WEBVTT 00:01.320 --> 00:03.320 All right . Well , good afternoon , 00:03.490 --> 00:06.980 everyone . I think it's Tuesday . All 00:06.989 --> 00:09.156 right . Just a few things on the top , 00:09.156 --> 00:11.156 top here and then I'll get right to 00:11.156 --> 00:12.878 your questions as we announced 00:12.878 --> 00:14.767 yesterday . Secretary Austin will 00:14.767 --> 00:16.878 depart this Friday for a trip to both 00:16.878 --> 00:18.989 Japan and the Philippines . This will 00:18.989 --> 00:21.100 be his 11th visit to the Indo Pacific 00:21.100 --> 00:23.100 region . As Secretary of Defense in 00:23.100 --> 00:25.267 Tokyo , the secretary will participate 00:25.267 --> 00:27.510 in the 2024 US Japan Security 00:27.520 --> 00:30.010 Consultative Committee and a historic 00:30.020 --> 00:32.020 trilateral ministerial meeting with 00:32.020 --> 00:34.509 Japan and South Korea . He'll also meet 00:34.520 --> 00:37.069 with senior Japanese officials . The 00:37.080 --> 00:39.310 Manila Secretary Austin and Secretary 00:39.319 --> 00:40.986 of State Anthony Blinken will 00:40.986 --> 00:42.729 participate in the Fourth US 00:42.740 --> 00:44.909 Philippines two plus two ministerial 00:44.919 --> 00:46.641 dialogue with their Philippine 00:46.641 --> 00:48.863 counterparts . The trip underscores the 00:48.863 --> 00:50.586 US commitment to strengthening 00:50.586 --> 00:52.641 alliances in the Indo Pacific region 00:52.641 --> 00:54.869 for peace and stability . And following 00:54.880 --> 00:56.713 his return from the Indo Pacific 00:56.713 --> 00:58.880 Secretary Austin and Secretary Blinken 00:58.880 --> 01:01.102 will host their Australian counterparts 01:01.102 --> 01:03.213 in Annapolis , Maryland on August 6th 01:03.213 --> 01:05.970 for the 2024 Australia US ministerial 01:05.980 --> 01:08.250 consultations . We'll have much more to 01:08.260 --> 01:10.260 provide on the Secretary's upcoming 01:10.260 --> 01:12.371 trip and the Australia US ministerial 01:12.371 --> 01:14.316 consultations in the near future . 01:14.879 --> 01:17.059 Separately , Secretary Austin hosted 01:17.069 --> 01:19.125 Estonian Minister of Defense , Hanno 01:19.125 --> 01:21.069 Pevar here at the Pentagon earlier 01:21.069 --> 01:23.569 today to discuss a range of regional 01:23.580 --> 01:26.610 and bilateral issues . The discussions 01:26.620 --> 01:28.287 underscored the importance of 01:28.287 --> 01:30.290 maintaining NATO alliance unity and 01:30.300 --> 01:32.133 countering Russian aggression in 01:32.133 --> 01:34.209 Ukraine . The two leaders also 01:34.220 --> 01:36.109 emphasized the need to strengthen 01:36.109 --> 01:38.387 nato's credible deterrence and defense . 01:38.387 --> 01:40.109 Highlighting the importance of 01:40.109 --> 01:42.164 continued joint exercises to enhance 01:42.164 --> 01:44.387 interoperability and efficiency between 01:44.387 --> 01:46.559 military forces . Additionally , they 01:46.569 --> 01:48.402 discussed the US commitment to a 01:48.402 --> 01:50.513 persistent rotational presence in the 01:50.513 --> 01:52.870 Baltics increased defense production to 01:52.879 --> 01:54.935 support Ukraine and replenish allied 01:54.935 --> 01:57.150 munitions and equipment stocks and the 01:57.160 --> 01:59.327 outcomes of the recent Washington NATO 01:59.327 --> 02:01.493 summit read out of the meeting will be 02:01.493 --> 02:04.589 posted to the dod website . Secretary 02:04.599 --> 02:06.710 Austin also spoke by phone today with 02:06.710 --> 02:08.599 the Ukrainian Minister of Defense 02:08.599 --> 02:10.710 Rustem Umarov . During the call , the 02:10.710 --> 02:12.710 Secretary reaffirmed the unwavering 02:12.710 --> 02:14.543 support of the United States for 02:14.543 --> 02:16.266 Ukraine in the face of Russian 02:16.266 --> 02:18.155 aggression . The two leaders also 02:18.155 --> 02:20.099 discussed the outcomes of the NATO 02:20.099 --> 02:22.043 summit in Washington and the steps 02:22.043 --> 02:24.099 allies are taking to support Ukraine 02:24.099 --> 02:26.043 Minister Umarov provided Secretary 02:26.043 --> 02:28.043 Austin an update of dynamics on the 02:28.043 --> 02:30.155 ground in Ukraine as Ukraine's forces 02:30.155 --> 02:32.043 bravely continue to fight Russian 02:32.043 --> 02:34.155 aggression read out will be posted to 02:34.155 --> 02:36.377 defense.gov later today . And finally , 02:36.377 --> 02:38.509 the 2024 US , Iraq joint security 02:38.520 --> 02:41.250 Cooper dialogue concludes today after 02:41.259 --> 02:43.426 two days of senior level working group 02:43.426 --> 02:45.592 meetings and dialogue exchange focused 02:45.592 --> 02:47.259 on both nations commitment to 02:47.259 --> 02:49.370 strengthening our important bilateral 02:49.370 --> 02:51.520 strategic relationship . Secretary 02:51.529 --> 02:53.580 Austin will host Iraqi Minister of 02:53.589 --> 02:55.940 Defense Tit Abbasi and the Pentagon 02:55.949 --> 02:58.250 this afternoon to discuss the US Iraq 02:58.259 --> 03:00.500 bilateral defense relationship and the 03:00.509 --> 03:02.565 efforts of the joint Security Cooper 03:02.565 --> 03:04.787 dialogue and Higher Military Commission 03:04.787 --> 03:06.953 will provide readouts of both of these 03:06.953 --> 03:09.120 as soon as they become available . And 03:09.120 --> 03:11.453 with that , glad to take your questions . 