1 00:00:01,029 --> 00:00:03,529 All right , good afternoon , everyone . 2 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:07,087 Just a couple of things at the top and 3 00:00:07,087 --> 00:00:09,198 then I'll get right to your questions 4 00:00:10,439 --> 00:00:12,689 yesterday , Secretary Austin welcomed 5 00:00:12,699 --> 00:00:14,921 Singapore Minister of Defense in to the 6 00:00:14,921 --> 00:00:17,143 Pentagon for a bilateral meeting during 7 00:00:17,143 --> 00:00:19,366 which they reaffirmed the long standing 8 00:00:19,366 --> 00:00:21,532 defense partnership between the United 9 00:00:21,532 --> 00:00:23,699 States and Singapore . The two leaders 10 00:00:23,699 --> 00:00:25,588 discussed opportunities to expand 11 00:00:25,588 --> 00:00:27,310 Bilateral Force Posture cooper 12 00:00:27,310 --> 00:00:29,088 operation and the importance of 13 00:00:29,088 --> 00:00:30,699 expanding joint training and 14 00:00:30,699 --> 00:00:32,532 interoperability . The officials 15 00:00:32,532 --> 00:00:34,880 emphasized the strength of us Singapore 16 00:00:34,889 --> 00:00:37,209 collaboration on emerging technologies 17 00:00:37,310 --> 00:00:39,619 as demonstrated by the signing of a US 18 00:00:39,630 --> 00:00:42,180 Singapore statement of intent for data 19 00:00:42,189 --> 00:00:44,380 analytics and artificial intelligence 20 00:00:44,389 --> 00:00:46,700 cooper operation by the US , Chief 21 00:00:46,709 --> 00:00:48,400 Digital and Arti Artificial 22 00:00:48,409 --> 00:00:50,687 Intelligence Officer and the Singapore , 23 00:00:50,687 --> 00:00:52,465 Deputy Secretary for Technology 24 00:00:53,099 --> 00:00:54,970 Secretary Austin and Minister NG 25 00:00:54,979 --> 00:00:56,701 reaffirmed their commitment to 26 00:00:56,701 --> 00:00:58,880 advancing the historic momentum in the 27 00:00:58,889 --> 00:01:01,419 US Singapore Defense Partnership and 28 00:01:01,430 --> 00:01:03,486 share and a shared vision for a free 29 00:01:03,486 --> 00:01:05,830 and open Indo Pacific region readout of 30 00:01:05,839 --> 00:01:08,172 the call has been posted to defense.gov . 31 00:01:08,860 --> 00:01:11,027 Finally , I know many of you have been 32 00:01:11,027 --> 00:01:12,971 following the status of the J Lots 33 00:01:12,971 --> 00:01:15,249 humanitarian mission or temporary pier . 34 00:01:15,249 --> 00:01:17,416 This time , the temporary pier remains 35 00:01:17,416 --> 00:01:19,582 in Ashdod and a potential re anchoring 36 00:01:19,582 --> 00:01:22,089 date has not been set . As we've said , 37 00:01:22,099 --> 00:01:24,266 the pier has always been intended as a 38 00:01:24,266 --> 00:01:26,488 temporary solution and it will conclude 39 00:01:26,488 --> 00:01:28,655 its mission soon . But as of today , I 40 00:01:28,655 --> 00:01:30,877 don't have any announcements to make in 41 00:01:30,877 --> 00:01:32,599 terms of when the mission will 42 00:01:32,599 --> 00:01:34,821 officially conclude , very aware of the 43 00:01:34,821 --> 00:01:36,988 press and public interest and we'll be 44 00:01:36,988 --> 00:01:39,266 sure to provide updates as appropriate . 45 00:01:39,266 --> 00:01:38,930 And with that happy to take your 46 00:01:38,940 --> 00:01:41,040 questions , we'll go to A P Alita . 47 00:01:41,589 --> 00:01:44,589 Thank you , Pat Pat . Do you know if 48 00:01:44,599 --> 00:01:47,290 there is any us military involvement at 49 00:01:47,300 --> 00:01:51,190 all in Ashdod as they try to 50 00:01:51,370 --> 00:01:53,980 get more aid in through that port ? Is 51 00:01:53,989 --> 00:01:56,389 there any us involvement at all in any 52 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:59,980 of that ? Um So we'll have more details 53 00:01:59,989 --> 00:02:02,220 to follow in terms of uh you know , 54 00:02:02,230 --> 00:02:04,660 next steps as far as Ashdod goes , as 55 00:02:04,669 --> 00:02:06,930 you know , we have a convoy management 56 00:02:06,940 --> 00:02:10,449 board uh that's situated there um with 57 00:02:10,460 --> 00:02:14,059 Lieutenant General Frank , um in terms 58 00:02:14,070 --> 00:02:17,679 of us military presence at Ashdod in 59 00:02:17,690 --> 00:02:19,857 terms of accepting aid moving it . I'm 60 00:02:19,857 --> 00:02:22,630 not aware of any uh any activity at the 61 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:24,699 moment . Uh Other than to say , uh 62 00:02:24,710 --> 00:02:26,766 again , you know , we , we are aware 63 00:02:26,766 --> 00:02:28,988 that aid has moved through Ashdod and , 64 00:02:28,988 --> 00:02:31,619 and uh we have delivered aid to Ashdod 65 00:02:31,630 --> 00:02:34,309 for onward distribution . Um But again , 66 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:36,264 we'll , we'll have more details to 67 00:02:36,264 --> 00:02:38,487 provide for you in the future just on , 68 00:02:38,487 --> 00:02:40,929 just on that point has the aid . Is 69 00:02:40,940 --> 00:02:43,899 there any aid on the floating dock that 70 00:02:43,910 --> 00:02:47,539 is offshore of Gaza or has all of that 71 00:02:47,550 --> 00:02:49,639 aid been delivered now to ash . 