WEBVTT 00:02.000 --> 00:05.610 Great . Hi , everyone . Good afternoon . 00:05.880 --> 00:08.102 Uh Just a few items here at the top and 00:08.102 --> 00:10.269 then I'd be happy to take some of your 00:10.269 --> 00:11.991 questions . So earlier today , 00:11.991 --> 00:13.769 Secretary Austin spoke with the 00:13.769 --> 00:15.769 Ukrainian Minister of Defense Alesi 00:15.769 --> 00:17.436 Reznikoff to discuss security 00:17.436 --> 00:19.658 assistance to Ukraine and to receive an 00:19.658 --> 00:21.602 update on operations in advance of 00:21.602 --> 00:23.559 tomorrow's Ukraine defense contact 00:23.569 --> 00:25.680 group meeting , a full readout of the 00:25.680 --> 00:27.736 that call will be posted . Hopefully 00:27.736 --> 00:29.902 you've already gotten it in your email 00:29.902 --> 00:32.069 but it should be online at defense dot 00:32.069 --> 00:34.236 gov . And just to reiterate , speaking 00:34.236 --> 00:36.069 of U DC G Secretary , Austin and 00:36.069 --> 00:38.080 Chairman Milley will host a virtual 00:38.090 --> 00:40.257 meeting of the Ukraine defense contact 00:40.257 --> 00:42.479 group tomorrow morning , they will join 00:42.479 --> 00:44.423 Ministers of Defense and Chiefs of 00:44.423 --> 00:46.423 defense from nearly 50 nations from 00:46.423 --> 00:48.479 around the world to discuss Russia's 00:48.479 --> 00:50.479 ongoing war in Ukraine and continue 00:50.479 --> 00:52.590 close coordination to provide Ukraine 00:52.590 --> 00:54.590 with the security assistance . They 00:54.590 --> 00:56.812 need to protect their people and defend 00:56.812 --> 00:59.034 their country . Shifting to the Centcom 00:59.110 --> 01:01.779 area of operations in response to a 01:01.790 --> 01:04.012 number of recent alarming events in the 01:04.012 --> 01:06.012 strait of Hormuz . The Secretary of 01:06.012 --> 01:08.123 Defense has ordered the deployment of 01:08.123 --> 01:10.379 the , of the destroyer US S Thomas Hud 01:10.819 --> 01:14.260 F-35 fighters and F-16 fighters to the 01:14.269 --> 01:15.769 US central command area of 01:15.769 --> 01:18.010 responsibility to defend us interests 01:18.019 --> 01:20.186 and safeguard freedom of navigation in 01:20.186 --> 01:22.800 the region . As you'll remember on July 01:22.809 --> 01:24.980 5th , the Iranian Navy attempted to 01:24.989 --> 01:27.211 illegally seize two merchant vessels in 01:27.211 --> 01:29.267 the strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of 01:29.267 --> 01:31.510 Oman . One attempt included an Iranian 01:31.519 --> 01:34.400 Navy ship firing upon the merchant 01:34.410 --> 01:36.519 vessel in light of this continued 01:36.529 --> 01:38.529 threat and in coordination with our 01:38.529 --> 01:40.751 partners and allies . The department is 01:40.751 --> 01:42.918 increasing our presence and ability to 01:42.918 --> 01:44.862 monitor the strait and surrounding 01:44.862 --> 01:46.529 waters . We call upon Iran to 01:46.529 --> 01:48.640 immediately cease these destabilizing 01:48.650 --> 01:50.817 actions that threaten the free flow of 01:50.817 --> 01:52.594 commerce through this strategic 01:52.594 --> 01:54.761 waterway of which the world depends on 01:54.761 --> 01:56.817 for more than 1/5 of the world's oil 01:56.817 --> 02:00.330 supply . And finally , this week , Air 02:00.339 --> 02:02.620 Mobility Command is participating in 02:02.629 --> 02:05.370 exercise mobility guardian involving 02:05.379 --> 02:07.809 more than 15,000 US and partner and 02:07.819 --> 02:10.429 ally forces across the Pacific . We'd 02:10.440 --> 02:12.384 like to highlight a moment of real 02:12.384 --> 02:14.710 world heroism during the exercise , us 02:14.720 --> 02:17.160 and coalition forces saved 11 lives 02:17.169 --> 02:19.419 last week . In response to a civilian 02:19.654 --> 02:21.914 stress call off the coast of Rota 02:22.074 --> 02:25.044 Northern Mariana Islands . A French , a 02:25.054 --> 02:27.725 400 M Atlas crew launched from Anderson 02:27.735 --> 02:29.975 Air Force Base Guam in less than 10 02:29.985 --> 02:32.207 minutes and located the disabled vessel 02:32.207 --> 02:34.263 in dangerous seas using night vision 02:34.263 --> 02:36.374 goggles . The Atlas team was relieved 02:36.374 --> 02:39.675 by a Canadian CC 1 30 J Hercules also 02:39.684 --> 02:42.684 from Mobility Guardian until a US Navy . 