if a request was made sooner , um 102 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,111 potentially more Americans could have 103 00:03:34,111 --> 00:03:36,222 been moved out . Uh So Idris , uh the 104 00:03:36,222 --> 00:03:38,429 secretary has been following this 105 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:40,369 situation very closely ever since 106 00:03:40,380 --> 00:03:44,080 violence broke out in Sudan . Uh I can 107 00:03:44,089 --> 00:03:46,580 tell you that he has been engaged on 108 00:03:46,589 --> 00:03:49,119 this daily uh with the State Department 109 00:03:49,130 --> 00:03:51,539 and the Interagency . Uh And so again , 110 00:03:51,550 --> 00:03:54,759 we moved very quickly uh professionally 111 00:03:54,770 --> 00:03:57,259 and precisely uh when called upon to do 112 00:03:57,270 --> 00:03:58,270 so . Thank you . 113 00:04:02,830 --> 00:04:05,240 Two questions related to Sudan first on 114 00:04:05,250 --> 00:04:07,960 the I S R capabilities . Is that 115 00:04:07,970 --> 00:04:09,970 supposed to be 24 7 monitoring ? Is 116 00:04:09,970 --> 00:04:12,192 that only during the day time ? And how 117 00:04:12,192 --> 00:04:14,414 long do you anticipate keeping up those 118 00:04:14,414 --> 00:04:13,960 capabilities . And then on the 119 00:04:13,970 --> 00:04:16,137 deconfliction cell you set up in shoot 120 00:04:16,260 --> 00:04:18,350 is that in touch with either of the 121 00:04:18,359 --> 00:04:20,470 warring parties , either the Sudanese 122 00:04:20,470 --> 00:04:22,526 armed forces or the R S F as well as 123 00:04:22,526 --> 00:04:24,748 partners and allies . Sure , on the I S 124 00:04:24,748 --> 00:04:26,890 R , it is 24 7 capability . And that 125 00:04:26,899 --> 00:04:29,579 again is enabling us to support state 126 00:04:29,589 --> 00:04:32,609 department efforts in terms of keeping , 127 00:04:32,619 --> 00:04:34,619 maintaining an understanding of the 128 00:04:34,619 --> 00:04:36,730 situation on the ground in order to , 129 00:04:36,730 --> 00:04:38,786 for example , look at potential land 130 00:04:38,786 --> 00:04:42,369 routes out of Sudan . Um And then in 131 00:04:42,380 --> 00:04:45,850 terms of the deconfliction cell , uh I 132 00:04:45,859 --> 00:04:48,950 would tell you , uh largely uh speaking 133 00:04:48,959 --> 00:04:52,510 USA has been in contact uh 134 00:04:52,519 --> 00:04:55,769 with the generals uh as have other 135 00:04:55,779 --> 00:04:58,269 senior dod officials . Uh for example , 136 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:00,335 to include the chairman of the joint 137 00:05:00,335 --> 00:05:02,501 chiefs uh in terms of keeping lines of 138 00:05:02,501 --> 00:05:04,557 communication open . Uh And so I , I 139 00:05:04,557 --> 00:05:06,839 would imagine that a will continue to 140 00:05:06,850 --> 00:05:08,850 do that as part of their efforts to 141 00:05:08,850 --> 00:05:10,461 obtain information and share 142 00:05:10,461 --> 00:05:14,459 information . Thank you , Jen . Thanks 143 00:05:14,470 --> 00:05:18,320 Pat . Can you explain why the 144 00:05:18,329 --> 00:05:20,420 airfield where some of the other 145 00:05:20,429 --> 00:05:24,380 international military airlift planes 146 00:05:24,390 --> 00:05:26,557 are landing and lifting off ? We got a 147 00:05:26,557 --> 00:05:28,723 report that the French had taken about 148 00:05:28,723 --> 00:05:31,750 400 people out from this airfield . Why 149 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,390 is the US not sending in planes there 150 00:05:34,399 --> 00:05:37,470 to get Americans out ? Ok . So 151 00:05:38,350 --> 00:05:40,461 taking a step back and looking at the 152 00:05:40,461 --> 00:05:42,799 operation that we conducted uh again , 153 00:05:42,809 --> 00:05:45,839 um we believe that uh in our planning , 154 00:05:45,850 --> 00:05:48,470 we executed the operation in the safest 155 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:50,702 most effective way possible in terms of 156 00:05:50,702 --> 00:05:53,540 evacuating us government personnel . Um 157 00:05:53,549 --> 00:05:55,660 You've heard State Department and the 158 00:05:55,660 --> 00:05:57,827 White House talk to the situation with 159 00:05:57,827 --> 00:05:59,938 Americans who may still be in Sudan , 160 00:05:59,938 --> 00:06:01,549 uh who wish to leave . We're 161 00:06:01,549 --> 00:06:03,716 coordinating uh the State Department . 