1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:04,420 --> 00:00:06,642 All right , good afternoon , everyone . 3 00:00:07,639 --> 00:00:09,583 Hope you had a good Fourth of July 4 00:00:09,583 --> 00:00:11,695 holiday . I have a few things to pass 5 00:00:11,695 --> 00:00:13,917 along at the top and then I'll be happy 6 00:00:13,917 --> 00:00:15,750 to take your questions . Uh As I 7 00:00:15,750 --> 00:00:17,940 highlighted last week , July 1 was the 8 00:00:17,950 --> 00:00:20,061 50th anniversary of the All Volunteer 9 00:00:20,061 --> 00:00:22,149 Force to commemorate this important 10 00:00:22,159 --> 00:00:24,270 milestone . Secretary Austin traveled 11 00:00:24,270 --> 00:00:26,569 yesterday to Fort Meade Maryland to 12 00:00:26,579 --> 00:00:28,801 preside over an enlistment ceremony for 13 00:00:28,801 --> 00:00:30,635 85 new recruits at the Baltimore 14 00:00:30,635 --> 00:00:32,690 Military entrance processing station 15 00:00:32,959 --> 00:00:34,737 and to welcome them into the US 16 00:00:34,737 --> 00:00:37,130 military . As the secretary highlighted 17 00:00:37,330 --> 00:00:39,552 these recruits arrived at Fort Meade as 18 00:00:39,552 --> 00:00:41,719 individuals but left as part of a team 19 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,180 to quote Secretary Austin America's all 20 00:00:45,189 --> 00:00:47,022 volunteer force is the strongest 21 00:00:47,022 --> 00:00:49,022 military in human history . And the 22 00:00:49,022 --> 00:00:50,745 power of today's military is a 23 00:00:50,745 --> 00:00:53,009 testament to every American patriot who 24 00:00:53,020 --> 00:00:55,187 freely volunteers to keep our republic 25 00:00:55,187 --> 00:00:58,450 safe . In other news , Secretary Austin 26 00:00:58,459 --> 00:01:00,515 conducted separate phone calls today 27 00:01:00,515 --> 00:01:02,515 with several of his counterparts to 28 00:01:02,515 --> 00:01:04,459 include Philippines , Secretary of 29 00:01:04,459 --> 00:01:06,680 National Defense Gedo Junior , 30 00:01:06,860 --> 00:01:08,916 Ukrainian Minister of Defense Olesky 31 00:01:08,916 --> 00:01:10,889 Reznikoff and Israeli Minister of 32 00:01:10,900 --> 00:01:13,639 Defense Golan during his call with 33 00:01:13,650 --> 00:01:15,650 Philippines , Secretary of National 34 00:01:15,650 --> 00:01:17,650 Defense Theodora Secretary , Austin 35 00:01:17,650 --> 00:01:19,761 congratulated him on his new position 36 00:01:19,761 --> 00:01:21,594 and discussed ongoing efforts to 37 00:01:21,594 --> 00:01:23,872 strengthen the US Philippines alliance . 38 00:01:23,872 --> 00:01:25,594 The two leaders celebrated the 39 00:01:25,594 --> 00:01:27,706 remarkable progress the United States 40 00:01:27,706 --> 00:01:29,872 and the Philippines have made over the 41 00:01:29,872 --> 00:01:31,706 past year to deepen defense ties 42 00:01:31,706 --> 00:01:33,817 including expanding cooperation under 43 00:01:33,817 --> 00:01:35,650 the enhanced defense cooperation 44 00:01:35,650 --> 00:01:37,872 agreement , conducting joint patrols in 45 00:01:37,872 --> 00:01:40,650 the South China Sea and concluding 46 00:01:40,660 --> 00:01:42,771 bilateral defense guidelines . A full 47 00:01:42,771 --> 00:01:44,993 readout of the call is available on the 48 00:01:44,993 --> 00:01:46,993 dod website in regards to his calls 49 00:01:46,993 --> 00:01:49,049 with Minister Reznikoff and Minister 50 00:01:49,049 --> 00:01:51,216 Galan will provide readouts as soon as 51 00:01:51,216 --> 00:01:53,160 they're available later today . On 52 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:55,271 defense dot gov on the travel front , 53 00:01:55,271 --> 00:01:57,438 Secretary Austin will depart Monday to 54 00:01:57,438 --> 00:01:59,660 travel to Vilnius Lithuania as a member 55 00:01:59,660 --> 00:02:01,771 of the president's team participating 56 00:02:01,771 --> 00:02:03,716 in the NATO summit . The summit is 57 00:02:03,716 --> 00:02:05,882 scheduled for July 11 through 12 after 58 00:02:05,882 --> 00:02:08,049 which the secretary will return to the 59 00:02:08,049 --> 00:02:09,993 US . Separately . Deputy Secretary 60 00:02:09,993 --> 00:02:12,160 Hicks is on travel in the Indo Pacific 61 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:13,882 region this week where she met 62 00:02:13,882 --> 00:02:15,882 yesterday with Admiral Aquilino and 63 00:02:15,882 --> 00:02:18,049 Indo paycom staff in Hawaii to discuss 64 00:02:18,049 --> 00:02:20,160 progress on implementing the national 65 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:21,827 defense strategy and observed 66 00:02:21,827 --> 00:02:23,827 experiments involving the joint all 67 00:02:23,827 --> 00:02:25,993 Domain command and control system or C 68 00:02:25,993 --> 00:02:28,104 two . Today , the deputy secretary is 69 00:02:28,104 --> 00:02:30,216 scheduled to visit Pearl Harbor naval 70 00:02:30,216 --> 00:02:32,382 shipyard and meet with service members 71 00:02:32,382 --> 00:02:34,630 there . Turning briefly to operations 72 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:37,369 yesterday . US Navy Central Command 73 00:02:37,380 --> 00:02:39,580 announced that US forces prevented two 74 00:02:39,589 --> 00:02:42,220 attempted commercial tanker seizures by 75 00:02:42,229 --> 00:02:44,229 the Iranian Navy after the Iranians 76 00:02:44,229 --> 00:02:46,399 opened fire against one of the tankers 77 00:02:46,410 --> 00:02:48,610 near the coast of Oman . Additional 78 00:02:48,619 --> 00:02:50,786 details regarding NAV Sense's response 79 00:02:50,786 --> 00:02:52,619 are available on their website . 