72 00:02:51,270 --> 00:02:53,869 Um I I'd have to take that question . I 73 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:55,936 don't know the answer to that . Ok . 74 00:02:56,619 --> 00:02:58,750 Yes , sir . Thank you , sir . Uh Two 75 00:02:58,759 --> 00:03:02,539 questions . One during the NATO summit 76 00:03:02,550 --> 00:03:04,779 in Washington , Prime Minister Narendra 77 00:03:04,970 --> 00:03:08,169 Modi of India was in Moscow meeting and 78 00:03:08,179 --> 00:03:10,360 greeting with the President Putin of 79 00:03:10,369 --> 00:03:14,330 Russia . They have discussed 80 00:03:14,339 --> 00:03:17,889 so many issues between India and Russia 81 00:03:17,899 --> 00:03:20,789 including military pact and also 82 00:03:20,860 --> 00:03:23,149 situation in the Middle East war going 83 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:25,779 on . And also of course , uh Russia and 84 00:03:25,789 --> 00:03:28,380 Ukraine war and Prime Minister Modi 85 00:03:28,539 --> 00:03:32,070 offered many options there and both 86 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:34,080 leaders that this war in the Middle 87 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,289 East should be end because there is in 88 00:03:36,300 --> 00:03:39,020 interest of India , of course , in many 89 00:03:39,029 --> 00:03:41,960 ways . And also at the same time , war 90 00:03:41,970 --> 00:03:45,089 in between Russia and Ukraine also in 91 00:03:45,100 --> 00:03:47,919 the interest of India to end this war 92 00:03:47,929 --> 00:03:50,539 also . So where do we go from there ? 93 00:03:50,550 --> 00:03:53,119 NATO was meeting here and they were 94 00:03:53,130 --> 00:03:55,270 meeting there at the same time . And 95 00:03:55,460 --> 00:03:57,979 where do we stand out for a US India 96 00:03:57,990 --> 00:04:00,139 military to military relations into 97 00:04:00,149 --> 00:04:03,039 this connection also ? Yeah . Um well 98 00:04:03,050 --> 00:04:05,217 as you heard me say last week , uh you 99 00:04:05,217 --> 00:04:07,439 know , India is a strategic partner and 100 00:04:07,439 --> 00:04:09,272 we look forward to continuing to 101 00:04:09,272 --> 00:04:11,439 develop that partnership when it comes 102 00:04:11,439 --> 00:04:13,600 to Ukraine and Russia's illegal 103 00:04:13,610 --> 00:04:16,380 occupation and invasion of Ukraine . Uh 104 00:04:16,390 --> 00:04:18,446 Ultimately , at the end of the day , 105 00:04:18,446 --> 00:04:21,200 it's up to Ukraine to decide , uh you 106 00:04:21,209 --> 00:04:24,119 know , when they are ready to uh to 107 00:04:24,130 --> 00:04:26,241 negotiate for peace . And right now , 108 00:04:26,250 --> 00:04:29,070 our focus continues to be on working 109 00:04:29,079 --> 00:04:31,246 with Ukraine to provide them with what 110 00:04:31,246 --> 00:04:33,412 they need to defend their country . Uh 111 00:04:33,412 --> 00:04:35,579 and , and defend their sovereignty and 112 00:04:35,579 --> 00:04:37,746 take back territory . Uh But they're , 113 00:04:37,746 --> 00:04:39,950 you know , at the end of the day , uh 114 00:04:40,190 --> 00:04:42,301 you know , there's no decisions about 115 00:04:42,301 --> 00:04:43,929 Ukraine without Ukraine . So 116 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:50,570 if a lawmaker or senator acting 117 00:04:50,579 --> 00:04:54,260 as a foreign agent of the United 118 00:04:54,269 --> 00:04:57,190 States and have been found guilty by 119 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:00,600 the New Jersey grand jury , uh Senator 120 00:05:00,609 --> 00:05:02,989 Bob Menendez is now as far as the 121 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,320 military connection because he was 122 00:05:05,329 --> 00:05:07,440 found guilty in connection with those 123 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:09,579 countries that he was acting as a 124 00:05:09,589 --> 00:05:11,756 foreign agent . They , those countries 125 00:05:11,756 --> 00:05:13,700 have a military relations with the 126 00:05:13,700 --> 00:05:16,290 United States . So in any way that uh 127 00:05:16,489 --> 00:05:18,670 this building or military relations 128 00:05:18,679 --> 00:05:21,190 will be uh affected in any way because 129 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:24,140 of a guilty . Yeah , as it relates to 130 00:05:24,149 --> 00:05:25,927 Senator Menendez , I don't have 131 00:05:25,927 --> 00:05:28,093 anything to provide . I'd refer you to 132 00:05:28,093 --> 00:05:30,093 Department of Justice on that car . 133 00:05:30,093 --> 00:05:32,589 Thanks . Um Just first to follow up on 134 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,000 the situation with the peer . Uh Are 135 00:05:35,010 --> 00:05:37,670 there any additional airdrops going on 136 00:05:37,679 --> 00:05:40,519 or does dod assess that there's still a 137 00:05:40,529 --> 00:05:43,079 great need for humanitarian assistance ? 