162 00:06:03,716 --> 00:06:05,771 I know and I , I'd refer you to them 163 00:06:05,771 --> 00:06:07,993 for further details is uh making itself 164 00:06:07,993 --> 00:06:09,993 available to communicate with those 165 00:06:09,993 --> 00:06:12,049 Americans wishing to leave , to find 166 00:06:12,049 --> 00:06:14,216 the best way possible for them to , to 167 00:06:14,216 --> 00:06:16,216 get out of the country . Uh Again , 168 00:06:16,216 --> 00:06:18,216 from a dod standpoint , uh We are a 169 00:06:18,216 --> 00:06:20,216 planning organization . We're gonna 170 00:06:20,216 --> 00:06:22,382 continue to look at a variety of means 171 00:06:22,382 --> 00:06:24,549 and methods uh should state department 172 00:06:24,549 --> 00:06:26,660 call on us for support ? Uh And we'll 173 00:06:26,660 --> 00:06:28,549 continue to do that . But are you 174 00:06:28,549 --> 00:06:30,493 helping the other nations that are 175 00:06:30,493 --> 00:06:33,579 sending warplanes in uh to lift their 176 00:06:33,589 --> 00:06:36,260 citizens out ? Are you helping with 177 00:06:36,269 --> 00:06:38,325 that deconfliction ? Are you helping 178 00:06:38,325 --> 00:06:40,491 them so that there aren't any ? So our 179 00:06:40,491 --> 00:06:42,602 coordination cell uh out of Africa is 180 00:06:42,602 --> 00:06:45,339 coordinating closely with allies and 181 00:06:45,350 --> 00:06:46,961 partners in terms of sharing 182 00:06:46,961 --> 00:06:49,019 information uh and maintaining those 183 00:06:49,029 --> 00:06:50,918 open lines of communication as it 184 00:06:50,918 --> 00:06:52,585 relates to not only their own 185 00:06:52,585 --> 00:06:54,529 operations , but also keeping them 186 00:06:54,529 --> 00:06:56,307 updated in terms of what the US 187 00:06:56,307 --> 00:06:58,529 government is doing . Thank you . Go to 188 00:06:58,529 --> 00:07:02,519 Tony . I don't want a 189 00:07:02,529 --> 00:07:04,585 Sudan and one Ukraine question the , 190 00:07:04,585 --> 00:07:06,529 the extraction force from Saturday 191 00:07:06,529 --> 00:07:08,529 night was that part of the standing 192 00:07:08,529 --> 00:07:10,696 organization that the Pentagon sent up 193 00:07:10,696 --> 00:07:12,739 after Benghazi this quick reaction 194 00:07:12,750 --> 00:07:14,861 forces for the region to prevent what 195 00:07:14,861 --> 00:07:16,940 happened in 2012 . Yeah . So I don't 196 00:07:16,950 --> 00:07:19,260 want to get into the specific uh units 197 00:07:19,269 --> 00:07:21,269 other than to say they were special 198 00:07:21,269 --> 00:07:23,325 operations forces . As you know , we 199 00:07:23,325 --> 00:07:25,859 did move uh some military capabilities 200 00:07:25,869 --> 00:07:28,339 into the region last week to be ready . 201 00:07:28,380 --> 00:07:30,700 Should the order be given uh which it 202 00:07:30,709 --> 00:07:32,910 was uh and so I'll just leave it at 203 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:34,920 that . It was that it was basically 204 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:36,976 they were set , they weren't part of 205 00:07:36,976 --> 00:07:39,198 that standing force that was uh in , in 206 00:07:39,198 --> 00:07:41,420 place and to Spain and then deployed to 207 00:07:41,420 --> 00:07:43,531 the region . Um I I would say we have 208 00:07:43,531 --> 00:07:45,642 capabilities already in the region uh 209 00:07:45,642 --> 00:07:47,809 that , that obviously assisted uh with 210 00:07:47,809 --> 00:07:49,587 this effort , but we did deploy 211 00:07:49,587 --> 00:07:51,809 additional capabilities from outside uh 212 00:07:51,809 --> 00:07:54,049 that area of responsibility to be able 213 00:07:54,059 --> 00:07:56,226 to be available for these operations . 