02:42.695 --> 02:44.994 Mh 60 Nighthawk helicopter could safely 02:45.005 --> 02:47.580 recover the passengers . This level of 02:47.589 --> 02:49.645 integration is second to none in the 02:49.645 --> 02:51.478 world and it's what allows us to 02:51.478 --> 02:53.645 represent and to respond to any crisis 02:53.645 --> 02:55.710 any time and anywhere . And for more 02:55.720 --> 02:57.831 information on that , uh please reach 02:57.831 --> 02:59.720 out to Air Force and Air Mobility 02:59.720 --> 03:01.942 Command and with that , I'd be happy to 03:01.942 --> 03:04.164 take your questions . Go to Tara . Hi , 03:04.164 --> 03:06.164 Sabrina , two on Ukraine and one on 03:06.164 --> 03:08.220 another subject . Um Do you have any 03:08.220 --> 03:10.331 updates on the Crimea Bridge attack ? 03:10.331 --> 03:12.498 And whether or not you've been able to 03:12.498 --> 03:14.664 discern whether Ukrainian forces had a 03:14.664 --> 03:16.776 role in it ? Secondly , with Russia's 03:16.776 --> 03:18.942 announcement on that , it's suspending 03:18.942 --> 03:20.998 the ability for grain to move freely 03:20.998 --> 03:23.164 through the Black Sea with the contact 03:23.164 --> 03:24.887 group tomorrow . Are there any 03:24.887 --> 03:26.942 possibilities for finding additional 03:26.942 --> 03:29.109 ways that Ukraine can help Ukraine get 03:29.109 --> 03:31.279 its grain out ? Um And then on a 03:31.289 --> 03:33.649 separate topic , the uh there were 03:33.660 --> 03:35.979 reports in the guardian that several 03:35.990 --> 03:38.910 1000 emails , uh military emails ended 03:38.919 --> 03:41.779 up going to Mali because it was dot Ml 03:41.789 --> 03:44.250 instead of dot Mil and just wondering 03:44.259 --> 03:46.259 what sort of mitigation efforts you 03:46.259 --> 03:48.537 have going on ? Sure . Uh So I'll take , 03:48.537 --> 03:50.592 I'll , I'll take Ukraine first and , 03:50.592 --> 03:52.815 and work my way down . So , in terms of 03:52.815 --> 03:54.926 um , the bridge and who's responsible 03:54.926 --> 03:56.870 for that attack , I just , I can't 03:56.870 --> 03:58.870 verify one way or the other on , on 03:58.870 --> 04:02.070 claims . Um , Crimea has , is part of 04:02.080 --> 04:04.024 Ukraine . Um We'll leave it to the 04:04.024 --> 04:06.449 Ukrainians to speak to their operations . 04:06.460 --> 04:09.559 But in terms of um confirming anything 04:09.570 --> 04:11.737 on that attack , I just , I just don't 04:11.737 --> 04:13.903 have more for you at this time . Um In 04:13.903 --> 04:16.070 terms of the grain deal , what I would 04:16.070 --> 04:18.126 say on that is , um you know , we've 04:18.126 --> 04:20.237 seen Russia now pull out of this deal 04:20.237 --> 04:23.130 that was brokered months ago . Um This 04:23.140 --> 04:25.410 has impacts far reaching beyond Ukraine 04:25.420 --> 04:27.642 and Russia . This impacts countries all 04:27.642 --> 04:29.864 around the world , millions of people , 04:29.864 --> 04:29.540 all around the world that depend on 04:29.549 --> 04:31.910 this grain , um the global South and , 04:32.089 --> 04:34.540 and others . And so , um we certainly 04:34.549 --> 04:38.220 urge Russia to um in good faith 04:38.230 --> 04:40.450 reengage and , and allow these ships 04:40.459 --> 04:43.559 that are carrying grain to pass freely . 04:43.570 --> 04:45.859 But um I think the focus of the 04:45.869 --> 04:47.647 Ukrainian defense contact group 04:47.647 --> 04:49.758 tomorrow is going to be really on the 04:49.758 --> 04:51.980 counter offensive , making sure that um 04:51.980 --> 04:53.925 partners and allies that we're all 04:53.925 --> 04:56.202 talking together on what Ukraine needs , 04:56.202 --> 04:58.945 which we know is um their , their 04:58.954 --> 05:00.954 priorities are air defense and more 05:00.954 --> 05:02.954 artillery . And so that remains the 05:02.954 --> 05:05.176 focus of the U DC G um which we will be 05:05.176 --> 05:07.287 meeting tomorrow . And I'm sure while 05:07.287 --> 05:09.964 the Green Deal or while the um the 05:09.975 --> 05:12.142 stall or the halting of the Green deal 05:12.142 --> 05:14.308 could come up . The real focus is just 05:14.308 --> 05:16.253 on making sure Ukraine has what it 05:16.253 --> 05:18.475 needs for their counter offensive . And 05:18.475 --> 05:20.808 then of course , the long term , um now , 05:20.808 --> 05:22.919 in terms of you had asked about the , 05:22.919 --> 05:24.975 the emails , um we're aware of these 05:24.975 --> 05:26.980 unauthorized disclosures um of 05:26.989 --> 05:28.600 controlled national security 05:28.600 --> 05:31.399 information . Um We uh over the course 05:31.410 --> 05:33.890 of uh I mean , as you've seen from when 05:33.899 --> 05:35.566 we had our first unauthorized 05:35.566 --> 05:37.843 disclosure , um from earlier this year , 05:37.843 --> 05:39.955 we've implemented policy and training 05:39.955 --> 05:42.177 mechanisms um and put in place . And in 05:42.177 --> 05:44.369 terms of what we have here on the dod 05:44.380 --> 05:47.570 systems is that um when you send an 05:47.579 --> 05:49.829 email from a dod email address , it 05:49.839 --> 05:52.850 will not and you send it to a dot Ml 05:52.859 --> 05:54.970 email address , it will bounce back . 