138 00:05:43,089 --> 00:05:44,978 Is there anything going on in the 139 00:05:44,978 --> 00:05:47,089 interim while we're waiting for the ? 140 00:05:47,089 --> 00:05:46,769 Yeah , I don't , I don't have anything 141 00:05:46,779 --> 00:05:48,890 to announce at the moment in terms of 142 00:05:48,890 --> 00:05:50,668 airdrops . Of course , that's a 143 00:05:50,668 --> 00:05:52,835 capability that we maintain . Um But , 144 00:05:52,835 --> 00:05:55,057 but nothing to announce specifically on 145 00:05:55,057 --> 00:05:57,019 that when it comes to humanitarian 146 00:05:57,029 --> 00:05:59,950 assistance for Gaza . Uh We know that 147 00:06:00,149 --> 00:06:01,982 that there is an urgent need for 148 00:06:01,982 --> 00:06:04,205 humanitarian assistance . Of course USA 149 00:06:04,205 --> 00:06:06,427 ID is the lead for the US government in 150 00:06:06,427 --> 00:06:08,649 terms of working with the international 151 00:06:08,649 --> 00:06:10,871 community and the the dod is supporting 152 00:06:10,871 --> 00:06:12,760 their efforts . So we'll continue 153 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:14,929 obviously to maintain close contact as 154 00:06:14,940 --> 00:06:17,829 we have all along with USA ID uh on 155 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:19,950 that front to ensure that we're doing 156 00:06:19,950 --> 00:06:22,228 our part to support those efforts . Ok . 157 00:06:22,228 --> 00:06:24,450 Thanks Matt . And then just a couple of 158 00:06:24,450 --> 00:06:26,561 questions on the country of Georgia . 159 00:06:26,561 --> 00:06:28,395 Um following noble partner being 160 00:06:28,395 --> 00:06:30,117 canceled . Are there any other 161 00:06:30,117 --> 00:06:32,450 cancellations ? Has every mil to mil 162 00:06:32,459 --> 00:06:35,510 operation been put on hold for the time 163 00:06:35,519 --> 00:06:37,686 being ? Um There's supposed to be some 164 00:06:37,686 --> 00:06:39,575 sort of celebration at the end of 165 00:06:39,575 --> 00:06:41,686 August is that , has that been put on 166 00:06:41,686 --> 00:06:43,519 hold ? Can you give us any other 167 00:06:43,519 --> 00:06:45,463 updates ? Yeah , I'm not , I'm not 168 00:06:45,463 --> 00:06:47,741 tracking any other cancel at this time . 169 00:06:47,741 --> 00:06:49,963 And then I guess , does dod see Georgia 170 00:06:49,963 --> 00:06:52,299 still as a US friendly ally or does it 171 00:06:52,309 --> 00:06:54,365 see it moving towards Russia at this 172 00:06:54,365 --> 00:06:56,531 point ? Yeah , I mean , we'll continue 173 00:06:56,531 --> 00:06:58,753 to partner with Georgian Defense Forces 174 00:06:58,753 --> 00:07:00,920 and we'll continue to look for ways to 175 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:02,698 strengthen Georgia's ability to 176 00:07:02,698 --> 00:07:04,865 safeguard its sovereignty and maintain 177 00:07:04,865 --> 00:07:06,642 its territorial integrity . The 178 00:07:06,642 --> 00:07:09,299 decision to cancel the exercise was not 179 00:07:09,309 --> 00:07:12,399 taken lightly . Um We place great 180 00:07:12,410 --> 00:07:14,466 consideration on the extensive value 181 00:07:14,466 --> 00:07:16,243 that allies and partners add to 182 00:07:16,243 --> 00:07:18,750 exercises such as noble partner . Um 183 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:20,760 And so we're gonna continue to look 184 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:22,871 forward to future opportunities uh to 185 00:07:22,871 --> 00:07:25,038 cooper with allies and partners . So I 186 00:07:25,038 --> 00:07:26,704 leave it there . Let me go to 187 00:07:26,704 --> 00:07:29,880 Constantine . Thanks . So CNN is 188 00:07:29,890 --> 00:07:33,320 reporting that remnants of two US made 189 00:07:33,329 --> 00:07:35,218 munitions were used in an Israeli 190 00:07:35,218 --> 00:07:37,440 missile strike on Sunday on a school in 191 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:39,662 central Gaza . Does the Pentagon have a 192 00:07:39,662 --> 00:07:41,829 reaction or comment to that ? I mean , 193 00:07:41,829 --> 00:07:43,829 I've seen the press reports but I'd 194 00:07:43,829 --> 00:07:43,779 have to refer you to Israel to talk 195 00:07:43,790 --> 00:07:46,940 about their operations and just more 196 00:07:46,950 --> 00:07:48,950 broadly , this isn't the first time 197 00:07:48,950 --> 00:07:51,117 that reports like this have come out . 198 00:07:51,117 --> 00:07:52,894 Um You know , does the Pentagon 199 00:07:52,894 --> 00:07:55,117 leadership feel like it's doing , doing 200 00:07:55,117 --> 00:07:57,339 an adequate job of making sure that the 201 00:07:57,339 --> 00:07:59,506 weapons we give Israel are not used in 202 00:07:59,506 --> 00:08:01,672 incidents such as this . Well , look , 203 00:08:01,672 --> 00:08:03,899 I mean , we've been very clear to our 204 00:08:03,910 --> 00:08:06,290 Israeli partners on our view as it 205 00:08:06,299 --> 00:08:08,899 relates to mitigating civilian harm . 