03:11.453 --> 03:13.509 I know we've got a P on the phone so 03:13.509 --> 03:16.380 we'll go to Taqa . Hello . Thank you . 03:16.389 --> 03:19.169 Um I wanted to know if Secretary Austin 03:19.179 --> 03:21.123 will be sitting in on any meetings 03:21.429 --> 03:24.059 between Netanyahu and White House 03:24.070 --> 03:26.990 officials this week . And if uh any 03:27.000 --> 03:28.944 discussions are on the table about 03:28.944 --> 03:31.940 increased uh weapons for Israel , 03:31.949 --> 03:33.949 either offensive Western weapons in 03:33.949 --> 03:36.130 Gaza or increased defense weapons like 03:36.139 --> 03:38.610 for Iron Dome . Thanks . Yeah , thanks , 03:38.619 --> 03:40.841 Tara . I , I don't have any meetings to 03:40.841 --> 03:43.008 read out at this time . Uh If with the 03:43.008 --> 03:44.970 secretary , uh and the , the Prime 03:44.979 --> 03:47.146 Minister , if that changes , certainly 03:47.146 --> 03:49.146 we'll , we'll let you know , uh and 03:49.146 --> 03:51.312 nothing to announce , announce at this 03:51.312 --> 03:53.257 time in terms of any um security , 03:53.257 --> 03:55.820 additional security assistance uh or 03:55.830 --> 03:59.369 increased . Uh F MS is the 2000 03:59.380 --> 04:02.580 pound bomb still held up . Is that 04:02.589 --> 04:04.589 still the one shipment that has not 04:04.589 --> 04:06.811 been sent to Israel ? Correct ? There's 04:06.811 --> 04:08.867 the , the one shipment of 2000 pound 04:08.867 --> 04:11.279 bombs that that is uh still um paused , 04:12.130 --> 04:15.270 go to ri just on the Iraq uh meeting 04:15.279 --> 04:17.279 between Iraqi and us officials . Is 04:17.279 --> 04:19.446 there a sort of goal to have some sort 04:19.446 --> 04:21.779 of agreement by the end of the meetings ? 04:21.779 --> 04:24.001 Um by the end of the visit by the Iraqi 04:24.001 --> 04:27.029 Minister um on the transition away from 04:27.040 --> 04:28.869 the coalition to a bilateral 04:28.880 --> 04:31.047 relationship or is that something that 04:31.047 --> 04:33.158 doesn't need to happen um as a result 04:33.158 --> 04:35.158 of the meetings ? Yeah . So again , 04:35.158 --> 04:37.269 we'll have a read out in terms of the 04:37.269 --> 04:39.980 outcomes of the , of the joint security 04:39.989 --> 04:41.989 cooper operation dialogue and , and 04:41.989 --> 04:44.100 really as we've talked about before , 04:44.100 --> 04:46.279 so kind of two separate things all 04:46.290 --> 04:50.269 interrelated . Uh The , the Js CD , I 04:50.279 --> 04:52.446 have to use an acronym because this is 04:52.446 --> 04:56.220 the dod um is as a forum 04:56.230 --> 04:58.980 by where we can uh discuss our 04:58.989 --> 05:02.190 bilateral security relationship . Uh Of 05:02.200 --> 05:04.422 course , the higher military Commission 05:04.549 --> 05:07.390 uh was created out of last year's joint 05:07.399 --> 05:09.621 security Cooper operation dialogue . Uh 05:09.621 --> 05:11.732 And so it really what they do , Idris 05:11.732 --> 05:13.899 is they provide a forum to discuss not 05:13.899 --> 05:15.455 only our bilateral security 05:15.455 --> 05:17.510 relationship , but in the context of 05:17.510 --> 05:19.510 the coalition in Iraq , uh what the 05:19.519 --> 05:21.741 transition of that will look like going 05:21.741 --> 05:23.850 forward . Uh So right now , I don't 05:23.859 --> 05:25.970 have anything to read out in terms of 05:25.970 --> 05:28.026 decisions or , or timelines . But of 05:28.026 --> 05:30.081 course , you know , recognizing that 05:30.081 --> 05:32.303 that is a continued topic of interest , 05:32.303 --> 05:34.359 we'll be sure to keep you updated on 05:34.359 --> 05:36.581 that . Thank you . Yes , sir . Uh Thank 05:36.581 --> 05:38.692 you , General Pot , right ? So is the 05:38.692 --> 05:38.489 purpose of the discussion with , with 05:38.500 --> 05:41.299 the Iraqis this building to end the 05:41.309 --> 05:43.365 role of the coalition , the national 05:43.365 --> 05:45.989 coalition . Um Well , again , you know , 05:46.000 --> 05:49.350 uh just if you go back to um Prime 05:49.359 --> 05:52.470 Minister Sudan's visit uh to Washington 05:52.480 --> 05:54.470 DC earlier this year . They , they 05:54.480 --> 05:57.109 affirmed that we would review the 05:57.119 --> 05:59.230 factors to determine when and how the 05:59.230 --> 06:01.452 mission of the global coalition in Iraq 06:01.452 --> 06:03.630 would end and tra transition in an 06:03.640 --> 06:06.390 orderly manner to ensure uh or to an 06:06.399 --> 06:08.732 enduring bilateral security partnership . 