214 00:07:56,226 --> 00:07:58,281 Tanks . The Secretary on Friday said 215 00:07:58,281 --> 00:08:00,115 the first of the M one tanks for 216 00:08:00,115 --> 00:08:02,281 training purposes , he is getting over 217 00:08:02,281 --> 00:08:04,337 to Ukraine fairly soon . Was that uh 218 00:08:04,337 --> 00:08:06,281 one of those tanks off of the Lima 219 00:08:06,281 --> 00:08:06,279 production line , one of the 220 00:08:06,290 --> 00:08:10,170 refurbished hulls and when roughly 221 00:08:10,179 --> 00:08:12,179 made the rest of the tanks get over 222 00:08:12,179 --> 00:08:13,901 there , has that timeline been 223 00:08:13,901 --> 00:08:16,339 accelerated . So , so these tanks will 224 00:08:16,350 --> 00:08:18,640 be for training purposes only . These 225 00:08:18,649 --> 00:08:20,910 will not be the refurbished tanks that 226 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,859 eventually go to Ukraine . And that is 227 00:08:23,869 --> 00:08:25,899 because those refurbished tanks are 228 00:08:25,910 --> 00:08:27,619 being produced to Ukraine's 229 00:08:27,630 --> 00:08:30,519 specifications uh And they will be used 230 00:08:30,529 --> 00:08:33,780 in actual combat uh by providing these 231 00:08:33,789 --> 00:08:35,789 training tanks which are not coming 232 00:08:35,789 --> 00:08:38,090 from the active army stocks . These are 233 00:08:38,299 --> 00:08:40,521 uh coming from other sources within the 234 00:08:40,521 --> 00:08:42,838 inventory uh to that , that will enable 235 00:08:42,848 --> 00:08:44,959 us to do the training concurrent with 236 00:08:44,959 --> 00:08:47,181 the production of the tanks which again 237 00:08:47,181 --> 00:08:49,126 a refurbishment of the tanks which 238 00:08:49,126 --> 00:08:50,904 again allows us to expedite the 239 00:08:50,904 --> 00:08:53,015 timeline so that they can be training 240 00:08:53,015 --> 00:08:54,904 on operations on maintenance , on 241 00:08:54,904 --> 00:08:56,959 sustainment . Uh Then the two uh the 242 00:08:56,959 --> 00:08:59,126 personnel will marry up with the tanks 243 00:08:59,126 --> 00:09:01,181 obviously before the end of the year 244 00:09:01,181 --> 00:09:03,292 for delivery to Ukraine on training , 245 00:09:03,292 --> 00:09:05,015 will they be using distributed 246 00:09:05,015 --> 00:09:07,237 simulation from Fort Benning , the army 247 00:09:07,237 --> 00:09:09,404 armor school there ? In terms of , you 248 00:09:09,404 --> 00:09:09,359 know , long distance simulator training 249 00:09:09,369 --> 00:09:12,200 via V T C or to help , help that along 250 00:09:12,210 --> 00:09:14,043 or is it basically on the ground 251 00:09:14,043 --> 00:09:16,043 training with drivers right there ? 252 00:09:16,043 --> 00:09:19,119 Yeah , so Tony , so uh I don't have an 253 00:09:19,130 --> 00:09:21,130 answer to that question right now . 254 00:09:21,130 --> 00:09:23,241 Certainly in the days ahead , we'll , 255 00:09:23,241 --> 00:09:25,297 we'll have more information . Uh The 256 00:09:25,297 --> 00:09:27,463 training will take place at Graen Beer 257 00:09:27,463 --> 00:09:29,519 in Germany . Uh And as you know , uh 258 00:09:29,519 --> 00:09:31,686 they use a variety of means to conduct 259 00:09:31,686 --> 00:09:33,908 that training . The , the training that 260 00:09:33,908 --> 00:09:33,880 they will be doing in Germany will be 261 00:09:33,890 --> 00:09:36,359 actually on the tanks ? There'll be 31 262 00:09:36,369 --> 00:09:38,989 of them , uh 31 training tanks provided 263 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,222 to Ukrainian personnel so that they can 264 00:09:41,222 --> 00:09:43,389 again train like they're gonna fight . 265 00:09:43,390 --> 00:09:44,919 So thank you , Laura , 266 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:50,047 thanks Pat . Um Just back on the naval 267 00:09:50,047 --> 00:09:52,213 capabilities . Can you say I , I , you 268 00:09:52,213 --> 00:09:54,324 said the US S truck and then I didn't 269 00:09:54,324 --> 00:09:56,690 catch the second one , US S Polar P U L 270 00:09:56,700 --> 00:09:58,867 L . And , and can you , can you say uh 271 00:09:58,867 --> 00:10:00,922 what capabilities those will bring ? 