 Hey, hi everyone. Good afternoon. Just a few things here at the top and then happy to jump in and take questions So on Monday, Secretary Austin will depart for Germany where he and the chairman chairman CQ Brown, Jr. Will host the 20th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base The secretary and the chairman will join ministers of defense and senior military officials from nearly 50 nations around the world To discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and reiterate that the United States and this coalition Continue to stand with the people of Ukraine and that we will not let Ukraine fail in its war to defend themselves against Russian aggression Separately secretary Austin today announced that dr. Rada Plum will serve as the department's next chief digital and artificial intelligence officer Dr. Plum currently serves as the deputy under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment and During her time has worked to address critical acquisition matters in defense of our nation Including maintaining and strengthening a robust national security industrial base and supply chains Dr. Plum's expertise will enhance the CDAO's innovative efforts and help accelerate the department's adoption of data Analytics and AI to generate decision advantage. On behalf of the department We also want to thank dr. Craig Martel for serving as the first CDAO over the past two years Dr. I'm sorry dr. Martel and the CDAO team brought together diverse talents and cultures of four organizations to advance data AI and analytics for America's national security and deliver tangible results in a short period of time Also today Secretary Austin and Latvian Minister of Defense Andres spruz met here at the Pentagon where they discussed regional bilateral defense issues NATO's deterrence capabilities and the situation in Ukraine They highlighted the importance of alliance unity defense production and Latvia's increased defense spending and contributions to NATO The meeting underscored a continued US Latvian cooperation ahead of the 75th anniversary NATO summit here in Washington DC later this year Shifting gears. I just want to take a moment today to highlight the inclusion of the compact of free Association amendments act of 2024 in the minibus funding package that president biden recently signed As a result our national security priorities in the pacific and economic assistance to the federated states of micronesia The republic of the marshall islands and the republic of palau will now extend well into the 2040s The compacts ensure that the united states and only the united states can maintain a military presence in the freely associated states Also because of the compact citizens from these three partners are able to serve in the u.s. Military Which they do at high rates and we're incredibly grateful for their service As you heard the department earlier this year Extending the compacts was one of the most important things congress could do to help drive our indopacific strategy And thanks to the leadership of this administration hard work across the interagency and a strong bipartisan majority in congress We got it done together Also in the indopacific this week in thailand The 15th iteration of exercise hanuman guardian began with 2000 soldiers of the royal thai army and us army specific Ag 24 is designed to enhance striker-centric training long-range artillery bilateral aviation medical and battle staff capabilities A strong forward-looking us thai defense alliance helps foster a free and open indopacific region Where all countries enjoy peace and prosperity and for more information. I would direct you to army pacific public affairs And finally secretary austin will go to walter read national military medical center tomorrow afternoon for a scheduled routine follow-up appointment with his doctors The secretary continues to recover well from his medical treatment earlier this year And you can expect that he'll be conducting these types of follow-on checkups from time to time We will be sure to keep you updated regarding any significant developments as appropriate And with that i'm happy to take your questions. Uh, I think we have lita baldor ap on the phones with us right now Hi sabrina. Thank you very much. Uh, just uh, two quick things on uh, haiti Uh, general richeson this morning talked about plans for a neo. Can you? Say what if anything the pentagon is doing right now? to prepare for any potential neo and Has there been any request? Yet for the pentagon to do anything and separately Uh, can you uh, tell us if there's any actual planning or preparations going on right now at guantanamo? For any possible migrants to flow there? Uh, thanks lita for your questions. I think you're referring to the um, Uh, general richeson testimony on the hill. So right now the embassy and port of prince remains open We did enhance our security posture there over the weekend and earlier This week, but the embassy continues to remain open at this time As you can appreciate we are a planning organization, but that's not something that You know, we we are planning for right now. I would direct you to the state department for Further guidance or more answers to your to your questions about the embassy specifically But again our mission right now with the personnel that are on the ground is to shore up security at the embassy And we were able to remove some non essential personnel But that's our main focus at this time In terms of any requests at guantanamo bay, uh, we