06:08.970 --> 06:10.637 Uh This is all of course , in 06:10.637 --> 06:12.859 accordance with Iraq's Constitution and 06:12.859 --> 06:14.869 the US Iraq Strategic Framework 06:14.880 --> 06:18.119 Agreement of 2008 . So the Higher 06:18.130 --> 06:21.179 Military Commission is looking at that 06:21.190 --> 06:23.301 transition , what that will look like 06:23.301 --> 06:25.468 in the context of , of the threat that 06:25.468 --> 06:28.750 ISIS pose operational considerations as 06:28.760 --> 06:31.709 well as Iraqi security forces capacity . 06:31.950 --> 06:34.061 Uh And so again , nothing to announce 06:34.061 --> 06:36.172 right now , we'll be sure to keep you 06:36.172 --> 06:38.283 updated on this one more . Don't mind 06:38.283 --> 06:40.506 on Isis recently , Suncom uh released . 06:40.506 --> 06:42.506 It is six months activities in both 06:42.506 --> 06:44.561 Iraq and Syria , including Kurdistan 06:44.561 --> 06:48.399 region that in conducted 196 operations 06:48.410 --> 06:50.970 against ISIS . And on the contrary , I 06:51.019 --> 06:54.200 launched 153 attacks in both 06:54.209 --> 06:56.970 countries . So in the discussions , did 06:56.980 --> 06:59.258 you consider the , the threats of ISIS , 06:59.750 --> 07:03.070 you know , again , without previewing 07:03.079 --> 07:05.135 the readout ? I mean , certainly , I 07:05.135 --> 07:07.301 mean , this is a core function of this 07:07.301 --> 07:09.510 group is to look at uh the threat that 07:09.519 --> 07:12.739 ISIS poses to the region and also with 07:12.750 --> 07:15.450 the eye towards Iraq's important role 07:15.459 --> 07:17.570 when it comes to regional stability . 07:17.820 --> 07:20.760 Thank you very much , Tom . Hi , Gerald . 07:20.769 --> 07:23.440 Uh Thanks for doing this . It is quite 07:23.450 --> 07:25.617 wordy , isn't it the descriptions that 07:25.617 --> 07:27.728 you're coming up with ? Um , in terms 07:27.728 --> 07:29.561 of the , uh the transition in an 07:29.561 --> 07:31.617 orderly manner to ensure an enduring 07:31.617 --> 07:33.779 bilateral security partnership . Can 07:33.790 --> 07:35.901 you put that more in layman's terms ? 07:35.901 --> 07:37.901 Like , what is a bilateral security 07:37.901 --> 07:40.410 partnership , if not troops ? Um , well , 07:40.420 --> 07:42.531 first of all , the global coalition , 07:42.531 --> 07:44.420 uh , is more than just the United 07:44.420 --> 07:46.364 States and Iraq , right . CJ TFOIR 07:46.364 --> 07:48.839 represents , um you know , dozens and 07:48.850 --> 07:50.794 dozens of countries that have come 07:50.794 --> 07:53.072 together to address the threat of ISIS . 07:53.072 --> 07:55.730 Uh And so what we're talking about here 07:55.739 --> 07:58.179 is the transition of the coalition , 07:58.190 --> 08:00.079 which again is more than just the 08:00.079 --> 08:02.134 United States , but also through the 08:02.134 --> 08:04.301 joint security co-operation , dialogue 08:04.301 --> 08:06.739 with an eye towards the US Iraq 08:06.750 --> 08:08.917 bilateral security relationship . What 08:08.917 --> 08:10.917 is that relationship look like ? So 08:10.917 --> 08:13.083 that's what I'm talking about and I do 08:13.083 --> 08:15.194 appreciate the commentary on my wordy 08:15.194 --> 08:17.139 responses , security partnership . 08:17.139 --> 08:17.000 Could that continue with us troops on 08:17.010 --> 08:19.399 the ground or is that ? Well , I think 08:19.410 --> 08:22.850 a , again , the , the US Iraq 08:22.989 --> 08:25.559 bilateral security relationship is one 08:25.570 --> 08:29.309 thing and the uh global coalition 08:29.579 --> 08:32.840 uh which is US led right now in uh in 08:32.849 --> 08:35.010 the region . Uh what does that look 08:35.020 --> 08:37.679 like going forward again ? Taking into 08:37.690 --> 08:39.523 account the three factors that I 08:39.523 --> 08:43.380 highlighted ? Ok , so , all 08:43.390 --> 08:45.557 right , I didn't really hear an answer 08:45.557 --> 08:47.612 there , but that's OK . Like , so in 08:47.612 --> 08:49.612 terms of the , in terms of sorry to 08:49.612 --> 08:51.834 beat a dead horse here with the US Iraq 08:51.834 --> 08:53.890 bilateral Security Agreement . Could 08:53.890 --> 08:56.940 that include a continuing presence of 08:56.950 --> 08:58.894 American troops ? Well , again , I 08:58.894 --> 09:01.172 don't want to get ahead of the process . 