272 00:10:00,922 --> 00:10:02,922 Are they , what types of fish of uh 273 00:10:02,922 --> 00:10:05,033 ships are they ? Excuse me ? And then 274 00:10:05,033 --> 00:10:07,144 I'll have a follow up . Yeah , the uh 275 00:10:07,144 --> 00:10:09,729 the truck is a uh early burke class 276 00:10:09,739 --> 00:10:13,580 destroyer . Uh again , and the , the 277 00:10:13,590 --> 00:10:15,900 idea here is to have these capabilities 278 00:10:15,909 --> 00:10:18,099 offshore available . Should we need , 279 00:10:18,109 --> 00:10:20,830 for example , to transport citizens to 280 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:23,062 another location ? Uh Should we need to 281 00:10:23,070 --> 00:10:25,270 provide medical care , those kinds of 282 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:27,169 things ? So , again , positioning 283 00:10:27,169 --> 00:10:29,224 assets to be ready , if asked and if 284 00:10:29,224 --> 00:10:31,336 needed . Uh and so , you know , as we 285 00:10:31,336 --> 00:10:33,558 move forward , certainly , if we are in 286 00:10:33,558 --> 00:10:35,447 a position to have to employ that 287 00:10:35,447 --> 00:10:37,558 capability , we'll keep you updated . 288 00:10:37,558 --> 00:10:37,549 And just as a follow up , my 289 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:39,726 understanding is the nearest the ships 290 00:10:39,726 --> 00:10:41,726 are , are pretty far away , there's 291 00:10:41,726 --> 00:10:43,948 none in the immediate vicinity . So are 292 00:10:43,948 --> 00:10:46,059 you going to be using destroyers in a 293 00:10:46,059 --> 00:10:48,281 humanitarian mission ? And what kind of 294 00:10:48,281 --> 00:10:50,448 signal that I would look at it less as 295 00:10:50,448 --> 00:10:52,781 a destroyer and more as a floating ship , 296 00:10:52,781 --> 00:10:54,781 you know , as a ship , a capability 297 00:10:54,781 --> 00:10:57,003 that comes with it . Uh a variety of uh 298 00:10:57,003 --> 00:10:59,170 of capabilities to include transport . 299 00:10:59,170 --> 00:11:01,281 Right ? So again , right now , to our 300 00:11:01,281 --> 00:11:03,281 knowledge , we're not talking large 301 00:11:03,281 --> 00:11:05,380 numbers of Americans looking to come 302 00:11:05,390 --> 00:11:07,557 out of Sudan . But again , in the days 303 00:11:07,557 --> 00:11:09,723 ahead , we'll stay closely coordinated 304 00:11:09,723 --> 00:11:11,890 with the State Department , they're in 305 00:11:11,890 --> 00:11:11,429 the lead and we'll be prepared to 306 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:13,662 support them . Thank you . We go to the 307 00:11:13,662 --> 00:11:17,359 back to here . General two questions on 308 00:11:17,369 --> 00:11:19,719 Sudan . Secretary B . Lincoln today 309 00:11:20,039 --> 00:11:22,659 said that the United States is going to 310 00:11:22,669 --> 00:11:25,080 facilitate American citizens to take 311 00:11:25,090 --> 00:11:28,280 part in the convoys traveling from to 312 00:11:28,539 --> 00:11:31,289 to port Sudan . Will the dod in any way 313 00:11:31,299 --> 00:11:33,890 provide any kind of air cover to the 314 00:11:33,900 --> 00:11:36,122 convoy ? Because Blinken mentioned also 315 00:11:36,122 --> 00:11:38,489 some robberies and looting . Uh some of 316 00:11:38,500 --> 00:11:40,722 the convoys . Are you talking about the 317 00:11:40,722 --> 00:11:43,700 UN convoy ? Yeah , un convoy . So to my 318 00:11:43,710 --> 00:11:45,766 knowledge , the UN convoy made it to 319 00:11:45,766 --> 00:11:48,419 port Sudan . Uh My understanding again , 320 00:11:48,429 --> 00:11:49,929 I'd refer to the UN but my 321 00:11:49,929 --> 00:11:52,040 understanding is uh they largely made 322 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:54,440 it there without incident . Um We did 323 00:11:54,450 --> 00:11:58,239 provide I S R uh Overwatch of 324 00:11:58,250 --> 00:12:00,849 that . And uh so that's the extent of 325 00:12:00,859 --> 00:12:03,081 the support that we provided . And also 326 00:12:03,081 --> 00:12:05,137 at the today at the State Department 327 00:12:05,137 --> 00:12:06,970 during the press conference with 328 00:12:06,970 --> 00:12:09,137 Secretary Lincoln , the Kenyan Foreign 329 00:12:09,137 --> 00:12:11,303 Minister mentioned some Middle Eastern 330 00:12:11,303 --> 00:12:13,700 allies , partners and also Russia 331 00:12:13,710 --> 00:12:17,530 specifically siding with the parties to 332 00:12:17,539 --> 00:12:20,809 the war in Sudan . Uh Did you have any 333 00:12:20,820 --> 00:12:23,719 uh visibility on what the Russians are 334 00:12:23,729 --> 00:12:26,679 doing uh in the war ? Are they actively 335 00:12:26,690 --> 00:12:29,409 supporting any side in the war ? And do 336 00:12:29,419 --> 00:12:31,586 you have any visibility into that ? Um 337 