05:54.970 --> 05:57.192 So a dod email address will not be able 05:57.192 --> 05:59.519 to send to that email address . Um We 05:59.529 --> 06:02.500 can't control how other domains and how 06:02.510 --> 06:06.089 other um uh websites uh 06:06.160 --> 06:08.700 send information . So if an email was 06:08.709 --> 06:11.540 sent from per a personal gmail or Yahoo 06:11.549 --> 06:14.359 account , um that did likely go through 06:14.369 --> 06:16.700 to the dot Ml account , all we can do 06:16.709 --> 06:18.931 is account for our dod assets and , and 06:18.931 --> 06:22.390 ours remain intact dot Ml . Um 06:22.399 --> 06:24.829 limit . When was that , I guess when 06:24.839 --> 06:26.839 was that fix put in place or has it 06:26.839 --> 06:29.290 always been the dot Ml ? Can't be 06:29.299 --> 06:31.410 forwarded on or can't be , I guess 06:31.420 --> 06:33.720 typed in and sent out ? Yeah , I'd have 06:33.730 --> 06:35.897 to check . Um I mean , I will say that 06:35.897 --> 06:38.230 just from working here in this building , 06:38.230 --> 06:40.174 if you do have a misspelling of an 06:40.174 --> 06:40.040 email address , it does immediately 06:40.049 --> 06:42.216 bounce back . Um , but I'd have to , I 06:42.216 --> 06:44.327 don't know the exact date or month or 06:44.327 --> 06:46.493 year on when that , that went in place 06:46.493 --> 06:48.605 So I'd have to take that and get back 06:48.605 --> 06:50.771 to you . Yeah , Liz , thanks . Um Just 06:50.771 --> 06:52.827 to follow up on those questions . Is 06:52.827 --> 06:54.993 there any updated guidance or any sort 06:54.993 --> 06:57.216 of training um for people that work for 06:57.216 --> 06:59.382 dod not to use their personal emails , 06:59.382 --> 07:01.438 but we always discourage people from 07:01.438 --> 07:00.989 using their personal emails . Official 07:01.000 --> 07:02.944 work should be done on official uh 07:02.944 --> 07:05.000 channels and under official emails . 07:05.000 --> 07:07.970 That's uh also part of the um ensuring 07:07.980 --> 07:09.924 that , you know , there's there uh 07:09.924 --> 07:12.147 maintains official communication remain 07:12.147 --> 07:13.980 on official channels . So that's 07:13.980 --> 07:15.702 something that we've always um 07:15.702 --> 07:17.702 emphasized . And uh again , uh when 07:17.702 --> 07:20.209 using dod accounts , you are not able 07:20.220 --> 07:22.387 to send to dot ml addresses . So there 07:22.387 --> 07:24.498 was that protection put in place from 07:24.498 --> 07:26.553 the beginning or from , from when it 07:26.553 --> 07:28.609 was put in place . Will the guidance 07:28.609 --> 07:30.831 not to use personal emails be increased 07:30.831 --> 07:30.299 after this report , we can keep 07:30.309 --> 07:32.420 reiterating not to use personal email 07:32.429 --> 07:34.429 addresses ? I think we'll certainly 07:34.429 --> 07:36.540 that again . Um That's something that 07:36.540 --> 07:38.825 uh again , when we went through the 07:38.834 --> 07:41.001 unauthorized disclosures that happened 07:41.001 --> 07:43.364 earlier this year , we saw um personal 07:43.375 --> 07:45.375 social media accounts being used to 07:45.375 --> 07:47.431 disseminate classified information . 07:47.431 --> 07:49.653 We've certainly um repeatedly said time 07:49.653 --> 07:52.364 and time again , you know , to , we've 07:52.375 --> 07:54.708 discouraged using personal accounts for , 07:54.708 --> 07:56.653 for that . And then just one short 07:56.653 --> 07:58.819 question on a different topic . Yeah . 07:58.819 --> 08:00.653 Um There are families of service 08:00.653 --> 08:02.708 members who were killed in the Abbey 08:02.708 --> 08:04.875 Gate bombing on Capitol Hill today and 08:04.875 --> 08:06.819 this is following testimony from a 08:06.819 --> 08:09.042 marine saying that he had the Abby gate 08:09.042 --> 08:11.042 bomber in range but was told not to 08:11.042 --> 08:13.042 shoot . Do you have any reaction to 08:13.042 --> 08:15.042 them being on Capitol Hill ? Do you 08:15.042 --> 08:16.986 think that there should be another 08:16.986 --> 08:16.769 investigation into the Abby Gate 08:16.779 --> 08:19.459 bombing ? Uh , no , no real , I mean , 08:19.470 --> 08:22.089 I think it's perfectly acceptable for , 08:22.100 --> 08:24.322 um , members of the public to meet with 08:24.322 --> 08:26.378 members of Congress to