206 00:08:09,350 --> 00:08:11,410 And I , I think there's something I 207 00:08:11,420 --> 00:08:13,630 would hope we could all agree on this 208 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:15,790 war is undoubtedly tragic . Way too 209 00:08:15,799 --> 00:08:18,200 many civilians have died . Uh It's 210 00:08:18,209 --> 00:08:21,029 heartbreaking to see the images that we 211 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:23,549 see . Um And that's , I think a reason , 212 00:08:23,559 --> 00:08:25,392 a main reason why you see the US 213 00:08:25,392 --> 00:08:28,570 government working so hard to uh to 214 00:08:28,579 --> 00:08:31,500 obtain a ceasefire between the factions 215 00:08:31,510 --> 00:08:33,929 that are , that are fighting here . Um 216 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:36,687 When it comes to the ID F operations , 217 00:08:36,687 --> 00:08:38,853 we continue to urge them both publicly 218 00:08:38,853 --> 00:08:42,309 and privately to uh take civilian harm 219 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:44,830 mitigation into account . We know that 220 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:47,007 they need to do more on this front and 221 00:08:47,007 --> 00:08:49,173 we're going to continue to communicate 222 00:08:49,173 --> 00:08:51,173 that to them . I , I would also say 223 00:08:51,173 --> 00:08:52,784 though that Hamas bears some 224 00:08:52,784 --> 00:08:55,062 responsibility for this as well in the , 225 00:08:55,062 --> 00:08:57,007 in the sense that they continue to 226 00:08:57,007 --> 00:08:59,118 embed among the civilian population . 227 00:08:59,118 --> 00:09:02,530 Um And if they truly cared uh about the 228 00:09:02,539 --> 00:09:04,761 Palestinian population , one has to ask 229 00:09:04,761 --> 00:09:06,928 why they continue to build command and 230 00:09:06,928 --> 00:09:09,039 control nodes , barracks , armories , 231 00:09:09,039 --> 00:09:11,206 tunnels underneath the city uh and put 232 00:09:11,206 --> 00:09:13,719 themselves in places where there's 233 00:09:13,729 --> 00:09:17,710 active military operations . Um So just 234 00:09:17,719 --> 00:09:21,059 leave it there . Thank you , General . 235 00:09:21,190 --> 00:09:24,520 Uh I have two questions at the US and 236 00:09:24,530 --> 00:09:27,270 South Korea summit . Last week , the 237 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:30,890 two countries issued a joint statement 238 00:09:30,900 --> 00:09:34,469 on nuclear deterrence and the approval 239 00:09:34,479 --> 00:09:37,929 of nuclear operational guidelines . 240 00:09:38,349 --> 00:09:41,140 That's the approval of a nuclear 241 00:09:41,150 --> 00:09:44,580 operational guide guidelines . Refer to 242 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:48,520 new guidelines that will enable the 243 00:09:48,530 --> 00:09:52,119 US and South Korea to , to respond to 244 00:09:52,130 --> 00:09:55,340 nuclear weapons in an emergency 245 00:09:55,349 --> 00:09:58,809 situation on the Korean Peninsula . Um 246 00:09:58,820 --> 00:10:01,859 Well , I , I think again , uh you know , 247 00:10:01,869 --> 00:10:04,890 our alliance with the Republic of Korea 248 00:10:04,900 --> 00:10:07,400 is ironclad and we've been very clear 249 00:10:07,409 --> 00:10:09,960 uh that when it comes to extended 250 00:10:09,969 --> 00:10:12,599 deterrence , uh the United States , uh 251 00:10:12,609 --> 00:10:14,340 it makes available all of its 252 00:10:14,349 --> 00:10:17,580 capability to support uh the defense of 253 00:10:17,590 --> 00:10:20,309 the Republic of Korea . Uh Of course , 254 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:22,729 uh this is a defensive alliance we're 255 00:10:22,739 --> 00:10:26,510 not seeking to uh go to war obviously 256 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:28,298 in the region and we're seeking 257 00:10:28,298 --> 00:10:30,298 regional security and stability and 258 00:10:30,298 --> 00:10:32,242 that will continue to be our , our 259 00:10:32,242 --> 00:10:34,242 focus Thank you . And , and China , 260 00:10:34,242 --> 00:10:37,289 China and Russia are conducting joint 261 00:10:37,299 --> 00:10:41,010 maritime exercise , including live 262 00:10:41,020 --> 00:10:44,400 fire . Do you see this as a training 263 00:10:44,409 --> 00:10:48,260 aimed at the impact exercise ? Um I'll 264 00:10:48,270 --> 00:10:50,437 let them speak to the rationale behind 265 00:10:50,437 --> 00:10:52,270 their exercises . It's of course 266 00:10:52,270 --> 00:10:54,380 something that we uh monitor closely 267 00:10:54,390 --> 00:10:56,612 and we'll continue to do . So let me go 268 00:10:56,612 --> 00:10:58,779 to the phone here real quick . Heather 269 00:10:58,779 --> 00:11:02,760 uh from us and I hi , thank you so much . 