80 00:02:52,619 --> 00:02:54,508 Notably , both of these incidents 81 00:02:54,508 --> 00:02:56,563 occurred in international waters and 82 00:02:56,563 --> 00:02:58,730 represent a pattern of behavior by the 83 00:02:58,730 --> 00:03:01,940 Iranians . Since 2021 Iran has harassed , 84 00:03:01,949 --> 00:03:04,070 attacked or seized nearly 20 85 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:05,913 internationally flagged merchant 86 00:03:05,913 --> 00:03:08,149 vessels presenting a clear threat to 87 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:10,104 regional maritime security and the 88 00:03:10,104 --> 00:03:12,360 global economy . Beginning in May , the 89 00:03:12,369 --> 00:03:14,591 United States increased the rotation of 90 00:03:14,591 --> 00:03:16,480 ships and aircraft patrolling the 91 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:18,202 strait of Hormuz with partners 92 00:03:18,202 --> 00:03:19,980 following the uptick in Iranian 93 00:03:19,980 --> 00:03:21,789 merchant vessel seizures as 94 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:23,967 demonstrated by Nav Sense's response . 95 00:03:23,967 --> 00:03:25,744 Yesterday . The increased force 96 00:03:25,744 --> 00:03:27,967 presence supports multinational efforts 97 00:03:27,967 --> 00:03:29,800 under the international maritime 98 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:32,022 security construct and bilaterally with 99 00:03:32,022 --> 00:03:34,022 partner nations to deter threats to 100 00:03:34,022 --> 00:03:36,009 commercial shipping and reassure 101 00:03:36,020 --> 00:03:38,699 regional Mariners . The United States 102 00:03:38,710 --> 00:03:40,899 will continue to respond to Iranian 103 00:03:40,910 --> 00:03:42,910 aggression together with our global 104 00:03:42,910 --> 00:03:45,021 allies and our partners in the Middle 105 00:03:45,021 --> 00:03:47,077 East region to ensure the freedom of 106 00:03:47,077 --> 00:03:49,299 navigation through the strait of Hormuz 107 00:03:49,299 --> 00:03:51,632 and other vital waterways . And finally , 108 00:03:51,632 --> 00:03:53,799 this weekend us Army Pacific will kick 109 00:03:53,799 --> 00:03:55,688 off exercise Hanuman Guardian , a 110 00:03:55,688 --> 00:03:57,854 military to military exercise with the 111 00:03:57,854 --> 00:04:00,021 royal Thai army which will run through 112 00:04:00,021 --> 00:04:02,243 July 22nd . The exercise seeks to build 113 00:04:02,243 --> 00:04:04,466 both capacity and interoperability with 114 00:04:04,466 --> 00:04:06,410 our Thai partners in the Indo Peco 115 00:04:06,410 --> 00:04:08,577 theater . The exercise offers tactical 116 00:04:08,577 --> 00:04:10,466 training at the battalion level , 117 00:04:10,466 --> 00:04:12,577 bilateral long range fires , training 118 00:04:12,577 --> 00:04:14,799 and exchange subject matter , expertise 119 00:04:14,799 --> 00:04:16,577 on medical , counter improvised 120 00:04:16,577 --> 00:04:18,299 explosive devices and aviation 121 00:04:18,299 --> 00:04:20,369 operations . For more information on 122 00:04:20,380 --> 00:04:22,602 the exercise . I'd refer you to us Army 123 00:04:22,602 --> 00:04:24,899 Pacific public affairs with that . I'll 124 00:04:24,910 --> 00:04:27,077 take your questions . We'll start with 125 00:04:27,077 --> 00:04:29,429 A P . Hi , General Rutter . Uh Thanks 126 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:31,551 for doing this . The A P is reporting 127 00:04:31,551 --> 00:04:34,500 that President Biden has decided to 128 00:04:34,510 --> 00:04:36,959 provide cluster munitions to Ukraine . 129 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:39,489 How has the Pentagon been able to 130 00:04:39,489 --> 00:04:41,700 address concerns about du rates that 131 00:04:41,709 --> 00:04:44,420 can put civilians , Children at risk ? 