09:01.172 --> 09:03.228 That that's the discussions that are 09:03.228 --> 09:05.450 ongoing is what would that relationship 09:05.450 --> 09:07.617 look like under the auspices of the uh 09:07.617 --> 09:09.617 security or the Strategic Framework 09:09.617 --> 09:12.000 Agreement um going forward ? So again , 09:12.010 --> 09:14.049 I , you know , it's a very well put 09:14.059 --> 09:16.320 question , very eloquently stated . I 09:16.330 --> 09:19.700 just can't answer it . Thanks . Yes , 09:19.710 --> 09:22.330 sir . Thanks . Um Last week General 09:22.340 --> 09:25.460 Brown said the in response to the uh 09:26.440 --> 09:30.039 the attack in Iraq which depending on 09:30.049 --> 09:32.450 attribute to an Iran backed group , he 09:32.460 --> 09:34.500 said that the US would respond at a 09:34.510 --> 09:36.630 time and place of its choosing . 09:36.760 --> 09:38.704 Previously . You guys have said we 09:38.704 --> 09:40.871 reserve the right to do so . Does that 09:40.871 --> 09:42.649 mean can we interpret that as a 09:42.649 --> 09:44.871 decision has been made that the US will 09:44.871 --> 09:47.038 respond ? Yeah . Yeah . Thanks for the 09:47.038 --> 09:49.260 question , Joseph . So , you know , I'm 09:49.260 --> 09:51.427 not going to forecast or telegraph any 09:51.427 --> 09:53.538 potential future operations . I think 09:53.538 --> 09:55.649 what the chairman was saying and he's 09:55.649 --> 09:57.649 right is that we always reserve the 09:57.649 --> 09:59.871 right to respond at a time and place of 09:59.871 --> 10:01.982 our choosing and that we will put the 10:01.982 --> 10:03.927 protection of our forces first and 10:03.927 --> 10:06.038 foremost , the safety of our forces . 10:06.038 --> 10:05.840 So I'll just leave it there . And then 10:05.849 --> 10:09.229 secondly , the Yemen through these this 10:09.239 --> 10:13.140 morning put out a new uh list 10:13.150 --> 10:16.440 of targets that they may um attack in 10:16.450 --> 10:19.169 Israel . Among them includes the what 10:19.179 --> 10:21.235 they say is the port of Ashdod where 10:21.250 --> 10:24.780 the US has transitioned the , the Gaza 10:24.789 --> 10:26.700 Pier to the Port of Ashdod for 10:26.710 --> 10:28.766 humanitarian aid . Are you one , are 10:28.766 --> 10:30.988 you guys taking these threats seriously 10:30.988 --> 10:33.154 too ? Is there any concern that uh any 10:33.154 --> 10:35.377 US assets could be in danger apart from 10:35.377 --> 10:37.543 the , the Red Sea ? Obviously , that's 10:37.543 --> 10:39.599 attacks have been going on . Uh So a 10:39.599 --> 10:41.432 couple of things , so I think is 10:41.432 --> 10:43.377 demonstrated by our actions in the 10:43.377 --> 10:46.200 region . Um We're absolutely taking uh 10:46.210 --> 10:48.690 any houthi threats seriously and 10:48.700 --> 10:50.710 continue to work with allies and 10:50.719 --> 10:52.919 partners to degrade and disrupt their 10:52.929 --> 10:56.390 capability to launch attacks in the Red 10:56.400 --> 10:59.840 Sea and in the in the region . Um as it 10:59.849 --> 11:01.960 relates to , you know , the potential 11:01.960 --> 11:03.627 impact on us forces as I just 11:03.627 --> 11:05.349 highlighted , it will take all 11:05.349 --> 11:07.460 necessary measures to ensure that our 11:07.460 --> 11:09.293 forces are protected uh and take 11:09.293 --> 11:11.460 appropriate actions . Uh But again , I 11:11.460 --> 11:13.682 won't get into potential future actions 11:13.682 --> 11:17.330 quickly . Um Sources have just , I , 11:17.340 --> 11:20.210 I've told us that the US shut down 11:21.080 --> 11:23.136 either drones or missiles as part of 11:23.136 --> 11:25.419 the , the attack on Tel Aviv where one 11:25.429 --> 11:27.540 drone obviously got through . Can you 11:27.540 --> 11:29.651 confirm or deny that the US shot down 11:29.651 --> 11:31.818 any or , or help in the self defense ? 11:32.099 --> 11:34.266 Yeah , I don't , I don't have anything 11:34.266 --> 11:36.210 to provide beyond what Centcom has 11:36.210 --> 11:38.377 already put out in their daily Centcom 11:38.377 --> 11:40.488 updates . Um So just leave it there . 11:40.488 --> 11:42.599 Let me just go to the phone here real 11:42.599 --> 11:44.155 quick . Uh WTO P JJ Green . 11:46.830 --> 11:49.010 Yeah , general . Thank you for this 11:49.020 --> 11:51.710 opportunity . Um Earlier today , BBC 11:51.719 --> 11:55.039 reported , NATO Chief Stoltenberg said 11:55.049 --> 11:57.530 that Europe should be prepared for a 11:57.539 --> 12:00.000 decade of war . Um 12:01.280 --> 12:04.619 In , in Ukraine . Um a decade of war 12:04.630 --> 12:08.219 is I'm not sure that um the West is 12:08.229 --> 12:09.951 prepared for that , but uh I'm 12:09.951 --> 12:12.830 wondering um how far , how long is the 12:12.840 --> 12:15.630 Pentagon prepared to stand by Ukraine 12:15.770 --> 12:18.909 considering this , this statement and 12:18.919 --> 12:20.808 the , the , the conditions on the 12:20.808 --> 12:23.270 ground ? Yeah , thanks JJ . Well , I , 12:23.280 --> 12:25.380 I think uh you know , our , our 12:25.390 --> 12:27.770 leadership has been clear on this , 12:27.780 --> 