00:12:31,586 --> 00:12:33,530 I really don't . Uh So I'd have to 338 00:12:33,530 --> 00:12:35,475 refer you to the mod . I have seen 339 00:12:35,475 --> 00:12:37,390 press reports about Wagner Group 340 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:41,340 potentially uh reaching out uh to uh 341 00:12:41,349 --> 00:12:43,609 one to the R S F . But again , just 342 00:12:43,619 --> 00:12:45,563 press reports at this point . Um , 343 00:12:45,563 --> 00:12:47,563 you've heard our State Department , 344 00:12:47,563 --> 00:12:49,786 you've heard our White House talk about 345 00:12:49,786 --> 00:12:51,730 the fact , uh , that we vehemently 346 00:12:51,730 --> 00:12:53,690 oppose any outside influences , 347 00:12:53,700 --> 00:12:55,756 perpetuating the conflict . Uh , but 348 00:12:55,756 --> 00:12:59,289 again , I have for you to , to , to the , 349 00:12:59,299 --> 00:13:02,250 the other partner countries asking help 350 00:13:02,260 --> 00:13:03,982 from the duty . Did any of the 351 00:13:03,982 --> 00:13:06,200 countries and partner countries ask 352 00:13:06,210 --> 00:13:09,510 specifically us military lift to , to 353 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:12,750 ever their uh their diplomats or their 354 00:13:12,969 --> 00:13:15,191 uh employees ? Yeah , when it , when it 355 00:13:15,191 --> 00:13:17,191 comes to the evacuation of citizens 356 00:13:17,191 --> 00:13:19,413 from Sudan , I'd I'd refer you to State 357 00:13:19,413 --> 00:13:21,636 Department for that . Thank you . Yes , 358 00:13:21,636 --> 00:13:24,330 sir . Hi . So I just wanted to check uh 359 00:13:24,340 --> 00:13:26,507 these , but I think both the secretary 360 00:13:26,507 --> 00:13:28,673 and the president thanked Saudi Arabia 361 00:13:28,673 --> 00:13:30,896 for their support in the operation . Uh 362 00:13:30,896 --> 00:13:33,007 saying it was critical to the success 363 00:13:33,007 --> 00:13:32,630 of the evacuation . I was just 364 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:34,640 wondering if you tell us what Saudi 365 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:36,807 Arabia contributed . Yeah . So uh as I 366 00:13:36,807 --> 00:13:38,973 mentioned in , in , at the top several 367 00:13:38,973 --> 00:13:41,029 countries uh were essential . Um I'm 368 00:13:41,029 --> 00:13:43,029 not gonna speak for those countries 369 00:13:43,029 --> 00:13:42,950 other than to say that the support that 370 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:45,489 they provided uh was unique for each 371 00:13:45,500 --> 00:13:47,278 one . Um But again , we're very 372 00:13:47,278 --> 00:13:49,389 grateful for the assistance that they 373 00:13:49,389 --> 00:13:51,611 provided . Thank you very much . Let me 374 00:13:51,611 --> 00:13:53,722 go over to Chris and then we'll go to 375 00:13:54,130 --> 00:13:56,352 uh this , this Chris right here . There 376 00:13:56,352 --> 00:13:59,049 you go . Thanks . And then we'll get 377 00:13:59,059 --> 00:14:02,369 back to you if I could follow up on you 378 00:14:02,380 --> 00:14:05,729 mentioned the uh I S R Overwatch um for 379 00:14:05,739 --> 00:14:08,710 these uh manned aircraft , unmanned 380 00:14:08,719 --> 00:14:11,469 aircraft uh that you had up . So these 381 00:14:11,479 --> 00:14:14,099 are unmanned aerial vehicles . I'm not 382 00:14:14,109 --> 00:14:16,109 gonna get into the specifics of the 383 00:14:16,109 --> 00:14:18,331 type of platform other than to say , uh 384 00:14:18,331 --> 00:14:20,869 we're providing uh unmanned aerial 385 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:24,400 vehicle over correct and uh 386 00:14:24,409 --> 00:14:27,179 supporting the operation . Uh uh 387 00:14:27,190 --> 00:14:29,739 Presumably it wasn't just the the 100 388 00:14:29,750 --> 00:14:32,010 soft forces . Uh Did you have any 389 00:14:32,150 --> 00:14:35,229 aircraft over the country ? Then ? Um 390 00:14:35,239 --> 00:14:37,295 again , I'm in , in talking about in 391 00:14:37,295 --> 00:14:39,517 terms of the evacuation in the , during 392 00:14:39,517 --> 00:14:41,683 the evacuation Saturday . Yeah , I'm , 393 00:14:41,683 --> 00:14:43,850 I'm not gonna get into the specific uh 394 00:14:43,850 --> 00:14:45,961 force package . Uh Clearly , any time 395 00:14:45,961 --> 00:14:45,820 we conduct an operation like this , we 396 00:14:45,830 --> 00:14:48,052 are going to take the capabilities , we 397 00:14:48,052 --> 00:14:50,549 need to ensure that our forces uh are 398 00:14:50,559 --> 00:14:53,520 protected . Um But I'll just leave it 399 00:14:53,530 --> 00:14:55,808 at that for operation security reasons . 