132 00:04:44,529 --> 00:04:46,890 And how will these munitions help 133 00:04:46,899 --> 00:04:49,600 Ukraine in this stage of the fight ? Um 134 00:04:49,609 --> 00:04:52,649 Sure . So in , in terms of uh DP IC M 135 00:04:52,660 --> 00:04:54,716 si , don't have anything to announce 136 00:04:54,716 --> 00:04:57,130 today , Tara . Um as you know , um that 137 00:04:57,140 --> 00:04:58,640 is something that is under 138 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:00,869 consideration . Um I will say that we 139 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,630 have multiple variants of DP IC MS in 140 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:05,899 our stocks . Uh And the ones that we 141 00:05:05,910 --> 00:05:08,089 are considering providing would not 142 00:05:08,100 --> 00:05:10,640 include older variants uh with DUD 143 00:05:10,649 --> 00:05:14,040 rates that are higher than 2.35% . We 144 00:05:14,049 --> 00:05:16,890 are aware of reports out there from 145 00:05:16,899 --> 00:05:19,066 several decades ago that indicate that 146 00:05:19,066 --> 00:05:22,920 certain 155 millimeter DP IC MS 147 00:05:22,940 --> 00:05:25,119 have higher DU rates . So we would be 148 00:05:25,130 --> 00:05:27,241 carefully selecting rounds with lower 149 00:05:27,241 --> 00:05:29,420 DU rates for which we have recent , 150 00:05:29,429 --> 00:05:31,769 recent testing data . And given that 151 00:05:31,779 --> 00:05:33,890 the secretary is headed to vil soon . 152 00:05:34,299 --> 00:05:36,410 What sort of outreach has he had with 153 00:05:36,410 --> 00:05:39,100 NATO partners to address their concerns 154 00:05:39,109 --> 00:05:41,220 about the use of cluster munitions in 155 00:05:41,220 --> 00:05:43,442 this conflict . Uh Again , I don't have 156 00:05:43,442 --> 00:05:45,720 anything specific to announce today in , 157 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:48,459 in terms of DP IC MS . Um , if and when 158 00:05:48,470 --> 00:05:50,359 the decision is made , you know , 159 00:05:50,359 --> 00:05:52,581 certainly will provide more information 160 00:05:52,581 --> 00:05:54,803 as appropriate . Um I , I will say this 161 00:05:54,803 --> 00:05:58,329 um in terms of uh our allied , our 162 00:05:58,339 --> 00:06:01,100 allies and our partners , unity 163 00:06:01,109 --> 00:06:03,589 continues to remain very strong when it 164 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:05,480 comes to supporting Ukraine and 165 00:06:05,489 --> 00:06:07,545 providing them with the capabilities 166 00:06:07,545 --> 00:06:09,656 that they need to be effective on the 167 00:06:09,656 --> 00:06:11,267 battlefield . Has he had any 168 00:06:11,267 --> 00:06:13,433 conversations with some of the Ukraine 169 00:06:13,433 --> 00:06:15,750 group partners , NATO allies ? I don't 170 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:17,649 have anything to read out today . 171 00:06:17,649 --> 00:06:19,704 General Ryder , what can you tell us 172 00:06:19,704 --> 00:06:21,538 about these incidents with the , 173 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:29,850 how close were they and these incidents ? 174 00:06:30,179 --> 00:06:33,980 You sent F-22 and F squadron out to the 175 00:06:33,989 --> 00:06:35,933 Middle East to deter these kind of 176 00:06:35,933 --> 00:06:38,100 incidents is clearly not deterring the 177 00:06:38,100 --> 00:06:40,929 Russians . What's next ? Yeah , I know 178 00:06:40,940 --> 00:06:43,600 that did , did provide a statement on 179 00:06:43,609 --> 00:06:46,609 this that highlighted three MQ nine 180 00:06:46,619 --> 00:06:48,452 drones were conducting a mission 181 00:06:48,452 --> 00:06:51,350 against ISIS targets . Three Russian 182 00:06:51,359 --> 00:06:54,269 fighter jets began harassing those 183 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:56,640 drones , uh using things like uh 184 00:06:56,649 --> 00:06:59,019 parachute flares to drop in front of 185 00:06:59,029 --> 00:07:01,380 them as well as uh one aircraft 186 00:07:01,390 --> 00:07:03,640 engaging its after burner clearly meant 187 00:07:03,649 --> 00:07:06,760 to harass . Um and clearly 188 00:07:06,769 --> 00:07:09,179 unprofessional and unsafe behavior on 189 00:07:09,190 --> 00:07:11,246 the part of the Russians . Um You've 190 00:07:11,246 --> 00:07:13,357 heard us say before that our focus in 191 00:07:13,357 --> 00:07:15,301 Syria is purely on the defeat ISIS 192 00:07:15,301 --> 00:07:17,468 mission . Uh And so that will continue 193 00:07:17,468 --> 00:07:19,809 to be our focus like absent . We call 194 00:07:19,820 --> 00:07:21,910 on the Russian forces to cease this 195 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:24,369 type of reckless behavior and to behave 196 00:07:24,380 --> 00:07:26,324 like professional airmen . Can you 197 00:07:26,324 --> 00:07:28,589 confirm that there were also two French 198 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:30,600 Rael planes that were approached by 199 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:34,250 Russians Russian warplanes unsafely 200 00:07:34,260 --> 00:07:36,149 this afternoon ? I don't have any 201 00:07:36,149 --> 00:07:38,260 information on that . And just on the 202 00:07:38,260 --> 00:07:40,950 Iranian incidents with the naval 203 00:07:40,959 --> 00:07:44,230 vessels today , there was the Iranians 204 00:07:44,239 --> 00:07:47,535 overtook a commercial vessel . What can 205 00:07:47,545 --> 00:07:50,825 you tell us about that ? And the 206 00:07:50,834 --> 00:07:53,375 Iranians say that yesterday they had a 207 00:07:53,385 --> 00:07:56,285 warrant to seize one of the oil tankers 208 