270 00:11:02,770 --> 00:11:05,460 Um So US S Dwight D Eisenhower just 271 00:11:05,469 --> 00:11:07,580 returned from a nine month deployment 272 00:11:07,580 --> 00:11:09,136 that everyone is calling um 273 00:11:09,136 --> 00:11:11,299 unprecedented . So uh two questions 274 00:11:11,309 --> 00:11:13,531 based on what you're seeing or what the 275 00:11:13,531 --> 00:11:15,698 Pentagon has seen since um February of 276 00:11:15,698 --> 00:11:19,099 2021 does the Secretary of Defense uh 277 00:11:19,109 --> 00:11:22,039 uh predict that these extended 278 00:11:22,049 --> 00:11:24,049 deployments are going to become the 279 00:11:24,049 --> 00:11:26,840 norm ? Um And then if so , uh and based 280 00:11:26,849 --> 00:11:29,071 on what's already been happening , what 281 00:11:29,071 --> 00:11:31,238 resources is the Pentagon offering the 282 00:11:31,238 --> 00:11:33,219 Navy in order to um bolster up 283 00:11:33,229 --> 00:11:35,719 resilience among sailors who are stuck 284 00:11:35,729 --> 00:11:37,880 on a ship for nine months ? Yeah , 285 00:11:37,890 --> 00:11:40,001 thanks Heather . So I , I won't , you 286 00:11:40,001 --> 00:11:41,612 know , speculate or get into 287 00:11:41,612 --> 00:11:43,779 hypotheticals about uh the duration of 288 00:11:43,779 --> 00:11:45,834 deployments . I mean , as you know , 289 00:11:45,834 --> 00:11:47,557 the military , the US military 290 00:11:47,557 --> 00:11:49,112 maintains a wide variety of 291 00:11:49,112 --> 00:11:51,279 capabilities that enable us to respond 292 00:11:51,279 --> 00:11:53,223 to a wide variety of contingencies 293 00:11:53,223 --> 00:11:55,501 around the world . In other words , we , 294 00:11:55,501 --> 00:11:58,010 we are able to surge assets to where 295 00:11:58,020 --> 00:12:00,570 they're needed most uh to support our 296 00:12:00,580 --> 00:12:02,580 national security interests and our 297 00:12:02,580 --> 00:12:05,000 obligations around the world . And so 298 00:12:05,010 --> 00:12:07,780 uh in , in the Red Sea area right now , 299 00:12:07,900 --> 00:12:10,289 uh we continue to see houthi aggression , 300 00:12:10,409 --> 00:12:12,309 impacting the innocent lives of 301 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:15,340 Mariners and the freedom of navigation 302 00:12:15,349 --> 00:12:17,405 through that important waterway . So 303 00:12:17,405 --> 00:12:19,182 we'll continue to work with the 304 00:12:19,182 --> 00:12:21,349 international community uh toward that 305 00:12:21,349 --> 00:12:23,571 end . Uh And as for navy personnel , uh 306 00:12:23,571 --> 00:12:25,880 you know , uh confident that navy 307 00:12:25,890 --> 00:12:28,710 leadership will continue to look at uh 308 00:12:28,719 --> 00:12:30,941 doing everything it needs to do to take 309 00:12:30,941 --> 00:12:33,108 care of our sailors and their families 310 00:12:33,108 --> 00:12:34,886 as they conduct these important 311 00:12:34,886 --> 00:12:36,997 missions around the world . Let me go 312 00:12:36,997 --> 00:12:38,941 to Jeff Shog task and purpose . Uh 313 00:12:38,941 --> 00:12:40,997 Thank you , the Coast Guard recently 314 00:12:40,997 --> 00:12:43,052 rescued Dave Portnoy , founder of uh 315 00:12:43,052 --> 00:12:45,163 Barstool Sports . And I was wondering 316 00:12:45,163 --> 00:12:47,330 if any dod assets were involved in the 317 00:12:47,330 --> 00:12:49,552 rescue , like satellites , seal teams , 318 00:12:49,552 --> 00:12:53,450 aircraft . Uh Thanks very much , 319 00:12:53,460 --> 00:12:55,460 Jeff , I , I will have to take that 320 00:12:55,460 --> 00:12:57,682 question . I don't have any information 321 00:12:57,682 --> 00:12:59,799 on that . All right , let's come back 322 00:12:59,809 --> 00:13:02,299 to the room here . You and then to Tony 323 00:13:04,659 --> 00:13:07,140 Airway News Pakistan yesterday , eight 324 00:13:07,150 --> 00:13:09,094 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 325 00:13:09,094 --> 00:13:11,039 dozens of them injured in a , in a 326 00:13:11,039 --> 00:13:12,650 terrorist attack , terrorist 327 00:13:12,650 --> 00:13:14,483 organization affiliated with the 328 00:13:14,700 --> 00:13:16,200 Taliban . Pakistan claimed 329 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:18,033 responsibility . Do you have any 330 00:13:18,033 --> 00:13:20,130 comments ? Well , certainly our 331 00:13:20,140 --> 00:13:22,029 thoughts and prayers are with the 332 00:13:22,029 --> 00:13:24,196 families of those soldiers that were , 333 00:13:24,196 --> 00:13:26,307 were lost . I know that that as we've 334 00:13:26,309 --> 00:13:29,359 talked about in the past Pakistan uh is 335 00:13:29,369 --> 00:13:31,591 in a tough fight at times when it comes 336 00:13:31,591 --> 00:13:33,758 to fighting terrorists in the region . 