express their 08:26.378 --> 08:29.290 concerns or um , uh thoughts to , to 08:29.299 --> 08:31.299 members . And I'll just leave it at 08:31.299 --> 08:33.679 that . Great Travis . Thanks Sabrina on 08:33.690 --> 08:36.059 the F-16s and F-35s heading to the 08:36.070 --> 08:39.309 Middle East . Um When are they expected 08:39.320 --> 08:41.640 to arrive in the region ? And also 08:41.650 --> 08:43.817 what's the duration of this deployment 08:43.817 --> 08:45.983 or is it open ended at this point ? So 08:45.983 --> 08:48.206 in terms of duration of deployment , no 08:48.206 --> 08:50.859 timetable yet , the secretary along 08:50.869 --> 08:52.591 with his commanders are always 08:52.591 --> 08:54.536 assessing how long assets would be 08:54.536 --> 08:56.758 needed in the region , but I just don't 08:56.758 --> 08:58.925 have a timetable for you . Um In terms 08:58.925 --> 09:00.980 of when I think you said , when will 09:00.980 --> 09:03.147 they arrive ? I'd refer you to Centcom 09:03.147 --> 09:05.258 to make that announcement . I believe 09:05.258 --> 09:07.480 some are in route . But um I'd leave it 09:07.480 --> 09:06.893 to Centcom to announce when they 09:06.903 --> 09:09.014 actually arrive in , in where they'll 09:09.014 --> 09:11.181 be coming from . I can't yet . I would 09:11.181 --> 09:13.014 let Centcom speak to that or the 09:13.014 --> 09:15.070 services if you have questions about 09:15.070 --> 09:17.236 individual assets , I'd let them speak 09:17.236 --> 09:19.403 to that . Thank you . Yeah , or just a 09:19.403 --> 09:21.570 follow up , excuse me , just to follow 09:21.570 --> 09:20.853 up on that , you have a tens there and 09:20.862 --> 09:22.918 have sixteens . What , what else are 09:22.918 --> 09:25.084 the F-35 there for ? Is this , is this 09:25.084 --> 09:27.195 this enhanced maritime patrol or , or 09:27.195 --> 09:29.140 what , why bring them in above and 09:29.140 --> 09:29.085 beyond the capabilities you already 09:29.096 --> 09:31.207 have ? Yeah , they're joining another 09:31.207 --> 09:33.374 number of assets already in the region 09:33.374 --> 09:35.429 for securing those vital waterways . 09:35.429 --> 09:37.652 It's just an additional asset to help . 09:37.652 --> 09:40.265 Um Again , with , we've seen Iran 09:40.276 --> 09:41.943 continuing to engage in desta 09:42.106 --> 09:45.166 destabilizing activity . Um So this was 09:45.176 --> 09:47.176 a decision that the secretary along 09:47.176 --> 09:49.955 with um the Centcom Commander made in 09:49.966 --> 09:52.077 terms of sending assets to the region 09:52.077 --> 09:54.188 that they felt it was important to do 09:54.188 --> 09:56.299 at this time . Great . I'm just gonna 09:56.299 --> 09:56.159 go to the phone and then I will come 09:56.169 --> 09:59.020 back into the room . Um Laura Seligman 09:59.030 --> 10:02.849 Politico . Hi Serena , thanks for 10:02.859 --> 10:04.803 doing this . Um Two questions . Um 10:04.803 --> 10:06.748 First of all , just a follow up to 10:06.748 --> 10:09.530 Tara's question about the leaked emails . 10:09.559 --> 10:11.559 So when you said uh that the 10:11.570 --> 10:13.849 misspelling does bounce back , does 10:13.859 --> 10:15.859 that mean that none of those emails 10:15.859 --> 10:18.026 that were leaked came from a dod email 10:18.026 --> 10:19.803 address ? I'm just a little bit 10:19.803 --> 10:21.859 confused about that . Uh None of the 10:21.859 --> 10:23.859 leaked emails that were reported um 10:23.859 --> 10:26.669 came from a dod email address . Ok . So 10:26.679 --> 10:29.150 it was only going to the ones that are 10:29.159 --> 10:31.500 intended to a dot Mail email address 10:31.799 --> 10:34.021 that didn't go through that were leaked 10:34.021 --> 10:36.188 from a dod email address . An official 10:36.188 --> 10:38.469 dod email address went through to a dot 10:38.479 --> 10:40.820 Ml address . Um The only thing that 10:40.830 --> 10:42.997 went through would be something like a 10:42.997 --> 10:45.108 personal account like a dot gmail dot 10:45.108 --> 10:47.330 Yahoo . Um Those are just some examples 10:47.330 --> 10:49.441 that I can think of off the top of my 10:49.441 --> 10:51.608 head . And you had a second question . 10:51.608 --> 10:53.719 Yes , my second question . Um just on 10:53.719 --> 10:56.549 the , the hold by um Senator Tuberville . 10:56.559 --> 10:59.429 I wanted to know if you had any uh 10:59.440 --> 11:02.030 comments about what impact this will 11:02.039 --> 11:05.729 have on the Pentagon after um doctor 11:05.739 --> 11:09.669 call's departure . Um How long is this 11:09.679 --> 11:12.650 going to impact the , um the 11:12.659 --> 11:15.239 confirmation of a replacement ? And how 11:15.250 --> 11:18.530 long can um Sasha Baker and Mara Carlin 11:18.539 --> 11:21.070 fill those roles ? They've moved on up 11:21.080 --> 11:24.809 to on a temporary basis . Um , a few 11:24.820 --> 11:27.098 questions there and thank you for that . 