00:07:56,295 --> 00:07:58,462 that they were trying to approach when 209 00:07:58,462 --> 00:08:00,517 the US S mcfaul got involved . So my 210 00:08:00,517 --> 00:08:02,964 understanding on today's incident is 211 00:08:02,975 --> 00:08:06,174 that according to NAV sent , 212 00:08:06,654 --> 00:08:09,855 there was doubt in terms of the 213 00:08:09,864 --> 00:08:11,665 operational activities of this 214 00:08:11,674 --> 00:08:14,440 commercial vessel , the potential that 215 00:08:14,450 --> 00:08:17,290 it was illegally smuggling oil . Uh And 216 00:08:17,299 --> 00:08:19,466 so did not feel the need to respond in 217 00:08:19,466 --> 00:08:21,577 this particular case to that incident 218 00:08:21,660 --> 00:08:23,929 as compared to yesterday where these 219 00:08:23,940 --> 00:08:26,779 two commercial oil tankers , uh both 220 00:08:26,790 --> 00:08:29,510 hailed requested assistance , um Both 221 00:08:29,519 --> 00:08:31,920 unprovoked . Uh you know , in terms of 222 00:08:31,929 --> 00:08:35,109 the attack from Iran , um in one case , 223 00:08:35,119 --> 00:08:37,230 as I highlighted firing upon those on 224 00:08:37,230 --> 00:08:39,119 those vessels , so we're going to 225 00:08:39,119 --> 00:08:41,286 continue to work very closely with our 226 00:08:41,286 --> 00:08:43,341 partners in the region uh to step up 227 00:08:43,341 --> 00:08:45,508 those patrols and , and ensure that we 228 00:08:45,508 --> 00:08:47,730 can deter aggressive behavior like that 229 00:08:47,730 --> 00:08:49,730 and your reaction to Iran . But you 230 00:08:49,730 --> 00:08:51,841 didn't answer my question , which was 231 00:08:51,841 --> 00:08:53,952 about the warrant that they said they 232 00:08:53,952 --> 00:08:56,119 had to seize the , the Yeah , I mean , 233 00:08:56,119 --> 00:08:58,230 clearly , uh the the information that 234 00:08:58,230 --> 00:09:00,341 Iran has put out is , is inaccurate . 235 00:09:00,341 --> 00:09:02,286 Um You know , so I , I think their 236 00:09:02,286 --> 00:09:04,508 record speaks for itself . Let me go to 237 00:09:04,849 --> 00:09:06,700 uh on , on Monday Marine Corps 238 00:09:06,710 --> 00:09:08,543 Commandant will retire and , and 239 00:09:08,543 --> 00:09:10,710 General Smith will take over an acting 240 00:09:10,710 --> 00:09:12,932 capacity . What message does it send to 241 00:09:12,932 --> 00:09:15,210 us ? Adversaries like Russia and China , 242 00:09:15,210 --> 00:09:14,909 that the US military will not have 243 00:09:14,919 --> 00:09:17,780 confirmed officers at its highest 244 00:09:17,789 --> 00:09:20,250 levels . And then I have one more . Um 245 00:09:20,260 --> 00:09:22,260 Well , you know , as you've heard , 246 00:09:22,260 --> 00:09:24,093 Secretary Austin and , and other 247 00:09:24,093 --> 00:09:25,982 officials say previously , uh the 248 00:09:25,982 --> 00:09:28,204 continuing hold on General officer flag 249 00:09:28,204 --> 00:09:31,369 officer nominations will have an effect 250 00:09:31,380 --> 00:09:33,158 on military readiness given the 251 00:09:33,158 --> 00:09:35,380 potential 2nd and 3rd order effects uh 252 00:09:35,390 --> 00:09:37,729 as you know , or in a , a key principle 253 00:09:37,739 --> 00:09:39,850 of effectiveness in our military is a 254 00:09:39,850 --> 00:09:41,795 well defined chain of command . So 255 00:09:41,795 --> 00:09:44,159 uncertainty about incoming or outgoing 256 00:09:44,169 --> 00:09:46,336 commanders and senior leaders can make 257 00:09:46,336 --> 00:09:48,900 it difficult to plan uh for or advanced 258 00:09:48,909 --> 00:09:50,900 mission requirements . And so , uh 259 00:09:50,909 --> 00:09:53,330 additionally , by design , our force 260 00:09:53,340 --> 00:09:55,562 management is predicated on up or out . 261 00:09:55,562 --> 00:09:57,900 So as promotions stagnate , uh it 262 00:09:57,909 --> 00:09:59,687 prevents lower tiers from being 263 00:09:59,687 --> 00:10:01,853 promoted into key positions , creating 264 00:10:01,853 --> 00:10:04,020 a domino effect . So ultimately , this 265 00:10:04,020 --> 00:10:06,187 all also has an impact on the families 266 00:10:06,187 --> 00:10:08,369 and the service members uh awaiting 267 00:10:08,380 --> 00:10:10,436 updates regarding new assignments uh 268 00:10:10,436 --> 00:10:12,491 which then gets into questions about 269 00:10:12,491 --> 00:10:14,491 things like housing schools , other 270 00:10:14,491 --> 00:10:16,602 aspects associated with the move . So 271 00:10:16,602 --> 00:10:18,770 obviously , from a uniform military 272 00:10:18,780 --> 00:10:20,947 standpoint , we will continue to focus 273 00:10:20,947 --> 00:10:23,020 on the mission at hand . But as the 274 00:10:23,030 --> 00:10:25,299 secretary has highlighted , it will 275 00:10:25,309 --> 00:10:27,420 have and can have readiness impacts . 