400 00:14:55,808 --> 00:14:57,863 Thank you . All right . Let me go to 401 00:14:57,863 --> 00:14:57,330 Rio and then Matt , 402 00:15:02,369 --> 00:15:04,591 right . Thank you very much . I want to 403 00:15:04,591 --> 00:15:07,169 ask you about Australia that Australia 404 00:15:07,179 --> 00:15:09,679 rolled out a new defense strategic 405 00:15:09,690 --> 00:15:11,523 review the following the Japan's 406 00:15:11,523 --> 00:15:13,357 release of the National security 407 00:15:13,357 --> 00:15:15,630 documents in December . So , is it fair 408 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:17,669 to say the arms race in the in the 409 00:15:17,679 --> 00:15:20,539 Pacific region has become intensified 410 00:15:20,549 --> 00:15:22,979 as China continues to increase the 411 00:15:22,989 --> 00:15:24,767 military build up ? Is that the 412 00:15:24,767 --> 00:15:26,767 Pentagon's concern ? Yeah , I'm I'm 413 00:15:26,767 --> 00:15:28,822 sorry , there's a little bit of side 414 00:15:28,822 --> 00:15:31,045 noise there . Can , can you repeat that 415 00:15:31,045 --> 00:15:34,440 the Australia rolled out a new uh new 416 00:15:34,450 --> 00:15:38,070 defense defense uh strategic review 417 00:15:38,289 --> 00:15:40,340 and , and Japan also rolled out 418 00:15:40,349 --> 00:15:43,340 national security document in December . 419 00:15:43,349 --> 00:15:46,380 So I wonder if there is a , the arms 420 00:15:46,390 --> 00:15:48,557 race happening in the , in the Pacific 421 00:15:48,557 --> 00:15:50,279 region or arms race has become 422 00:15:50,279 --> 00:15:53,349 intensified as China continues to 423 00:15:53,359 --> 00:15:56,140 increase the military build up . Sure . 424 00:15:56,460 --> 00:15:58,859 Um well , I don't want to put words in 425 00:15:58,869 --> 00:16:01,830 anyone's mouth or uh you know , answer 426 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:04,007 a potentially leading question . Let's 427 00:16:04,007 --> 00:16:06,062 just say if we step back and look at 428 00:16:06,062 --> 00:16:08,118 the situation in the Indo Pacific uh 429 00:16:08,118 --> 00:16:10,619 and the actions that China has taken in 430 00:16:10,630 --> 00:16:13,729 terms of uh military , build up 431 00:16:13,739 --> 00:16:16,960 coercion , uh provocative behavior . I 432 00:16:16,969 --> 00:16:19,719 think what you're seeing are nations in 433 00:16:19,729 --> 00:16:21,950 the region uh recognizing that that 434 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:25,030 poses a challenge . Um You've also 435 00:16:25,039 --> 00:16:27,450 heard us talk about the fact that our 436 00:16:27,460 --> 00:16:29,979 focus in terms of working with allies 437 00:16:29,989 --> 00:16:32,039 and partners is to preserve peace , 438 00:16:32,049 --> 00:16:34,960 stability , uh and freedom of 439 00:16:34,969 --> 00:16:37,239 navigation , freedom of maneuver uh in 440 00:16:37,250 --> 00:16:39,417 the region . And so that will continue 441 00:16:39,417 --> 00:16:41,472 to be our focus . Uh I don't want to 442 00:16:41,472 --> 00:16:43,583 speak for other nations other than to 443 00:16:43,583 --> 00:16:45,806 say , I think they also are recognizing 444 00:16:45,806 --> 00:16:47,917 the challenges that China is posing . 445 00:16:47,917 --> 00:16:50,139 Um But for our part , we'll continue to 446 00:16:50,139 --> 00:16:49,809 work closely with our allies and 447 00:16:49,820 --> 00:16:52,190 partners to again uh promote peace , 448 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:54,900 stability and freedom to fly sail and 449 00:16:54,909 --> 00:16:56,853 operate wherever international law 450 00:16:56,853 --> 00:16:58,909 allows . Thank you . We go to Matt . 