12:29.947 that we're going to stand by Ukraine , 12:29.947 --> 12:32.058 we're going to support their security 12:32.058 --> 12:34.058 and their , their inherent right to 12:34.058 --> 12:36.224 defend themselves . Of course , no one 12:36.224 --> 12:38.447 wants to see this war continue . Uh But 12:38.447 --> 12:41.369 as long as Russia continues to occupy 12:41.380 --> 12:43.436 sovereign Ukrainian territory and as 12:43.436 --> 12:45.929 long as the Ukrainians continue to 12:45.940 --> 12:48.710 fight against Russian aggression and 12:48.719 --> 12:51.140 for freedom , uh the United States will 12:51.150 --> 12:53.669 continue to support as we've done since 12:53.679 --> 12:55.820 the beginning of Russia's illegal 12:55.830 --> 12:57.663 invasion . And as you've heard , 12:57.663 --> 13:00.580 Secretary Austin say Ukraine matters , 13:00.590 --> 13:02.590 the the security of Ukraine matters 13:02.590 --> 13:05.179 because if Russia is allowed to succeed 13:05.190 --> 13:07.419 in Ukraine , they won't stop there . Uh 13:07.429 --> 13:09.429 And so this is of course , of vital 13:09.429 --> 13:11.229 importance in terms of not only 13:11.239 --> 13:13.020 European security but us and 13:13.030 --> 13:15.429 international security . Thank you . 13:15.710 --> 13:18.000 Come back to , yes , ma'am . Uh back to 13:18.010 --> 13:21.280 the Iraqi and us bilateral meeting 13:21.909 --> 13:24.630 during the process of estimation to 13:24.640 --> 13:26.780 determine the the capability of the 13:26.789 --> 13:30.400 Iraqi forces that uh do you think that 13:30.409 --> 13:34.119 now it's time to have the US troops 13:34.130 --> 13:36.000 withdraw from Iraq based on the 13:36.010 --> 13:38.177 capability of the Iraqi forces . Now ? 13:38.570 --> 13:40.792 Well , again , I , I won't get ahead of 13:40.792 --> 13:43.014 the , the discussions within the higher 13:43.014 --> 13:45.330 Military Commission . Uh and , and 13:45.340 --> 13:47.590 their recommendations to the senior 13:47.599 --> 13:50.710 leaders of both of our countries . Iraq 13:50.719 --> 13:53.349 and the United States . Uh So again , 13:53.359 --> 13:55.470 uh we'll continue to keep you updated 13:55.470 --> 13:57.692 on that front . Uh The United States is 13:57.692 --> 13:59.526 committed to having a continuing 13:59.526 --> 14:01.960 bilateral security cooper relationship 14:01.969 --> 14:05.000 with Iraq . We are fully supportive of 14:05.010 --> 14:07.232 Iraq and its important role in regional 14:07.232 --> 14:10.039 stability and greatly respect Iraq as a 14:10.049 --> 14:13.010 partner and also uh respect Iraq's 14:13.020 --> 14:15.020 sovereignty . So again , we'll have 14:15.020 --> 14:17.353 much more to provide in the near future . 14:17.419 --> 14:19.641 Sure . Thank you , sir . My question is 14:19.641 --> 14:22.059 that uh after President Biden's 14:22.070 --> 14:23.903 announcement that he's no longer 14:23.903 --> 14:25.848 running for the second term and he 14:25.848 --> 14:28.960 fully endorsed and supported the Vice 14:28.969 --> 14:31.400 President Kamala Harris for the uh 14:31.700 --> 14:33.950 presidential or for the party's 14:33.960 --> 14:36.880 nomination . My question is that number 14:36.890 --> 14:40.809 one , us never had a female president 14:40.820 --> 14:43.419 or commander in chief if this building 14:43.429 --> 14:45.809 or military is ready for a female 14:45.820 --> 14:47.929 commander in chief and two , if 14:47.940 --> 14:50.107 secretary is getting any messages from 14:50.107 --> 14:51.996 around the globe , as far as this 14:51.996 --> 14:54.051 announcement is concerned , how they 14:54.051 --> 14:56.218 feel about this , maybe us will have a 14:56.218 --> 14:58.669 female president . Yeah , thanks for 14:58.679 --> 15:00.790 the question . Uh As I'm sure you can 15:00.790 --> 15:02.790 appreciate , I'm not gonna get into 15:02.790 --> 15:05.299 political campaigns from here . Uh The 15:05.309 --> 15:07.690 Pentagon of course , uh will always 15:07.700 --> 15:09.589 support the commander in chief as 15:09.589 --> 15:11.589 elected by the people of the United 15:11.589 --> 15:14.520 States . Uh And so I'll just leave it 15:14.530 --> 15:16.697 there . Thanks very much , sir . Thank 15:16.809 --> 15:20.469 you . How is the Pentagon observing the 15:20.479 --> 15:23.140 ongoing student protest in Bangladesh ? 