276 00:10:27,420 --> 00:10:29,476 And then one more question last week 277 00:10:29,476 --> 00:10:31,531 Centcom launched a 15 6 into the May 278 00:10:31,531 --> 00:10:33,753 3rd drone strike that may have killed a 279 00:10:33,753 --> 00:10:35,809 civilian but results of the civilian 280 00:10:35,809 --> 00:10:37,976 casualty credibility assessment report 281 00:10:37,976 --> 00:10:39,976 recommending that 15 6 were known a 282 00:10:39,976 --> 00:10:41,920 month earlier . Does the secretary 283 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:44,031 think it's appropriate that it took a 284 00:10:44,031 --> 00:10:46,198 month between the recommendation for a 285 00:10:46,198 --> 00:10:48,142 15 6 and the officials sign off in 286 00:10:48,142 --> 00:10:50,476 launching the 15 6 ? Is that an ok time ? 287 00:10:50,476 --> 00:10:52,642 So , so look , uh as you know , as you 288 00:10:52,642 --> 00:10:52,559 highlight , Centcom is conducting an 289 00:10:52,570 --> 00:10:54,570 investigation , uh the secretary is 290 00:10:54,570 --> 00:10:56,626 confident in the process by which we 291 00:10:56,626 --> 00:10:58,890 manage uh investigations , I'll , I'll 292 00:10:58,900 --> 00:11:01,067 leave it to Centcom to speak about the 293 00:11:01,067 --> 00:11:03,178 timelines . Um But that investigation 294 00:11:03,178 --> 00:11:05,369 is under way and , and when uh there 295 00:11:05,380 --> 00:11:07,650 are results to provide . Certainly , um 296 00:11:07,929 --> 00:11:10,096 you know , I'd refer you to Centcom to 297 00:11:10,096 --> 00:11:12,096 be able to do that . Thank you very 298 00:11:12,096 --> 00:11:14,318 much . Let me go to Janie . Thank you , 299 00:11:14,318 --> 00:11:16,373 General . I have uh two questions on 300 00:11:16,373 --> 00:11:18,596 China . The Pentagon has announced that 301 00:11:18,596 --> 00:11:21,270 it will stop funding to us and 302 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:25,099 university . If a university received 303 00:11:25,109 --> 00:11:27,950 the support from the Chinese 304 00:11:28,750 --> 00:11:32,229 Institute , can you elaborate 305 00:11:32,489 --> 00:11:35,919 more about this ? Sure . Um 306 00:11:35,929 --> 00:11:39,239 So the fy 2021 307 00:11:39,460 --> 00:11:42,690 NDA A specified that starting this 308 00:11:42,700 --> 00:11:45,210 October , the Department of Defense is 309 00:11:45,219 --> 00:11:47,150 prohibited from funding any US 310 00:11:47,159 --> 00:11:49,469 institution of higher Education , 311 00:11:49,650 --> 00:11:52,880 hosting a Confucius Institute unless it 312 00:11:52,890 --> 00:11:55,112 applied for a waiver from the Secretary 313 00:11:55,112 --> 00:11:57,112 of Defense . Uh and , and for those 314 00:11:57,119 --> 00:11:58,952 that don't know what a Confucius 315 00:11:58,952 --> 00:12:02,090 Institute is . Uh in August 2020 the 316 00:12:02,099 --> 00:12:03,877 state Department designated the 317 00:12:03,877 --> 00:12:06,099 Confucius Institute US Center as a 318 00:12:06,109 --> 00:12:07,887 foreign mission of the People's 319 00:12:07,887 --> 00:12:10,090 Republic of China . Uh Recognizing , 320 00:12:10,099 --> 00:12:12,650 recognizing it as an entity advancing 321 00:12:12,659 --> 00:12:15,179 Beijing's global propaganda and malign 322 00:12:15,190 --> 00:12:17,700 influence campaign on us campuses and K 323 00:12:17,710 --> 00:12:20,750 12 classrooms . Uh And so the , the law 324 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:22,929 requires that dod establish an 325 00:12:22,940 --> 00:12:24,773 initiative to work with academic 326 00:12:24,773 --> 00:12:27,700 institutions that perform dod research 327 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:29,991 to ascertain whether foreign entities 328 00:12:29,991 --> 00:12:32,460 are using foreign talent programs to 329 00:12:32,469 --> 00:12:35,000 access us technology and intellectual 330 00:12:35,010 --> 00:12:37,099 property . And we are required under 331 00:12:37,109 --> 00:12:39,739 this legislation to publish on a public 332 00:12:39,750 --> 00:12:41,806 website , a list of foreign entities 333 00:12:41,806 --> 00:12:43,806 with problematic characteristics or 334 00:12:43,806 --> 00:12:45,861 behaviors . Um We're finalizing that 335 00:12:45,861 --> 00:12:47,917 detailed list at this time and we'll 336 00:12:47,917 --> 00:12:49,639 announce it when , when at the 337 00:12:49,639 --> 00:12:52,770 appropriate time , do you see China as 338 00:12:52,780 --> 00:12:55,349 a competitor or an ? 339 00:12:56,969 --> 00:12:58,849 Um I think our national defense 340 00:12:58,859 --> 00:13:00,970 strategy makes that very clear . We , 341 00:13:00,970 --> 00:13:03,081 we view them as a competitor . Uh and 342 00:13:03,081 --> 00:13:05,303 as they are a pacing challenge , let me 343 00:13:05,303 --> 00:13:07,415 go ahead and move to the phone here . 344 00:13:07,415 --> 00:13:09,692 We uh let me go to LA of the messenger . 