337 00:13:33,758 --> 00:13:35,813 Uh And so certainly saddened to hear 338 00:13:35,813 --> 00:13:38,619 that . Um , you know , when it comes to 339 00:13:38,630 --> 00:13:40,852 counter terrorism , the US and Pakistan 340 00:13:40,852 --> 00:13:43,074 have worked together in the past and we 341 00:13:43,074 --> 00:13:45,409 continue to discuss ways that we can 342 00:13:45,419 --> 00:13:48,419 work together and so just leave it 343 00:13:48,429 --> 00:13:50,880 there . And Pakistani military is 344 00:13:50,890 --> 00:13:53,539 asking for us support Pakistani 345 00:13:53,549 --> 00:13:55,750 military is asking for modern weapons 346 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:57,704 to deal with the situation because 347 00:13:57,704 --> 00:13:59,871 according to them , all the terrorists 348 00:13:59,871 --> 00:14:01,982 in Afghanistan using American weapons 349 00:14:01,982 --> 00:14:04,299 left by us forces . I know us forces 350 00:14:04,309 --> 00:14:06,650 left those weapons for Afghan forces , 351 00:14:06,659 --> 00:14:08,715 but somehow they are in the hands of 352 00:14:08,715 --> 00:14:10,937 terrorists right now . So are you going 353 00:14:10,937 --> 00:14:12,992 to consider to provide more American 354 00:14:12,992 --> 00:14:14,937 weapons to Pakistan ? I don't have 355 00:14:14,937 --> 00:14:17,048 anything to announce as you know , we 356 00:14:17,048 --> 00:14:18,715 do maintain a security cooper 357 00:14:18,715 --> 00:14:21,940 relationship with Pakistan . And so I'm 358 00:14:21,950 --> 00:14:23,728 sure that those discussions are 359 00:14:23,728 --> 00:14:25,783 happening uh via those mechanisms to 360 00:14:25,783 --> 00:14:27,894 look at Pakistan's requirements and , 361 00:14:27,894 --> 00:14:30,049 and what the US can do to support 362 00:14:31,770 --> 00:14:34,059 it is about the assassination attempt 363 00:14:34,070 --> 00:14:36,880 on President Trump . Um I don't know if 364 00:14:36,890 --> 00:14:38,969 us military is involved in the 365 00:14:38,979 --> 00:14:41,369 investigations , but do you think that 366 00:14:41,380 --> 00:14:43,436 any foreign country involved in this 367 00:14:43,436 --> 00:14:45,658 kind of assassination attempt to create 368 00:14:45,658 --> 00:14:47,769 disturbance in this country ? We have 369 00:14:47,769 --> 00:14:49,824 uh watching a lot of news stories on 370 00:14:49,824 --> 00:14:51,658 the media that maybe any foreign 371 00:14:51,658 --> 00:14:53,658 country because we recently we have 372 00:14:53,658 --> 00:14:55,602 seen that a foreign government and 373 00:14:55,602 --> 00:14:57,769 foreign intelligence agencies involved 374 00:14:57,769 --> 00:14:59,991 in the assassination on us citizen here 375 00:14:59,991 --> 00:15:02,158 in New York and uh also in Canada . So 376 00:15:02,158 --> 00:15:04,269 do you think that any foreign country 377 00:15:04,269 --> 00:15:06,789 can . Yeah , I mean , as it relates to 378 00:15:06,799 --> 00:15:09,479 the attempted assassination of former 379 00:15:09,489 --> 00:15:12,039 President Trump , um I , I would point 380 00:15:12,049 --> 00:15:14,049 you to Secretary Austin's statement 381 00:15:14,049 --> 00:15:15,938 over the weekend , condemning the 382 00:15:15,938 --> 00:15:18,160 violence has absolutely no place in our 383 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:20,270 democracy as it relates to that uh 384 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:22,789 attempt , I'd have to refer you to the 385 00:15:22,799 --> 00:15:24,743 FBI and the secret service for any 386 00:15:24,743 --> 00:15:26,855 questions on , on the investigation . 387 00:15:27,820 --> 00:15:30,042 Yeah , I've seen those reports . Um I'd 388 00:15:30,042 --> 00:15:32,669 have to refer you to to DH S or doj for 389 00:15:32,679 --> 00:15:34,679 any questions on that . Thank you , 390 00:15:34,679 --> 00:15:37,570 Tony , the House Oversight and 391 00:15:37,580 --> 00:15:39,580 accountability chairman today wrote 392 00:15:39,580 --> 00:15:42,619 Secretary Austin demanding V 22 393 00:15:42,630 --> 00:15:44,797 accident documents going back a couple 394 00:15:44,797 --> 00:15:46,908 of year 23 years and he's threatening 395 00:15:46,908 --> 00:15:48,963 subpoena if they're not , if they're 396 00:15:48,963 --> 00:15:50,963 not produced . This has been a long 397 00:15:50,963 --> 00:15:53,130 running controversy with that submit . 398 00:15:53,130 --> 00:15:55,074 Do you have any comment on that in 399 00:15:55,074 --> 00:15:57,186 terms of providing documentation that 400 00:15:57,186 --> 00:15:59,186 the committee is asking for on this 401 00:15:59,186 --> 00:16:01,352 highly controversial aircraft ? Yeah . 402 00:16:01,352 --> 00:16:03,519 Well , first of all , I would just say 403 00:16:03,519 --> 00:16:05,519 upfront that the department remains 404 00:16:05,519 --> 00:16:05,309 committed to the safety health and the 405 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:07,153 well being of all of our service 406 00:16:07,153 --> 00:16:10,590 members . Um We have worked uh very 407 00:16:10,599 --> 00:16:12,719 hard to accommodate the houses , the 408 00:16:12,729 --> 00:16:14,896 House Oversight Committee's requests . 