15:23.150 --> 15:25.609 High mass killings are being carried 15:25.619 --> 15:28.940 out by security forces under shoot on 15:28.950 --> 15:31.299 site . Orders from the ruling Prime 15:31.309 --> 15:33.539 Minister , hundreds have been killed 15:33.549 --> 15:36.000 and thousands injured . The internet 15:36.010 --> 15:37.899 has been shut down and nationwide 15:37.899 --> 15:40.190 curfew been declared . People are 15:40.200 --> 15:42.422 demanding that as a nation of the Prime 15:42.422 --> 15:44.422 Minister and the military is on the 15:44.422 --> 15:47.039 street . Security forces are using U 15:47.219 --> 15:50.440 marked armored personal 15:50.450 --> 15:53.049 vehicle which has been condemned by the 15:53.059 --> 15:55.392 UN . So what is your observation ? Yeah , 15:55.392 --> 15:57.559 sure . Of course , we're continuing to 15:57.559 --> 15:59.559 monitor the , the ongoing situation 15:59.559 --> 16:01.859 there . Uh I would say , uh you know , 16:01.869 --> 16:05.849 to , to echo what , what my colleagues 16:05.859 --> 16:07.859 uh at State Department have said is 16:07.859 --> 16:09.637 that we would call for calm and 16:09.640 --> 16:11.751 certainly don't want to see continued 16:11.760 --> 16:15.070 violence . So I'll just leave it there . 16:15.080 --> 16:18.710 Thank you . As us is the largest 16:18.719 --> 16:21.090 donor for the peacekeeping support to 16:21.099 --> 16:24.039 the UN . And those individuals who are 16:24.049 --> 16:26.830 violating extreme involved in extreme 16:26.840 --> 16:29.007 violation of human rights in their own 16:29.007 --> 16:31.173 country . They are deploying to the UN 16:31.210 --> 16:33.377 peacekeeping mission . So what is your 16:33.377 --> 16:35.599 observation , those who are not able to 16:35.599 --> 16:37.710 maintain peace in their own country , 16:37.710 --> 16:39.710 how can they ? Yeah . Again , I , I 16:39.710 --> 16:39.580 don't have much to provide from the 16:39.590 --> 16:41.646 podium here . Other than again , you 16:41.646 --> 16:43.757 know , we obviously don't want to see 16:43.757 --> 16:45.646 violence increase . Uh We , we of 16:45.646 --> 16:48.739 course , want there to be calm and , 16:48.750 --> 16:52.239 and uh recognition of human rights and 16:52.250 --> 16:54.250 so I'll just leave it there , sir . 16:54.280 --> 16:56.179 Thank you , General . Um Greek 16:56.190 --> 16:58.357 government Minister Georgiadis said on 16:58.357 --> 17:00.468 television the other day that um they 17:00.468 --> 17:02.690 might raid the Turkish capital with the 17:02.690 --> 17:04.801 35 that they're going to acquire from 17:04.801 --> 17:06.968 the United States . Would you say that 17:06.968 --> 17:09.079 such statements from one NATO ally to 17:09.079 --> 17:11.412 the other are nothing but irresponsible . 17:12.160 --> 17:14.271 I'm not sure I understand what you're 17:14.271 --> 17:16.493 asking . So the F-35 that they're going 17:16.493 --> 17:18.771 to acquire from the United States that , 17:18.771 --> 17:20.604 that they might rate the Turkish 17:20.604 --> 17:22.549 capital , those F-35s might appear 17:22.549 --> 17:24.771 southernly one night in Turkey . So how 17:24.771 --> 17:27.939 would you evaluate that statement ? 17:28.239 --> 17:30.461 Would you say that that's irresponsible 17:30.461 --> 17:33.979 from one to the other ? I haven't , I 17:33.989 --> 17:36.819 haven't seen that out there . So I 17:36.829 --> 17:39.050 don't have a comment other than , you 17:39.060 --> 17:41.219 know , again , we , we would always 17:41.229 --> 17:43.250 want our NATO allies to , to work 17:43.260 --> 17:46.839 together and um would not condone 17:46.849 --> 17:49.900 that . So historically , the United 17:49.910 --> 17:51.959 States has kept a fine balance in 17:51.969 --> 17:53.913 providing defense equipment to the 17:53.913 --> 17:55.913 Turks and the Greek , would you say 17:55.913 --> 17:58.140 that that balance has been tipped in 17:58.449 --> 18:01.140 one size favor because it's making one 18:01.150 --> 18:03.206 of one of the NATO allies opposed to 18:03.310 --> 18:05.459 making them talk about laying of cap 18:05.619 --> 18:07.452 about the capabilities that they 18:07.452 --> 18:09.619 haven't even . Yeah , the first of the 18:09.619 --> 18:12.234 way it's gonna take . Um , so , so what 18:12.244 --> 18:14.885 I would say , uh , is , first of all , 18:14.895 --> 18:16.784 when it comes to the relationship 18:16.784 --> 18:18.784 between Greece and Turkey , I'd let 18:18.784 --> 18:21.314 Greece and Turkey talk to , uh , talk 18:21.324 --> 18:23.602 to you and characterize a relationship , 18:23.602 --> 18:25.546 I would say from where we sit , we 18:25.546 --> 18:27.685 certainly value uh , our partnership 18:27.694 --> 18:29.583 and alliance with both Turkey and 18:29.583 --> 18:31.915 Greece and , and certainly appreciate 18:31.925 --> 18:33.724 the efforts that have gone into 18:33.734 --> 18:35.901 addressing some of the areas of mutual 18:35.905 --> 18:38.770 concern . Uh And I'll just leave it 18:38.780 --> 18:40.891 there . Thank you very much , ma'am . 18:41.469 --> 18:45.260 Thank you , ma'am , Jan . How 18:45.270 --> 18:47.920 are you ? Thank you very much . I 18:47.930 --> 18:50.459 thought you forgot my call now then . 