345 00:13:10,770 --> 00:13:13,099 Hi , thanks for doing this um on 346 00:13:13,109 --> 00:13:15,053 cluster munitions . You know , you 347 00:13:15,053 --> 00:13:17,630 talked about the uh the dud rate . Um 348 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:19,696 you know , John Kirby in December of 349 00:13:19,696 --> 00:13:21,696 2022 also talked about , you know , 350 00:13:21,696 --> 00:13:24,650 that the US policy has concerns about , 351 00:13:24,830 --> 00:13:27,052 you know , cluster munitions being used 352 00:13:27,169 --> 00:13:29,280 uh besides the dud rate . What , what 353 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:31,225 are the other concerns that the US 354 00:13:31,225 --> 00:13:33,510 would have if these munitions are 355 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:35,900 transferred to Ukraine ? Thanks . Well , 356 00:13:35,909 --> 00:13:38,242 I I appreciate the question , Jim again . 357 00:13:38,242 --> 00:13:40,409 I , I don't wanna get out ahead of any 358 00:13:40,409 --> 00:13:42,739 potential announcement . Um I , I think 359 00:13:42,750 --> 00:13:45,080 that , uh , you know , if and when a 360 00:13:45,090 --> 00:13:47,312 decision is made , uh , we'll have more 361 00:13:47,312 --> 00:13:50,479 to say on that . All right , let me go 362 00:13:50,489 --> 00:13:53,909 to Idris uh , from Reuters a um , 363 00:13:53,919 --> 00:13:56,440 separate from any decision or , or non 364 00:13:56,450 --> 00:13:58,809 decision on the cluster munitions . Um , 365 00:13:58,820 --> 00:14:01,150 last month , uh Laura Cooper said that 366 00:14:01,159 --> 00:14:04,010 there were uh issues with congressional 367 00:14:04,020 --> 00:14:06,242 restrictions and concerns from allies . 368 00:14:06,799 --> 00:14:10,440 Have those concerns being allayed and 369 00:14:10,450 --> 00:14:12,561 have those congressional restrictions 370 00:14:12,561 --> 00:14:14,450 been overcome right now ? Again , 371 00:14:14,450 --> 00:14:16,339 separate from any decision or non 372 00:14:16,339 --> 00:14:18,283 decision , have those hurdles been 373 00:14:18,283 --> 00:14:20,450 overcome ? Um As , as we speak today ? 374 00:14:20,510 --> 00:14:22,566 Yeah , thanks Edris . Uh and again , 375 00:14:22,566 --> 00:14:24,590 not to , to be obtuse here . But um 376 00:14:24,599 --> 00:14:28,380 because uh you know , the 377 00:14:28,390 --> 00:14:30,440 DP IC MS are under consideration uh 378 00:14:30,450 --> 00:14:32,617 when and if we have an announcement to 379 00:14:32,617 --> 00:14:34,672 make , we'll be able to provide more 380 00:14:34,672 --> 00:14:37,460 details in terms of the process uh to 381 00:14:37,469 --> 00:14:39,747 include the coordination on that front , 382 00:14:39,747 --> 00:14:41,969 but until a decision has been made , uh 383 00:14:41,969 --> 00:14:44,025 and something's been announced , I I 384 00:14:44,025 --> 00:14:43,919 just don't wanna get ahead of that , 385 00:14:43,929 --> 00:14:46,340 that process . All right , let me go 386 00:14:46,349 --> 00:14:48,405 back to the room here . Let me go to 387 00:14:48,405 --> 00:14:50,349 and then come over here , tell you 388 00:14:50,349 --> 00:14:52,460 general . So I'm not gonna talk about 389 00:14:52,460 --> 00:14:52,059 the decision , but I'm gonna talk about 390 00:14:52,070 --> 00:14:54,330 the process of consideration of these 391 00:14:54,340 --> 00:14:57,969 munitions . When did the Pentagon and 392 00:14:57,979 --> 00:14:59,868 the White House National Security 393 00:14:59,868 --> 00:15:02,200 Council start thinking about this as a 394 00:15:02,210 --> 00:15:05,109 potential aid for Ukraine ? And is um 395 00:15:05,119 --> 00:15:07,479 this process of consideration related 396 00:15:07,489 --> 00:15:10,969 to any difficulties Ukrainians are 397 00:15:10,979 --> 00:15:13,940 facing in this um counter offensive ? 398 00:15:13,950 --> 00:15:17,739 And is it meant if a decision is made 399 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:20,659 to uh help them uh uh address some of 400 00:15:20,669 --> 00:15:22,725 these difficulties ? Yeah , let me , 401 00:15:22,725 --> 00:15:24,947 let me just kind of break your question 402 00:15:24,947 --> 00:15:27,058 into two parts here . So in the first 403 00:15:27,058 --> 00:15:26,599 part , I don't , I don't have a 404 00:15:26,609 --> 00:15:28,720 timeline to provide you as you know , 405 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:30,998 throughout the course of this conflict . 406 00:15:30,998 --> 00:15:33,165 We've had regular discussions with the 407 00:15:33,165 --> 00:15:35,276 Ukrainians , regular discussions with 408 00:15:35,276 --> 00:15:37,276 our allies and partners in terms of 409 00:15:37,276 --> 00:15:39,498 what are the kinds of capabilities that 410 00:15:39,498 --> 00:15:41,609 Ukraine needs on the battlefield as I 411 00:15:41,609 --> 00:15:43,776 highlighted at the , at the top here . 