11:27.098 --> 11:29.209 I would say , um Sasha Baker and Mark 11:29.209 --> 11:31.250 are incredible women and I gonna be 11:31.260 --> 11:33.482 doing an amazing job as they split this 11:33.482 --> 11:35.640 responsibility um with leading our 11:35.650 --> 11:37.890 policy department . Um You know , I 11:37.900 --> 11:40.619 would let uh Senator Tuberville speak 11:40.630 --> 11:43.400 to um any additional holds he has right 11:43.409 --> 11:45.770 now . Um As far as we know his holds 11:45.780 --> 11:49.344 just to general and flag officers . And 11:49.354 --> 11:51.515 as of just last week , there are more 11:51.525 --> 11:54.275 than 275 general and flag officers that 11:54.284 --> 11:57.184 have been held up by the Senate . And 11:57.195 --> 11:59.414 um if again , we have emphasized this 11:59.424 --> 12:01.591 here from this podium and , and you've 12:01.591 --> 12:03.535 heard others in the administration 12:03.535 --> 12:05.257 speak to this , um These holds 12:05.257 --> 12:07.313 jeopardize our national security and 12:07.313 --> 12:09.257 our readiness . Uh You already are 12:09.257 --> 12:11.146 seeing that with , um , an acting 12:11.146 --> 12:12.980 commandant of the Marine Corps , 12:12.980 --> 12:15.091 something that we haven't experienced 12:15.091 --> 12:17.257 in over a century , we have one person 12:17.257 --> 12:19.313 doing the job of two . And , um , if 12:19.313 --> 12:21.480 these holds continue , you're going to 12:21.480 --> 12:23.702 see many more positions in which , um , 12:23.702 --> 12:25.813 people are , are performing , do dual 12:25.813 --> 12:27.702 headed roles . Um , and that does 12:27.702 --> 12:29.757 impact our readiness and also , um , 12:29.757 --> 12:31.757 certainly impacts our relationships 12:31.757 --> 12:33.757 with , with allies and partners all 12:33.757 --> 12:35.980 around the world . Um So we continue to 12:35.980 --> 12:37.980 urge Senator Tuberville to lift his 12:37.980 --> 12:41.094 hold . Uh The , as you are well aware , 12:41.104 --> 12:43.575 the secretary had a brief conversation 12:43.585 --> 12:45.752 with Senator Tuberville just last week 12:45.752 --> 12:48.015 and they committed to engaging again um 12:48.025 --> 12:50.315 this week and no , I don't have a date 12:50.325 --> 12:52.658 or time for when that call is scheduled . 12:52.658 --> 12:54.936 Um But when I do , I will let you know . 12:55.349 --> 12:57.405 Ok . Um We'll take one more question 12:57.405 --> 13:00.700 from the phones . Uh uh Howard Altman 13:00.710 --> 13:03.409 War . Hey , thank you so much Sabrina . 13:03.419 --> 13:05.760 Um I got a question about , um , in 13:05.770 --> 13:07.881 Puan , the Ukrainians are saying that 13:07.881 --> 13:10.760 Russia's masked about 100,000 troops . 13:10.770 --> 13:13.103 And I wanted to know if the uh Pentagon , 13:13.103 --> 13:15.159 what is the Pentagon's assessment of 13:15.159 --> 13:17.429 Russia's ability to uh mount and 13:17.440 --> 13:20.429 sustain its own counter offensive and 13:20.440 --> 13:22.162 how dangerous would that be to 13:22.162 --> 13:24.440 Ukraine's uh ongoing counter offensive ? 13:25.700 --> 13:28.440 Well , we don't see signs of , um , the 13:28.450 --> 13:30.799 Russians uh slowing down . I mean , 13:30.809 --> 13:32.976 we've seen the Russians have certainly 13:32.976 --> 13:35.142 dug in in the east and in the south um 13:35.142 --> 13:38.390 with the laying of , of minefields , um 13:38.479 --> 13:41.530 we know that this is a true and very 13:41.630 --> 13:44.820 real artillery fight . Um That's why we 13:44.830 --> 13:47.390 uh are , are , have , have been 13:47.400 --> 13:49.830 prioritizing getting more 155 unitary 13:49.840 --> 13:52.210 rounds to Ukraine um through the course 13:52.219 --> 13:54.441 of many different presidential drawdown 13:54.441 --> 13:56.275 packages . Um And that's what we 13:56.275 --> 13:59.429 continue to emphasize . And this um the , 13:59.440 --> 14:01.607 the , the U DC G , the Ukraine defense 14:01.607 --> 14:03.773 contact group comes at a critical time 14:03.773 --> 14:05.940 tomorrow as , as the counter offensive 14:05.940 --> 14:08.107 is underway , it's another opportunity 14:08.107 --> 14:10.162 for allies and partners to meet , to 14:10.162 --> 14:12.329 meet with the secretary to discuss the 14:12.329 --> 14:14.384 ongoing work needs that Ukraine will 14:14.384 --> 14:17.090 need on the battlefield . And um you 14:17.099 --> 14:19.460 know , certainly this war could today 14:19.469 --> 14:21.609 if Vladimir Putin chose to call his 14:21.619 --> 14:24.440 troops back to Russia , but we don't 14:24.450 --> 14:26.283 see any sign of that right now , 14:26.283 --> 14:28.228 unfortunately . And so we are , as 14:28.228 --> 14:30.283 you've heard the president say , and 14:30.283 --> 14:32.394 the secretary say we are with Ukraine 14:32.394 --> 14:34.617 for as long as it takes and we're going 14:34.617 --> 14:34.299 to keep , keep that commitment true . 