451 00:17:02,750 --> 00:17:04,917 Uh Thanks General . I just also wanted 452 00:17:04,917 --> 00:17:07,139 to follow up on the strategic review in 453 00:17:07,139 --> 00:17:09,420 Australia . Um Is there anything in 454 00:17:09,430 --> 00:17:12,530 that review if implemented uh would 455 00:17:12,540 --> 00:17:14,949 change the way America operates in the 456 00:17:14,959 --> 00:17:18,948 Pacific . And also can I ask um one 457 00:17:18,958 --> 00:17:21,249 of the uh actions that the government 458 00:17:21,259 --> 00:17:23,688 of Australia will take is fast tracking 459 00:17:23,698 --> 00:17:27,458 uh its own missile productions . Um And 460 00:17:27,468 --> 00:17:29,909 given America has its own bottlenecks 461 00:17:29,918 --> 00:17:32,418 and constraint supply chain constraints 462 00:17:32,428 --> 00:17:34,509 with missile production . Would the 463 00:17:34,519 --> 00:17:37,759 Pentagon look favorably on um Australia 464 00:17:37,769 --> 00:17:40,619 doing a ? Yeah , thanks very much . Uh 465 00:17:40,630 --> 00:17:43,560 So in terms of the , the review itself , 466 00:17:43,569 --> 00:17:46,050 um Matt , I , I'd refer you to 467 00:17:46,060 --> 00:17:48,338 Australia to talk about its review and , 468 00:17:48,338 --> 00:17:50,504 and what it can and can't do as far as 469 00:17:50,504 --> 00:17:52,727 the Department of Defense goes . Um You 470 00:17:52,727 --> 00:17:54,782 saw the statement that the secretary 471 00:17:54,782 --> 00:17:56,979 issued today um very supportive of the 472 00:17:56,989 --> 00:17:59,319 uh the Strategic Review . Uh So I , I , 473 00:17:59,329 --> 00:18:01,589 I think that speaks for itself uh in 474 00:18:01,599 --> 00:18:03,932 terms of your , your uh second question , 475 00:18:03,932 --> 00:18:05,877 I'll have to take that and we'll , 476 00:18:05,877 --> 00:18:07,932 we'll come back to you on that one . 477 00:18:07,932 --> 00:18:09,821 Thank you very much . Yes , sir . 478 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:14,489 Thank you general . Um Does the dod in 479 00:18:14,500 --> 00:18:17,319 contact with either of these leaders in 480 00:18:17,329 --> 00:18:20,709 Sudan of this infection 481 00:18:21,260 --> 00:18:23,459 that are fighting and if there is a 482 00:18:23,469 --> 00:18:25,979 contact with them , um just that 483 00:18:25,989 --> 00:18:29,099 contact , talking about any evacuation , 484 00:18:29,109 --> 00:18:31,250 maybe in coming operations , 485 00:18:31,260 --> 00:18:34,900 evacuations or about the deescalating 486 00:18:34,910 --> 00:18:37,760 in Sudan . Thank you . So as I , as I 487 00:18:37,770 --> 00:18:40,500 mentioned , yes , there has been dod 488 00:18:40,510 --> 00:18:43,819 contact with both the , the generals 489 00:18:44,069 --> 00:18:47,680 leading the Sudanese Armed Forces as 490 00:18:47,689 --> 00:18:50,260 well as the R S F . I'm not going to 491 00:18:50,270 --> 00:18:52,326 get into the specifics of what those 492 00:18:52,326 --> 00:18:54,659 conversations entailed other than again , 493 00:18:54,659 --> 00:18:57,739 to communicate our intent to evacuate 494 00:18:57,750 --> 00:19:01,540 our personnel and also ensuring that 495 00:19:01,550 --> 00:19:05,239 we're ensuring situational awareness uh 496 00:19:05,250 --> 00:19:07,829 as we look to support State 497 00:19:07,839 --> 00:19:10,061 Department's efforts going forward . Uh 498 00:19:10,061 --> 00:19:12,283 Again , it's not just the Department of 499 00:19:12,283 --> 00:19:14,395 Defense , you know , state Department 500 00:19:14,395 --> 00:19:16,228 has also reached out . Uh So I'd 501 00:19:16,228 --> 00:19:18,283 recommend you talk to them as well . 502 00:19:18,283 --> 00:19:22,170 Thank you . Yes , ma'am , General 503 00:19:22,180 --> 00:19:24,513 Kimberly Underwood from Signal Magazine . 504 00:19:24,513 --> 00:19:26,847 I wanted to ask about Mr Sherman's memo . 