412 00:15:43,776 --> 00:15:45,960 Um DP IC MS are a capability that is 413 00:15:45,969 --> 00:15:48,820 under consideration . Um While I'm not 414 00:15:48,830 --> 00:15:51,239 gonna get into uh this , you know , the 415 00:15:51,250 --> 00:15:53,880 specifics of those discussions , uh I 416 00:15:53,890 --> 00:15:57,679 think what DP IC MS bring 417 00:15:57,690 --> 00:16:00,750 to a battlefield is anti armor and anti 418 00:16:00,770 --> 00:16:03,619 personnel capability . So essentially , 419 00:16:03,630 --> 00:16:06,440 uh it can be either loaded with shape 420 00:16:06,450 --> 00:16:08,117 charges which are , are armor 421 00:16:08,119 --> 00:16:10,286 penetrating or they can be loaded with 422 00:16:10,286 --> 00:16:13,020 fragmentary munitions which are anti 423 00:16:13,030 --> 00:16:16,059 personnel . Uh So clearly a capability 424 00:16:16,070 --> 00:16:18,070 that would be useful in any type of 425 00:16:18,070 --> 00:16:20,340 offensive operations . I would note uh 426 00:16:20,349 --> 00:16:22,349 that the Russians have already been 427 00:16:22,349 --> 00:16:24,460 employing uh cluster munitions on the 428 00:16:24,460 --> 00:16:26,580 battlefield . Uh Many with very uh 429 00:16:26,590 --> 00:16:29,299 which include a very high uh dud rate 430 00:16:29,309 --> 00:16:32,840 reportedly . Uh And so , um you know , 431 00:16:33,479 --> 00:16:36,469 um yeah , let's just leave it at that . 432 00:16:36,479 --> 00:16:40,400 Thanks to ask you about a response you 433 00:16:40,409 --> 00:16:42,465 made last week and I'll refresh your 434 00:16:42,465 --> 00:16:44,576 memory . It was a question asked by a 435 00:16:44,576 --> 00:16:46,798 colleague about why some of the African 436 00:16:46,798 --> 00:16:48,853 countries may want to use the Wagner 437 00:16:48,853 --> 00:16:50,853 group as a security force . And you 438 00:16:50,853 --> 00:16:53,076 said at the end , I can't speak for why 439 00:16:53,076 --> 00:16:55,242 someone wanted to hire a transnational 440 00:16:55,242 --> 00:16:57,409 criminal organization to provide their 441 00:16:57,409 --> 00:16:59,353 security . Mike . I wasn't at that 442 00:16:59,353 --> 00:17:01,576 briefing . I apologize . So my question 443 00:17:01,576 --> 00:17:03,409 is clarification . That phrase , 444 00:17:03,409 --> 00:17:05,520 transnational criminal organization . 445 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:07,520 Did you use it in just specifically 446 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:09,631 regarding Wagner Wagner and the State 447 00:17:09,631 --> 00:17:12,180 Department ? The US government has ? Ok , 448 00:17:12,189 --> 00:17:14,133 thank you . Thanks very much . All 449 00:17:14,133 --> 00:17:16,133 right , let me go back to the phone 450 00:17:16,133 --> 00:17:18,245 here , Jeff CHG task and purpose . Uh 451 00:17:18,245 --> 00:17:20,411 Thank you very much . The consolidated 452 00:17:20,411 --> 00:17:22,949 appropriation Acts of 2010 and 2019 453 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:25,160 prevent the defense department from 454 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:26,938 transferring or selling cluster 455 00:17:26,938 --> 00:17:29,650 munitions to any to any nation if the 456 00:17:29,660 --> 00:17:32,160 death rate is above 1% I believe you 457 00:17:32,170 --> 00:17:34,214 said the death rate that of the 458 00:17:34,224 --> 00:17:37,324 munitions being considered is 2.35% . 459 00:17:37,545 --> 00:17:40,464 So does do these two acts prevent the 460 00:17:40,474 --> 00:17:43,665 transfer of DP IC M to Ukraine ? And 461 00:17:43,675 --> 00:17:46,915 how is dod verifying that the dead rate 462 00:17:46,925 --> 00:17:50,479 on these munitions is 2.35% ? Yeah , 463 00:17:50,489 --> 00:17:53,199 thanks Jeff . Uh Again , uh if and when 464 00:17:53,209 --> 00:17:55,431 uh announcement is made , uh we'll have 465 00:17:55,431 --> 00:17:57,949 more detail to provide uh on that front . 466 00:17:58,130 --> 00:18:00,760 Uh as I mentioned before . Um in the 467 00:18:00,770 --> 00:18:02,437 event that we do provide this 468 00:18:02,437 --> 00:18:04,719 capability , uh we would be carefully 469 00:18:04,729 --> 00:18:07,290 selecting rounds with low dud rates uh 470 00:18:07,300 --> 00:18:09,411 for which we have recent testing data 471 00:18:09,411 --> 00:18:12,959 data uh including as recently as , as 472 00:18:12,969 --> 00:18:15,920 2020 . All right , let me go to , uh 473 00:18:15,930 --> 00:18:17,208 Tony Capac Bloomberg . 474 00:18:19,709 --> 00:18:21,829 Hi , I have a non munitions que a non 475 00:18:21,839 --> 00:18:23,672 cluster munitions question . You 476 00:18:23,672 --> 00:18:25,783 started at the briefing talking about 477 00:18:25,783 --> 00:18:27,561 the 50th anniversary of the All 478 00:18:27,561 --> 00:18:29,672 Volunteer Force . Uh Later this month 479 00:18:29,672 --> 00:18:31,839 is , marks the 75th anniversary of the 480 00:18:31,839 --> 00:18:34,006 desegregation of the armed forces with 481 00:18:34,006 --> 00:18:35,839 the record to help reporters and 482 00:18:35,839 --> 00:18:38,061 everybody else understand this later in 483 00:18:38,061 --> 00:18:40,449 the month . Can you get the statistics 484 00:18:40,459 --> 00:18:42,760 on how many African Americans are in 485 00:18:42,770 --> 00:18:45,099 the , in the military overall ? And 486 00:18:45,109 --> 00:18:47,640 then by service ? That would be really 487 00:18:47,650 --> 00:18:50,140 a helpful metric . Yes , Tony , we can 488 00:18:50,150 --> 00:18:52,261 get that for you for the group here . 