409 00:16:14,896 --> 00:16:17,320 Um We've provided more than 3500 pages 410 00:16:17,330 --> 00:16:19,119 of documents . In addition , 411 00:16:19,130 --> 00:16:21,210 representatives from the V 22 joint 412 00:16:21,219 --> 00:16:22,997 program office and the military 413 00:16:22,997 --> 00:16:24,941 departments provided a briefing to 414 00:16:24,941 --> 00:16:26,886 committee staff in March . And the 415 00:16:26,886 --> 00:16:28,830 department made multiple officials 416 00:16:28,830 --> 00:16:30,886 including the commander of Naval Air 417 00:16:30,886 --> 00:16:33,108 Systems Command available to testify at 418 00:16:33,108 --> 00:16:35,219 the committee's hearing last month on 419 00:16:35,219 --> 00:16:37,386 the safety of the V 22 Osprey . Um All 420 00:16:37,386 --> 00:16:39,441 that to say we will continue to work 421 00:16:39,441 --> 00:16:41,663 with the committee to accommodate their 422 00:16:41,663 --> 00:16:43,809 requests and we will continue to do 423 00:16:43,820 --> 00:16:45,780 everything we can to ensuring the 424 00:16:45,789 --> 00:16:48,200 safety of all of our aircraft platforms 425 00:16:48,210 --> 00:16:50,590 including the V 22 Osprey , less 426 00:16:50,599 --> 00:16:52,821 contentious hypersonic weapons question 427 00:16:52,869 --> 00:16:54,813 last week at the NATO summit , the 428 00:16:54,813 --> 00:16:56,536 White House and NATO put out a 429 00:16:56,536 --> 00:16:58,702 statement saying that starting in 2026 430 00:16:58,830 --> 00:17:01,030 the US army , the army is a multi 431 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:03,919 domain task force will start fielding 432 00:17:03,929 --> 00:17:06,869 long range fires to include the now 433 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:09,510 developmental hypersonic weapon that 434 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:12,168 the US is working on . On June 28th . 435 00:17:12,178 --> 00:17:14,400 You put out a press release saying that 436 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:16,567 the weapon successfully completed what 437 00:17:16,568 --> 00:17:18,499 they call an end to end test . My 438 00:17:18,509 --> 00:17:20,968 question is this , how close is this 439 00:17:20,979 --> 00:17:24,568 weapon to being deemed operationally 440 00:17:24,578 --> 00:17:26,999 suitable for production and eventual 441 00:17:27,009 --> 00:17:29,468 fielding ? Will there be more tests or 442 00:17:29,479 --> 00:17:31,701 was this the one big one that it had to 443 00:17:31,701 --> 00:17:35,449 pass for graduation ? Yeah , so um with 444 00:17:35,459 --> 00:17:37,292 regards to hypersonics , we will 445 00:17:37,300 --> 00:17:39,022 continue to develop a range of 446 00:17:39,022 --> 00:17:41,369 hypersonic based programs . Uh We'll 447 00:17:41,380 --> 00:17:43,640 work to accelerate development and 448 00:17:43,650 --> 00:17:45,859 testing uh on these programs . As you 449 00:17:45,869 --> 00:17:47,969 highlight the Navy and the army did 450 00:17:47,979 --> 00:17:50,035 recently complete a flight test of a 451 00:17:50,035 --> 00:17:52,035 hypersonic missile from the Pacific 452 00:17:52,035 --> 00:17:54,201 missile range in Hawaii . Uh That test 453 00:17:54,201 --> 00:17:56,423 provided data on the performance of the 454 00:17:56,423 --> 00:17:58,646 conventional prompt strike and the long 455 00:17:58,646 --> 00:18:01,089 range hypersonic weapon um for reasons 456 00:18:01,099 --> 00:18:03,210 of operation security . I'm not gonna 457 00:18:03,210 --> 00:18:05,339 be able to get into details on future 458 00:18:05,349 --> 00:18:07,599 tests . Um I will say though that we 459 00:18:07,609 --> 00:18:09,665 remain committed to developing these 460 00:18:09,665 --> 00:18:11,720 hypersonic capabilities that support 461 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:13,720 the national defense strategy . You 462 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:15,831 guys have spent like $12 billion over 463 00:18:15,831 --> 00:18:17,887 the last five trying to develop this 464 00:18:17,887 --> 00:18:20,109 capability . You can't say whether this 465 00:18:20,109 --> 00:18:22,053 was the graduation test or whether 466 00:18:22,053 --> 00:18:24,276 there will be subsequent tests to prove 467 00:18:24,276 --> 00:18:26,442 it out more . What I would say is that 468 00:18:26,442 --> 00:18:28,387 the test marked a step forward for 469 00:18:28,387 --> 00:18:30,553 those programs . Uh And I'll just have 470 00:18:30,553 --> 00:18:30,359 to leave it at that graduation , but a 471 00:18:30,369 --> 00:18:33,349 step forward , I'll just step forward 472 00:18:33,780 --> 00:18:36,520 that . Thank you , sir . Thank you um 473 00:18:36,530 --> 00:18:38,474 regarding to the escalation of the 474 00:18:38,474 --> 00:18:40,650 border of Lebanon . Um do you still 475 00:18:40,660 --> 00:18:44,599 believe that uh escalation could lead 476 00:18:44,609 --> 00:18:46,665 to the wider war ? Do you have still 477 00:18:46,665 --> 00:18:49,069 these concerns ? And um do you think 478 00:18:49,079 --> 00:18:52,000 that the politic or diplomatic solution 479 00:18:52,010 --> 00:18:54,439 is still exist ? And what's your 480 00:18:54,449 --> 00:18:56,829 message to the both parties there ? 