are certainly in touch with um, the department of homeland security with the state department I don't have anything to preview right now at this time, but um, should that change we'd certainly keep you updated Yes, Jen Sabrina the army found 300 million dollars in spare change for weapons from ukraine Are the other services going to find something similar and what we hear about the those weapons this week if there is a um Any other contracts that come in under bid? Uh, we would certainly let you know, but this was uh, this does happen But it was a unique circumstance and Given what's happening on the battlefield in ukraine the fact that they are having to um, you know Fortify their defensive lines and having to give up some territory in order to do that Um, the secretary the president felt that it was important to use this You know these contracts that came in under bid Uh in order to supply a pda package an emergency one But it's only the army that had these contracts that were under bid It's only the army right now again. If there are any other contracts that come in under bid We'd certainly keep you updated the administration finally decided to provide attackums the longer range Weapons to ukraine given the delay of five months of weapons that they need Yeah, I don't have anything to announce from here today. Um, I think we on our website on defense.gov. You can see a breakdown of some of the um Items that are included in the package, but I just don't have anything more to speak to at this time Joseph, yeah, thanks. Um Two questions one on the Who is this morning the white or earlier today the white house said that there's no indication that uh, they have Have had an access to an hypersonic weapon. Yeah You guys, you know agree with that assessment one but two are you concerned is the department concerned that these strikes that the u.s Has been carrying out since january Have not deterred them from their attacks in the red sea one and two If uh, are they concerned are you guys concerned that These attacks may have You know Forced the hooties to look at more uh expanding their capabilities in different manners So on the first one, um, I think you're referring to reports out there that that they have used a hypersonic and I can tell you that That is inaccurate. Uh, we have no indication that they even have that capability Um second to your point on just deterrence in the region. I mean Again, look, we are going to continue to conduct these dynamic strikes We feel confident that we continue to degrade who these keep the the who these capabilities, but Um, We know that they have they still continue to get access and are provided weapons and capabilities and support Um by iran, um that support continues We haven't seen that lag in any way and we know that they have these sophisticated systems and weapons But we're going to continue to support. Um, what we're doing through our operation and prosperity guardian to Make sure that commercial ships can continue to transit that very important waterway, which is the red sea And we're also going to defend our interests while doing so looking at increasing capability not capabilities, but efforts to Cut the resupply of these weapons from iran We continue to look for ways. I mean you've seen sent com Lead some interdiction efforts, but you know, there are other ways that Iran is able to supply the who these but we continue to Monitor how they get weapons, but I beyond that I wouldn't get into a further intelligence assessment. Sure I mean CNN reported I think yesterday that the military the u.s. Military has finished an additional review of abigate balmy I killed 13 american service members. Can you share anything about that investigation or the results of it? I don't have anything to share at this time. Um, that is uh, the additional review that sent com led I believe they will be briefing families. So i'm not going to get ahead of that Once that's concluded, of course, we will share the results Natasha, thanks Sabrina. Um, can you give us an update on the besen? Has it arrived in the eastern med yet to Start those efforts to construct appear in the causeway and also do you have any more? Updates on kind of how this operation is going to look in terms of the security that's going to be Um, you know in gaza helping with the distribution of the aid once this is all up and running or anything Else you can tell us about how this is going to actually look once it's set up Yeah, so in regards to the besen i'm not aware that she's on station yet. I believe uh, most of the ships are are Have left or will be departing in the coming days again as we announce I mean, I believe it was last friday general writer was up here announcing Our efforts to establish this floating pier From when he announced it was going to be approximately 60 days. So Doing the math it's just over 50 days now And that's for when ships will actually arrive on site and be able to construct this floating pier But i'm not aware that they're that they're there yet um in terms of your second question on Aid distribution, I think that's regional partners and yeah, basically is this taking shape more, right? So still working through that. Um, we are in um, of course communication with The idf with other partners in the region on what aid distribution would look like What security around this floating pier would look like I don't have an update for you At this time just yet. Um, when we get closer to announcing something we'll certainly keep you updated And also