14:34.549 --> 14:36.493 All right , I'm gonna come back in 14:36.493 --> 14:38.605 there . Yeah , Erin . So according to 14:38.605 --> 14:40.869 the Japan U Committee , um the US 14:40.880 --> 14:43.239 military MP 22 in Japan will be 14:43.250 --> 14:45.760 conducting flight training now at the 14:45.770 --> 14:49.409 altitude of 200 ft instead of 500 ft . 14:50.039 --> 14:52.309 And in the mountains , the mountainous 14:52.320 --> 14:55.479 region of Japan only . So that does not 14:55.489 --> 14:57.656 include Okinawa . Is there a reason it 14:57.656 --> 14:59.822 does not include Okinawa . Well , that 14:59.822 --> 15:02.380 is a very specific question . Um As you 15:02.390 --> 15:04.446 know , Japan is one of our strongest 15:04.446 --> 15:06.950 allies and our air assets are a crucial 15:06.960 --> 15:09.409 um component and piece of our mutual 15:09.419 --> 15:12.630 defense capabilities . Um We continue 15:12.640 --> 15:14.418 to work together to improve our 15:14.418 --> 15:16.251 exercises , our training and our 15:16.251 --> 15:18.251 readiness . But for more on um more 15:18.251 --> 15:20.307 specifics on that , I'd refer you to 15:20.307 --> 15:22.473 the Marine Corps or um us forces Japan 15:22.473 --> 15:24.640 to just discuss the specifics of the , 15:24.640 --> 15:26.844 the , the flight operations . Great . 15:26.905 --> 15:28.794 Yes . Right . Thank you , ma'am . 15:28.794 --> 15:31.127 Kimberly Underwood from Signal Magazine . 15:31.127 --> 15:33.183 I wanted to ask a question about the 15:33.183 --> 15:32.835 graphite mining agreement that was 15:32.844 --> 15:34.900 announced this morning . Do you have 15:34.900 --> 15:37.122 any plan or does the secretary have any 15:37.122 --> 15:39.835 plans about pursuing any other 15:39.844 --> 15:42.065 agreements for other minerals in this 15:42.075 --> 15:44.131 fiscal year or next fiscal year like 15:44.131 --> 15:46.297 that graphite agreement ? I don't have 15:46.297 --> 15:48.464 anything to announce today . Yeah , in 15:48.464 --> 15:50.686 the back . Yeah , two quick follow up . 15:50.686 --> 15:52.853 One on the emails has dod been working 15:52.853 --> 15:54.964 with other um agencies , whether it's 15:54.964 --> 15:57.131 State Department or the White House to 15:57.131 --> 15:59.297 put in a similar fix where it can't go 15:59.297 --> 16:01.859 to the ML address . And when , if so 16:01.869 --> 16:04.140 when and then on tube , is there plans 16:04.150 --> 16:06.580 to brief this asks this week ? And do 16:06.590 --> 16:08.590 you have any details of the message 16:08.590 --> 16:10.923 that you're gonna be presenting to this ? 16:10.923 --> 16:13.257 A ? Sure . Um So on the first part , it , 16:13.257 --> 16:15.590 we're always coordinating with um the 16:15.599 --> 16:18.090 interagency and uh working together on 16:18.099 --> 16:20.266 best practices . I don't have anything 16:20.266 --> 16:22.432 specific when it comes to this case on 16:22.432 --> 16:24.543 the dot ml address , all I can really 16:24.543 --> 16:26.710 speak to is what the dod is doing . Um 16:26.710 --> 16:28.710 So I'd , I'd refer you to different 16:28.710 --> 16:30.821 agencies that you're interested in if 16:30.821 --> 16:30.690 they , if they have more information . 16:30.909 --> 16:33.159 Um There are , yes , there will be a 16:33.169 --> 16:34.947 briefing . Um I'm sorry to your 16:34.947 --> 16:37.640 question on the SAS C and briefings on 16:37.650 --> 16:39.761 the hill . There will be a a briefing 16:39.761 --> 16:41.428 later this week that um SAS C 16:41.428 --> 16:44.729 membership requested on um the dod S 16:44.739 --> 16:46.795 policy when it comes to reproductive 16:46.795 --> 16:48.906 health . Um That will be coming later 16:48.906 --> 16:51.128 this week and I believe that's a closed 16:51.128 --> 16:53.295 hearing . It's just to give uh members 16:53.295 --> 16:55.517 who had any further questions about our 16:55.517 --> 16:57.850 policy um to really talk to the experts . 16:57.850 --> 17:00.114 So yeah , we'll be doing the briefing . 