489 00:18:52,261 --> 00:18:54,372 Thank you . All right , Tom for a few 490 00:18:54,372 --> 00:18:56,317 more . Let me go to Chris , uh the 491 00:18:56,317 --> 00:18:58,869 Russian Ministry of Defense on the 492 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:01,260 drone incident over Syria said they 493 00:19:01,270 --> 00:19:04,369 were conducting a joint deal drills , 494 00:19:04,380 --> 00:19:06,939 the Russians and the Syrians um over 495 00:19:06,949 --> 00:19:10,849 northern Syria and that the US aircraft 496 00:19:10,859 --> 00:19:13,630 were violating the airspace . And a 497 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:15,696 Russian Ministry of Defense official 498 00:19:15,696 --> 00:19:17,520 said the Russian side bears no 499 00:19:17,530 --> 00:19:19,863 responsibility for the safety of flight . 500 00:19:19,863 --> 00:19:21,919 Of unmanned aerial vehicles were not 501 00:19:21,919 --> 00:19:24,141 agreed to the Russian side . So was the 502 00:19:24,141 --> 00:19:27,640 US uh violating deconfliction protocols 503 00:19:27,650 --> 00:19:31,119 or did you see the video ? Well , but , 504 00:19:31,130 --> 00:19:34,949 but , but the but did the US drone go 505 00:19:34,959 --> 00:19:37,189 into an area that was de conflicted 506 00:19:37,199 --> 00:19:39,366 with the Russians per the protocol ? I 507 00:19:39,366 --> 00:19:42,989 think absent statement speaks for 508 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:44,722 itself in terms of the type of 509 00:19:44,722 --> 00:19:47,770 unprofessional activity uh that , that 510 00:19:47,780 --> 00:19:49,558 we're seeing from these Russian 511 00:19:49,558 --> 00:19:51,724 aircraft , from these Russian pilots . 512 00:19:51,724 --> 00:19:55,160 Uh again , we have been in Syria for 513 00:19:55,170 --> 00:19:57,680 many years now fighting ISIS as part of 514 00:19:57,689 --> 00:20:00,219 an international coalition . That is no 515 00:20:00,229 --> 00:20:03,780 surprise to anyone . We have rules in 516 00:20:03,790 --> 00:20:05,401 place that , you know , well 517 00:20:05,401 --> 00:20:07,457 established processes and procedures 518 00:20:07,457 --> 00:20:10,260 and have very successfully deconflict 519 00:20:10,550 --> 00:20:13,589 with the Russians over many years when 520 00:20:13,599 --> 00:20:16,709 it comes to , you know , safe 521 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:19,810 operations in that in that region . So 522 00:20:19,819 --> 00:20:22,869 to suggest that somehow , you know , 523 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:26,349 this is our fault , it's ridiculous . 524 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:29,800 So , ok , go to this gentleman right 525 00:20:29,810 --> 00:20:31,921 back here and then we'll go ahead and 526 00:20:31,921 --> 00:20:34,199 close it . Thank you so much . General . 527 00:20:34,199 --> 00:20:36,366 Today , there is another escalation in 528 00:20:36,366 --> 00:20:38,477 the Middle East of the border between 529 00:20:38,477 --> 00:20:41,119 Lebanon and Israel . So do you have any 530 00:20:41,130 --> 00:20:43,349 concerns that this kind of escalation 531 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:45,410 could impact the stability of the 532 00:20:45,420 --> 00:20:48,500 region ? And the opening statement , 533 00:20:48,510 --> 00:20:50,566 the Secretary Austin , he already uh 534 00:20:50,566 --> 00:20:53,160 talked with his Israelian counterpart . 535 00:20:53,170 --> 00:20:55,281 So , uh would you give us more detail 536 00:20:55,281 --> 00:20:57,670 about how is how concerns you have 537 00:20:57,680 --> 00:20:59,680 about that escalation ? Thank you . 538 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:01,458 Yeah , thanks very much for the 539 00:21:01,458 --> 00:21:01,359 question . Well , as you've heard us 540 00:21:01,369 --> 00:21:03,480 say before , and we certainly support 541 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:06,150 Israel's security and right to defend 542 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:08,859 itself against terrorists . But we also 543 00:21:08,869 --> 00:21:10,980 feel that it's very important for all 544 00:21:10,980 --> 00:21:13,420 possible steps to be taken to protect 545 00:21:13,430 --> 00:21:16,630 civilians from harm . Uh And so , uh 546 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:18,584 you know , again , we'll provide a 547 00:21:18,584 --> 00:21:20,807 readout of the secretary's call here as 548 00:21:20,807 --> 00:21:23,140 soon as we can . Um , but we again , uh , 549 00:21:23,140 --> 00:21:25,084 reconfirmed , uh , with , uh , the 550 00:21:25,084 --> 00:21:27,307 secretary reconfirmed with the minister 551 00:21:27,307 --> 00:21:29,307 again , uh , that Israel is a close 552 00:21:29,307 --> 00:21:31,418 ally and a partner . Uh , and that we 553 00:21:31,418 --> 00:21:33,473 will remain in close contact . Thank 554 00:21:33,473 --> 00:21:33,989 you very much . Everybody appreciate it .