481 00:18:57,839 --> 00:19:00,300 Well , sure . Uh I mean , I think uh 482 00:19:00,459 --> 00:19:03,939 that dip a diplomatic solution does 483 00:19:04,079 --> 00:19:06,619 remain possible . Uh So far , we have 484 00:19:06,630 --> 00:19:10,459 not seen a wider regional conflict . Um 485 00:19:10,469 --> 00:19:13,619 Tensions do obviously remain along the 486 00:19:13,630 --> 00:19:16,979 Israel Lebanon border . And so uh we 487 00:19:16,989 --> 00:19:19,109 continue to stay in constant 488 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:22,140 communication with um 489 00:19:23,430 --> 00:19:24,579 with um 490 00:19:26,839 --> 00:19:29,199 Lebanon , Israel and others in the 491 00:19:29,209 --> 00:19:31,209 region to ensure that , that , that 492 00:19:31,540 --> 00:19:33,959 this does not become a broader conflict . 493 00:19:33,969 --> 00:19:36,080 Of course , the , the concern here is 494 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:38,247 the risk of miscalculation which could 495 00:19:38,247 --> 00:19:40,859 spark a wider conflict that no one 496 00:19:40,869 --> 00:19:43,689 wants . So we'll continue to stay very 497 00:19:43,699 --> 00:19:46,280 focused on that . I do believe that the 498 00:19:46,310 --> 00:19:48,750 ceasefire deal could be reflect in a 499 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:51,699 positive way to that escalation of this 500 00:19:51,709 --> 00:19:54,500 area . Uh Well , it's , it's difficult 501 00:19:54,510 --> 00:19:56,890 to , uh , get into hypotheticals or 502 00:19:56,900 --> 00:19:59,400 speculate . But I think again , uh , 503 00:19:59,410 --> 00:20:01,132 what we would like to see is a 504 00:20:01,132 --> 00:20:04,010 ceasefire in Gaza , uh so that we can 505 00:20:04,020 --> 00:20:06,076 restore calm and we can start to get 506 00:20:06,076 --> 00:20:08,187 humanitarian assistance in there . Uh 507 00:20:08,187 --> 00:20:10,131 Certainly , I , I think that would 508 00:20:10,131 --> 00:20:12,839 contribute uh to uh more positive 509 00:20:12,849 --> 00:20:15,016 outcomes in the region and a reduction 510 00:20:15,016 --> 00:20:16,960 of tension . So , um again , we'll 511 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:19,071 continue to work toward that end . We 512 00:20:19,071 --> 00:20:21,293 go to Charlie , welcome to the briefing 513 00:20:21,293 --> 00:20:23,293 room , Charlie . Um If I understood 514 00:20:23,293 --> 00:20:25,460 correctly , you mentioned a word about 515 00:20:25,460 --> 00:20:27,460 re anchoring the pier at the top of 516 00:20:27,460 --> 00:20:30,000 today's session . Uh Sources tell us 517 00:20:30,010 --> 00:20:31,954 what's actually being discussed is 518 00:20:31,954 --> 00:20:34,010 pulling the plug and dismantling the 519 00:20:34,010 --> 00:20:36,066 pier and that may happen in the next 520 00:20:36,066 --> 00:20:38,177 couple of days . Where are we on that 521 00:20:38,177 --> 00:20:40,343 decision making ? Yeah , what I , what 522 00:20:40,343 --> 00:20:42,066 I said was that a potential re 523 00:20:42,066 --> 00:20:44,066 anchoring date has not been set and 524 00:20:44,066 --> 00:20:46,288 we've said all along that this is going 525 00:20:46,288 --> 00:20:48,288 to be temporary uh and that it will 526 00:20:48,288 --> 00:20:50,399 conclude its mission soon . But as of 527 00:20:50,399 --> 00:20:52,566 today , I don't have any announcements 528 00:20:52,566 --> 00:20:54,621 to make in terms of when the mission 529 00:20:54,621 --> 00:20:56,788 will officially conclude . And when we 530 00:20:56,788 --> 00:20:58,843 do have information in that regard . 531 00:20:58,843 --> 00:20:58,719 We'll certainly be sure to let you all 532 00:20:58,729 --> 00:21:02,660 know . No window . Well , 533 00:21:02,859 --> 00:21:04,915 no , I , I don't have a window other 534 00:21:04,915 --> 00:21:07,026 than soon , you know , and , and part 535 00:21:07,026 --> 00:21:09,248 of the discussion , of course , here is 536 00:21:09,248 --> 00:21:11,192 taking into account whether states 537 00:21:11,192 --> 00:21:12,803 taking into account uh , the 538 00:21:12,803 --> 00:21:14,803 requirement to deliver humanitarian 539 00:21:14,803 --> 00:21:16,859 assistance . Um , again , uh , the , 540 00:21:16,859 --> 00:21:18,970 the most specific I can get right now 541 00:21:18,970 --> 00:21:18,900 is , uh , we anticipate that the 542 00:21:18,910 --> 00:21:21,132 mission will conclude soon . I just , I 543 00:21:21,132 --> 00:21:23,466 don't have a date to give you right now . 544 00:21:23,466 --> 00:21:25,688 So keep you posted . All right , thanks 545 00:21:25,688 --> 00:21:27,910 very much . Everybody . Appreciate your 546 00:21:27,910 --> 00:21:26,770 time today .