17:00.125 --> 17:02.347 I I don't have that list in front of me 17:02.347 --> 17:04.458 but happy to get back to you . Yeah , 17:04.458 --> 17:06.625 in the back here and then I'll come to 17:06.625 --> 17:09.010 you . Thank you um regarding to Syria . 17:09.020 --> 17:11.020 There , there are some reports says 17:11.020 --> 17:13.242 that the United States is considering a 17:13.242 --> 17:15.969 possible military options to respond to 17:15.979 --> 17:18.489 Russia military prison in Syria . Have 17:18.500 --> 17:20.722 you seen these reports ? Do you confirm 17:20.722 --> 17:22.889 them ? And the other question , do you 17:22.889 --> 17:24.979 still have the communication lies 17:24.989 --> 17:27.100 between military to military to avoid 17:27.100 --> 17:29.267 any conflict could be happened between 17:29.267 --> 17:31.509 the two parties ? Thank you . I haven't 17:31.519 --> 17:33.718 seen the report you're referring to . 17:33.859 --> 17:37.088 We have seen continued harassment from 17:37.098 --> 17:40.000 Russian aircraft in , um , Syria when 17:40.010 --> 17:42.699 it comes to our own air assets . Um , 17:42.709 --> 17:45.109 but I , I haven't seen the particular 17:45.119 --> 17:47.452 report you're referencing and I'm sorry , 17:47.452 --> 17:49.508 your second question . Do you have , 17:49.508 --> 17:51.452 you still have communication lines 17:51.452 --> 17:53.563 between the two military to avoid any 17:53.563 --> 17:55.286 conflict ? I mean , you know , 17:55.286 --> 17:57.452 especially in Syria we always maintain 17:57.452 --> 17:59.675 and , and try to maintain an open lines 17:59.675 --> 18:01.730 of communication . Um , we encourage 18:01.730 --> 18:03.989 that the Russians use that . But , um , 18:04.000 --> 18:06.167 at at least the secretary's level that 18:06.167 --> 18:09.880 that has not remained open . Um On 18:09.890 --> 18:12.001 Tuesday , the first meeting of the US 18:12.001 --> 18:14.719 RK Nuclear Consultative Group NCZ will 18:14.729 --> 18:16.562 be held in . So , and I have two 18:16.562 --> 18:19.000 questions first . What kind of agendas 18:19.010 --> 18:21.199 do you expect on this first meeting ? 18:21.209 --> 18:24.510 And second , how much do you expect NCG 18:24.584 --> 18:27.755 to make South Korea be involved in us 18:27.765 --> 18:31.045 nuclear operations ? Yep . So um as you 18:31.055 --> 18:32.888 mentioned , tomorrow will be the 18:32.888 --> 18:35.844 inaugural US Rok Nuclear Consultative 18:35.854 --> 18:38.021 Group . So the goal of that meeting is 18:38.025 --> 18:40.081 to begin implementing the Washington 18:40.081 --> 18:41.914 Declaration , the groundbreaking 18:41.914 --> 18:44.594 agreement between the president and 18:44.604 --> 18:48.244 President Yun during uh the Rok 18:48.255 --> 18:51.055 state visit in April which reaffirms 18:51.655 --> 18:53.711 our joint extended deterrence in the 18:53.711 --> 18:55.750 region . Uh The meeting will be co 18:55.780 --> 18:57.669 chaired by us , National security 18:57.669 --> 18:59.502 Coordinator for the Indo Pacific 18:59.502 --> 19:01.613 Affairs , Kurt Campbell . And I would 19:01.613 --> 19:03.558 refer you to the NSC for just more 19:03.558 --> 19:06.510 specifics on that . Yeah . OK . Uh 19:06.520 --> 19:08.687 Thank you for , for doing this . Um So 19:08.687 --> 19:10.909 congress is allegedly holding up uh the 19:10.909 --> 19:12.853 department's omnibus reprogramming 19:12.853 --> 19:14.964 request due to concerns the Air Force 19:14.964 --> 19:17.076 hasn't yet made a basing decision for 19:17.076 --> 19:19.489 space command . Um So has , excuse me , 19:19.500 --> 19:21.449 has dod formally notified that its 19:21.459 --> 19:24.109 omnibus reprogramming request which was 19:24.119 --> 19:26.119 sent to Congress on June 30th is on 19:26.119 --> 19:28.286 hold . And is the department concerned 19:28.286 --> 19:30.397 about the impact that hold could have 19:30.397 --> 19:32.563 on key modernization efforts , bonuses 19:32.563 --> 19:34.397 and yes . Well , we're certainly 19:34.397 --> 19:36.563 concerned about what any hold would do 19:36.563 --> 19:38.810 on any of our programs . Um And I , I 19:38.819 --> 19:40.763 think hold is blanket here . We're 19:40.763 --> 19:42.708 seeing holds in the Senate , we're 19:42.708 --> 19:44.875 seeing holds , you know , being put on 19:44.875 --> 19:47.041 in the house . Um It certainly impacts 19:47.041 --> 19:49.208 our own readiness , it impacts , um as 19:49.208 --> 19:48.839 you mentioned , our modernization 19:48.849 --> 19:51.010 efforts . Um You know , we're hoping 19:51.020 --> 19:53.020 that there can be a resolution that 19:53.020 --> 19:55.131 comes quickly , but I just don't have 19:55.131 --> 19:57.242 more to speak to at , at this time on 19:57.242 --> 19:59.599 and on that specifically with 20:00.709 --> 20:03.420 France and Britain's decision to send 20:03.510 --> 20:05.780 the scal PG and the storm shadow 20:05.790 --> 20:08.069 missile to Ukraine apparently not 20:08.079 --> 20:10.270 causing any escalation there . Why is 20:10.280 --> 20:12.447 the US dragging its feet on the attack 20:12.447 --> 20:14.770 missile ? Well , sorry . Did you have a 20:14.780 --> 20:16.979 question on the first part or just on 20:16.989 --> 20:20.050 the attacks ? So , on the attacks again , 20:20.060 --> 20:22.227 I wouldn't say that we're dragging our 20:22.227 --> 20:24.060 feet on anything . Um We've been 20:24.060 --> 20:26.640 providing Ukraine a , a steady support 20:26.650 --> 20:28.706 of security assistance . Um from the 20:28.706 --> 20:30.928 beginning of the war , uh we rolled out 20:30.928 --> 20:33.094 our 42nd package just last week , have 20:33.094 --> 20:36.199 committed over $40 billion to Ukraine , 20:37.300 --> 20:39.349 they have the combat power to be 20:39.359 --> 20:41.415 successful on the battlefield . They 20:41.415 --> 20:43.319 have what it needs to take to be 20:43.329 --> 20:45.440 successful in the counter offensive . 20:45.440 --> 20:48.099 Um We are incredibly grateful for what 20:48.109 --> 20:50.209 other nations and other partners and 20:50.219 --> 20:52.330 allies have committed to Ukraine . Um 20:52.330 --> 20:54.729 But in terms of a , we haven't taken 20:54.739 --> 20:57.017 anything off the table , but right now , 20:57.017 --> 20:59.183 we are continuing to move forward with 20:59.183 --> 21:01.461 what we have been supplying to Ukraine . 21:01.461 --> 21:03.517 And tomorrow there's another defense 21:03.517 --> 21:05.739 contact group where allies and partners 21:05.739 --> 21:07.739 will discuss what more we can do to 21:07.739 --> 21:09.739 provide Ukraine in terms of some of 21:09.739 --> 21:11.795 their priority needs , which we know 21:11.795 --> 21:14.128 are air defense and artillery . Why not ? 21:15.969 --> 21:18.025 Well , that particular , why is that 21:18.025 --> 21:20.319 system ? If not on , it's definitely 21:20.329 --> 21:22.479 not on the table if it's not off the 21:22.489 --> 21:24.500 table ? Well , I wouldn't say that 21:24.510 --> 21:26.732 again , I would say that nothing is off 21:26.732 --> 21:28.454 the table , but again , we are 21:28.454 --> 21:32.150 confident in the um capabilities and 21:32.160 --> 21:34.160 the weapons that we've been able to 21:34.160 --> 21:36.382 provide Ukraine to be successful in the 21:36.382 --> 21:40.290 battlefield . Ok . Yeah . Um On the uh 21:40.300 --> 21:43.630 assets moving to the straits of Hormuz . 21:43.640 --> 21:46.189 Um So I think the last major sort of 21:46.199 --> 21:48.280 announcement of Iran , Iranian 21:48.290 --> 21:50.920 harassment was earlier this month , 21:50.930 --> 21:54.449 July by July 6th . Um You know , it's 21:54.459 --> 21:56.570 July 17th that we're seeing this , uh 21:56.570 --> 21:59.140 is there a reason why this , either 21:59.150 --> 22:01.261 this announcement or this decision is 22:01.270 --> 22:03.489 coming so far after the 22:04.459 --> 22:06.660 harassment ? Well , it's not too far . 22:06.670 --> 22:08.448 I would say , um you know , the 22:08.448 --> 22:12.349 department regularly makes um , posture 22:12.359 --> 22:14.890 adjustments based on current and future 22:14.900 --> 22:17.760 operational needs . Uh We've seen Iran 22:17.770 --> 22:20.959 continue to harass um vessels in the 22:20.969 --> 22:23.449 strait of Hormuz . And so the secretary 22:23.459 --> 22:25.449 and the commander felt it was 22:25.459 --> 22:27.839 appropriate to move more assets into 22:27.849 --> 22:31.459 the region to um uh you know , help 22:31.469 --> 22:33.580 bolster what , what they needed there 22:33.580 --> 22:35.939 and , and just to follow up the , the , 22:36.099 --> 22:38.849 this decision I'm assuming was made 22:38.859 --> 22:42.329 recently , the secretary and the 22:42.520 --> 22:44.576 commander . I'm not gonna get into a 22:44.576 --> 22:46.742 timeline of when decisions were made . 22:46.742 --> 22:48.909 All I can say is when it was announced 22:48.909 --> 22:50.853 and that's today . And I'm sorry , 22:50.853 --> 22:50.670 that's , that's all I got for you . 22:51.239 --> 22:53.461 Great . All right . Ok . Short briefing 22:53.461 --> 22:55.683 today . Um Thanks everyone . We will be 22:55.683 --> 22:57.850 back tomorrow with the Ukraine Defense 22:57.850 --> 22:58.199 Contact Group .