18:50.880 --> 18:54.810 Ok . And you couldn't in China and 18:54.819 --> 18:57.810 North Korea and uh you couldn't in 18:57.819 --> 19:00.530 Foreign Minister will visit the China 19:00.540 --> 19:04.109 today at the visitation of Chinese 19:04.119 --> 19:06.760 Foreign Minister , Wang Yi . Do you 19:06.770 --> 19:10.010 think that China can play a role in 19:10.219 --> 19:13.719 stopping Russia as a operation against 19:13.729 --> 19:16.130 the Ukraine ? Uh You know , it's an 19:16.140 --> 19:20.050 interesting question uh Jamie . So , 19:20.459 --> 19:22.739 you know , certainly uh a as I 19:22.750 --> 19:25.540 mentioned before , we don't want to see 19:25.550 --> 19:29.130 uh the conflict in Ukraine go on uh 19:29.140 --> 19:32.339 forever . Um We want to see peace in 19:32.349 --> 19:35.010 Ukraine , but it has to come uh in 19:35.020 --> 19:37.489 terms that are acceptable to Ukraine , 19:37.609 --> 19:39.442 uh you know , no decisions about 19:39.442 --> 19:41.939 Ukraine without Ukraine . And so uh 19:41.949 --> 19:45.890 China can play a productive role in 19:45.900 --> 19:49.829 terms of addressing uh Russia's malign 19:49.839 --> 19:52.719 and illegal activity in Ukraine . Uh 19:52.729 --> 19:55.069 And so certainly if they're able to 19:55.079 --> 19:57.849 compel Russia to withdraw its forces uh 19:57.859 --> 20:00.250 and enable the restoration of peace . 20:00.459 --> 20:02.599 Um I think that would be a positive 20:02.609 --> 20:05.229 development but , but certainly when it 20:05.239 --> 20:08.290 comes to the Ukrainian Foreign Minister 20:08.469 --> 20:11.329 and his conversations with his Chinese 20:11.339 --> 20:13.561 counterparts , I'd have to refer you to 20:13.561 --> 20:15.561 Ukraine . Another one . The Russian 20:15.561 --> 20:19.349 Vice Minister of Defense is visiting 20:19.359 --> 20:22.380 North Korea . Currently , it was also 20:22.390 --> 20:26.270 announced that the weapons and defense 20:26.280 --> 20:30.199 industrial were discussed as a 20:30.209 --> 20:33.969 follow up to military cooper operation 20:33.979 --> 20:37.209 with North Korea and Russia . How can 20:37.219 --> 20:39.479 you comment on this ? Well , again , 20:39.489 --> 20:41.609 it's , it's , it's concerning that we 20:41.619 --> 20:44.969 continue to see North Korea and Russia . 20:45.329 --> 20:48.670 Um further cooperating as it relates to 20:48.699 --> 20:51.630 the war in Ukraine again , as we've 20:51.640 --> 20:53.862 said many times , it's demonstrative of 20:53.862 --> 20:56.199 the fact that Russia is now having to 20:56.209 --> 20:59.099 seek support from countries like Iran 20:59.109 --> 21:01.709 and North Korea in order to obtain 21:01.719 --> 21:04.560 additional capabilities as they've 21:04.569 --> 21:07.770 experienced some logistical challenges . 21:08.040 --> 21:10.262 Uh And so it's something we'll continue 21:10.262 --> 21:12.318 to keep a close eye on . Ok , let me 21:12.318 --> 21:14.540 come back to the room here , Louis . Um 21:14.540 --> 21:16.707 A couple of questions on the coalition 21:16.707 --> 21:16.540 that you're referencing , is that the 21:16.550 --> 21:18.849 global coalition against ISIS correct ? 21:18.959 --> 21:22.150 Ok . Um So the US presence has been 21:22.160 --> 21:24.790 acknowledged to be about 2500 military 21:24.800 --> 21:27.369 personnel in whatever capacity inside 21:27.380 --> 21:29.819 Iraq . What is the complimentary number 21:29.829 --> 21:32.609 of troops from the rest of the global 21:32.619 --> 21:35.420 coalition ? Um I'd have to , to get 21:35.430 --> 21:37.597 back to you on that . I , I don't have 21:37.597 --> 21:39.819 that number in front of me . Now you're 21:39.819 --> 21:41.986 talking about in Iraq . Yeah . So , so 21:41.986 --> 21:44.310 when it comes to uh the number of , of 21:44.319 --> 21:47.069 forces of other countries , um that's 21:47.079 --> 21:49.301 something we really let other countries 21:49.301 --> 21:51.246 address . So , you know , I'm only 21:51.246 --> 21:53.579 going to speak to the US in that regard . 21:53.579 --> 21:55.635 Um Yeah , I'll just leave it there . 21:55.635 --> 21:57.246 And so these discussions are 21:57.246 --> 21:59.190 specifically about the coalition's 21:59.190 --> 21:58.849 presence inside Iraq and not 21:58.859 --> 22:00.970 necessarily that the coalition itself 22:01.060 --> 22:03.060 will be done or that its mission is 22:03.060 --> 22:05.060 complete . Correct . Well , again , 22:05.060 --> 22:06.949 this is something that the higher 22:06.949 --> 22:08.969 military commission is looking at , 22:08.979 --> 22:11.290 right , in terms of the three factors 22:11.300 --> 22:13.522 that I highlighted , what is the threat 22:13.522 --> 22:15.467 of ISIS , what are the operational 22:15.467 --> 22:17.356 requirements and then what is the 22:17.356 --> 22:20.000 status of the , is F as it relates to 22:20.449 --> 22:24.430 being uh prepared to address the ISIS 22:24.439 --> 22:27.349 