505 00:19:26,847 --> 00:19:28,958 Could you enumerate if possible , the 506 00:19:28,958 --> 00:19:30,791 secretary's , I guess , input or 507 00:19:30,791 --> 00:19:32,902 guidance as far as the cyber security 508 00:19:32,902 --> 00:19:35,550 controls that were , were a priority 509 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:37,671 for him that he kind of wanted to see 510 00:19:37,671 --> 00:19:41,349 and also any first steps . Um uh 511 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:43,526 Thanks for much for the question . I I 512 00:19:43,526 --> 00:19:45,420 would point you to the memo that 513 00:19:45,430 --> 00:19:48,030 Secretary Austin uh issued recently in 514 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:51,479 terms of the direction of the dod 515 00:19:51,489 --> 00:19:54,359 review of security , uh cyber security , 516 00:19:54,599 --> 00:19:57,280 which really lays out his priorities uh 517 00:19:57,290 --> 00:19:59,989 on this front . And so again , um when 518 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:03,260 we have uh Mr Sherman's uh memo 519 00:20:03,270 --> 00:20:05,381 available , we'll get that to you and 520 00:20:05,381 --> 00:20:07,492 that , that will also help uh further 521 00:20:07,492 --> 00:20:09,714 explain what it is specifically they're 522 00:20:09,714 --> 00:20:11,714 they're looking to do . Thank you . 523 00:20:11,714 --> 00:20:15,449 Yeah , thank you , General . And 524 00:20:15,500 --> 00:20:18,329 my question is about R O K and extended 525 00:20:18,339 --> 00:20:20,599 deterrence earlier this month at the 526 00:20:20,609 --> 00:20:23,609 Korea Us Integrated Defense Dialogue . 527 00:20:23,619 --> 00:20:25,930 The readout said both sides discussed 528 00:20:25,939 --> 00:20:28,569 various ways to enhance us extended 529 00:20:28,579 --> 00:20:31,270 deterrence . And also this week R O K 530 00:20:31,334 --> 00:20:33,824 president will visit the US and 531 00:20:33,834 --> 00:20:36,415 extended deterrence will be the one of 532 00:20:36,425 --> 00:20:38,594 the major topics as there are growing 533 00:20:38,604 --> 00:20:41,135 concerns about extended deterrence in R 534 00:20:41,145 --> 00:20:44,064 O K . Could you please elaborate on how 535 00:20:44,074 --> 00:20:46,574 the US can enhance its extended 536 00:20:46,584 --> 00:20:50,454 deterrence to R O K ? And also are you 537 00:20:50,464 --> 00:20:53,234 confident that the US can reassure R O 538 00:20:53,244 --> 00:20:55,411 K on extended deterrence ? Yeah . No , 539 00:20:55,411 --> 00:20:57,466 we are very confident . Uh and we'll 540 00:20:57,466 --> 00:20:59,750 continue to work closely with our 541 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:03,109 allies in South Korea in terms 542 00:21:03,119 --> 00:21:05,520 of uh extended deterrence and how we 543 00:21:05,530 --> 00:21:08,380 can best work together to ensure again , 544 00:21:08,390 --> 00:21:11,199 safety , stability and security in the 545 00:21:11,209 --> 00:21:14,099 region . As you highlight uh President , 546 00:21:14,109 --> 00:21:16,780 you will be in Washington DC this week . 547 00:21:16,790 --> 00:21:19,068 He will visit the Pentagon on Thursday . 548 00:21:19,068 --> 00:21:20,957 Secretary Austin looks forward to 549 00:21:20,957 --> 00:21:22,957 hosting him and will certainly have 550 00:21:22,957 --> 00:21:25,123 much more to say after that visit . Um 551 00:21:25,123 --> 00:21:27,123 But again , um you've heard us talk 552 00:21:27,123 --> 00:21:30,170 about um the continuation of exercises 553 00:21:30,180 --> 00:21:32,810 working very closely in terms of uh 554 00:21:33,170 --> 00:21:35,448 strategic assets , visiting the region , 555 00:21:35,448 --> 00:21:37,869 uh deploying to the region uh to ensure 556 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:41,660 that we are uh demonstrating uh 557 00:21:42,010 --> 00:21:44,209 uh unity and resolve in terms of 558 00:21:44,219 --> 00:21:46,163 deterring potential aggression and 559 00:21:46,163 --> 00:21:48,386 we'll continue to do that . Thank you . 560 00:21:48,386 --> 00:21:51,569 Ok . I have 11 more question , Jen , a 561 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:53,510 quick follow up . Pat , were the 562 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:55,576 surveillance drones that were flying 563 00:21:55,576 --> 00:21:58,099 above that convoy route armed ? Um I 564 00:21:58,109 --> 00:21:59,998 don't wanna get into again to the 565 00:21:59,998 --> 00:22:02,489 specifics of the I S R . Um A again , 566 00:22:02,589 --> 00:22:04,700 well , we have capabilities available 567 00:22:04,700 --> 00:22:06,867 to us in terms of I S R capabilities . 568 00:22:06,867 --> 00:22:08,922 Um But that's about as specific as I 569 00:22:08,922 --> 00:22:11,145 can be . Thank you . Thanks very much , 570 00:22:11,145 --> 00:22:10,000 everybody .