threat ? Uh And so that's not to say 22:27.359 --> 22:30.770 that uh members of the coalition can't 22:30.780 --> 22:32.839 play an important role whatever that 22:32.849 --> 22:34.630 may be as it relates to Iraq's 22:34.640 --> 22:37.430 preferences uh in terms of addressing 22:37.439 --> 22:39.949 ISIS . And so , um that's part of those 22:39.959 --> 22:42.540 discussions . Um Again , recognizing 22:42.550 --> 22:44.717 the fact that it's not just the United 22:44.717 --> 22:46.606 States , this is an international 22:46.606 --> 22:48.439 coalition that 10 years ago came 22:48.439 --> 22:52.140 together to defeat ISIS . And so part 22:52.150 --> 22:55.500 of this is ensuring that um ISIS can't 22:55.510 --> 22:57.839 Resurge , we know that they remain 22:57.849 --> 23:00.130 committed to resurging and we know that 23:00.140 --> 23:02.530 they remain committed to directing and 23:02.540 --> 23:05.469 inspiring attacks . Uh And so I think 23:05.479 --> 23:08.160 it's a pos a very positive development 23:08.170 --> 23:10.319 that the H MC as a forum is able to 23:10.329 --> 23:12.051 come together and look at this 23:12.051 --> 23:14.569 holistically also with an eye towards 23:14.579 --> 23:17.680 uh our own US . Iraq bilateral security 23:17.689 --> 23:19.745 relationship . And if I could switch 23:19.745 --> 23:22.339 gears uh towards J Lots , um since 23:22.349 --> 23:24.516 we're close to the 31st , which is the 23:24.516 --> 23:26.238 authorization , the end of the 23:26.238 --> 23:29.040 authorization date . Um Are those um 23:29.280 --> 23:31.709 components now heading back to the US 23:31.790 --> 23:33.901 or when can we expect them , please ? 23:34.119 --> 23:37.660 So , uh the J Lo's components are being 23:37.670 --> 23:40.040 packed up . Um I'm not gonna for 23:40.050 --> 23:42.106 operation security reasons and , and 23:42.300 --> 23:45.160 you know , uh policy reasons . I'm not 23:45.170 --> 23:47.226 gonna get into specific redeployment 23:47.226 --> 23:49.170 timelines . But , you know , as we 23:49.170 --> 23:52.160 briefed uh recently uh as Admiral 23:52.170 --> 23:54.281 Cooper from S crif , recently , the , 23:54.281 --> 23:57.859 the J Lots mission has concluded he a 23:57.890 --> 24:00.359 mission complete . I'm saying it has 24:00.369 --> 24:02.369 concluded . Thank you . Thank you . 24:04.640 --> 24:07.189 If I could follow up on Joe's question , 24:07.329 --> 24:09.385 how concerned is the department that 24:09.385 --> 24:11.607 these Israeli strikes in Yemen and vice 24:11.607 --> 24:13.440 versa , could lead to additional 24:13.440 --> 24:15.329 escalation or is there confidence 24:15.329 --> 24:17.273 within the department that this is 24:17.273 --> 24:19.750 still largely contained ? Yeah , so a 24:19.760 --> 24:22.219 couple of things here . So again , 24:22.349 --> 24:24.479 we've always been concerned about 24:24.489 --> 24:27.050 regional escalation and remain so and 24:27.060 --> 24:29.859 so we'll continue to do um you know , 24:29.869 --> 24:32.270 take appropriate steps to deter 24:32.280 --> 24:36.050 potential uh an expansion of regional 24:36.060 --> 24:38.227 conflict , you know , both through our 24:38.227 --> 24:40.449 force presence , but also importantly , 24:40.449 --> 24:42.616 through diplomatic means . I think you 24:42.616 --> 24:44.671 heard the Israelis say they had been 24:44.671 --> 24:47.069 targeted by the houthis over 200 times . 24:47.170 --> 24:49.449 Obviously , the vast majority of those 24:49.459 --> 24:51.719 uh attacks were , were taken down 24:51.729 --> 24:53.969 through air defense capabilities . Uh 24:53.979 --> 24:56.589 And one got through . So we absolutely 24:56.599 --> 24:58.766 support their inherent right to defend 24:58.766 --> 25:00.655 themselves against these kinds of 25:00.655 --> 25:02.877 attacks . But to answer your question , 25:02.877 --> 25:05.043 yes , we will remain focused on trying 25:05.043 --> 25:07.689 to prevent a wider regional conflict . 25:07.699 --> 25:09.866 Did the US advise the Israelis against 25:09.866 --> 25:12.609 striking within Yemen ? Uh Look , there 25:12.619 --> 25:15.819 was no us involvement uh in this , in 25:15.829 --> 25:18.819 their strike . Uh Again , they gave us 25:18.829 --> 25:21.051 uh advanced notice that they were going 25:21.051 --> 25:22.996 to do it . Um I won't go into more 25:22.996 --> 25:25.218 detail beyond that other than there was 25:25.218 --> 25:27.385 no us involvement and we support their 25:27.385 --> 25:29.496 right to defend themselves . OK . Can 25:29.496 --> 25:31.662 take a couple more . Let me go to Jeff 25:31.662 --> 25:31.430 Shog task and purpose . 25:37.550 --> 25:38.828 Jeff , are you there ? 25:42.040 --> 25:44.500 Ok . Nothing heard . All right . Thanks 25:44.510 --> 25:46.732 very much . Everybody . Appreciate your 25:46.732 --> 25:46.010 time today .