just shifting gears for one second and the the department of defense They announced that they were examining that balloon that was found by fishermen off the coast of alaska do any updates on When that review might be complete or any preliminary indications of what the balloon was for example, that's a spy balloon No indications yet. It's something that um, you know The department is reviewing right now at this time and um, you know Being able to exploit some of the details of of what we're finding But I just don't have more information at this time when we are ready to share that I'm sure we will constant team. Thanks abrina. Um, so As far as the navy's amphibious ability is concerned. Um, the uss Boxer has been delayed from deploying for several months now I think just in the last few days the uss wasp, which is undergoing a maintenance period had to limp back into port Um, you know, and and this is all happening as we're talking about a possible neo and hady So, uh, I mean I very broadly I guess my question is does secretary austin have faith in the navy's ability to maintain its fleet of Amphibious ships the secretary absolutely has confidence in the navy. Um, I would direct you to the navy for You know more updates on specific ships. I just don't have that in front of me But the secretary is very confident in the navy and its abilities to be able to conduct whatever mission Uh, is tasked that they're able to do it and have just a quick follow-up So have there been any impacts on any of the recent missions? As a result of maintenance issues with the navy for more maintenance details, I would direct you to the navy but not to my knowledge Janie, thank you Sabrina Great to see you and regarding in the freedom shield the us and south korean military during exercises And uh, why were us strategic assets not allowed to participate in this exercise? I'm not aware of the exercise that you're referring to. I'd refer you to I'm not I'm not sure. I'd refer you to into paycom for more for more information on that Thank you. I'm not one and ukraine the ukraine government to announce that the Most of north korean weapons used by russia World effective is north koreans Still applied but you do you think the north korea still applied these weapons to your russia? I can't speak to their effectiveness We haven't done an assessment of that But what I can tell you is that we know that russia continues to look to Partners like north korea like iran to seek more weapons and its ongoing war with ukraine How effective those are? I just don't have an assessment for you, but uh, it's it's very clear that russia has further isolated itself in on the world stage and going to these allies to or going to these partner countries that you know russia seeks relationships with is certainly stands in in Stark opposition to what the united states has convened, which is the ukraine defense contact group, which has you know almost 50 countries and Allied nations part of that helping support ukraine on the 155 millimeter artillery shells Do you still want south korea? provide the 155 millimeter to ukraine We support any partner or allied country that would support ukraine in whatever security assistance It needs one five five millimeter rounds are certainly something that we know ukraine needs on the battlefield Um, and since you gave me the opportunity I'm going to take it to make a plug for congress to pass our urgent supplemental request that we Still don't have and as you know, we provided an emergency 300 million dollar package. Um just on Earlier this week on tuesday, but uh, we that is not sustainable. Obviously that was a Something that contracts came under bid and we were able to provide an emergency pda to ukraine But we really need congress not only to fully authorize and fund this department with our fy 24 budget request We need the urgent supplemental request Also funded and uh, we're heading into 20 f y 25 budget season. So we're also going to need that funded Thank you. Karla. Hey, thanks Peter johnson has suggested to make this assistance to ukraine a loan or lend lease Type of program. Does the pentagon think that that's a viable option? Look, I know negotiations are ongoing in congress Um, I'm not going to get ahead of those Uh, right now what we need, um is a supplemental Uh, a nation like ukraine that's going through a war. I think it's going to be very hard obviously for a country like that to to You know replay these loans, but that's uh, that's something that would have to obviously be worked out with not just the Department of defense with the state department with the white house. So I'll just leave it at that And then one more follow and then I do have a question too, but when you when you told lea Lita, um, you said we're a planning organization, but a neo is not something we are planning for right now Well, you were referencing the neo. Did you mean that the pentagon is not planning for a neo right now? Or did you mean that the state department has not tasked the pentagon with executing a neo right now? We've not been tasked with executing a neo again. The embassy is fully up and running right now open importer prints Yes, we have installed additional security personnel there to enforce To reinforce our security posture there, but that's all they're doing is just Securing the embassy we plan for a range of contingencies. Um, I don't have anything more I don't have anything more to share today. Okay. And then my last question is on turkeys president President Erdogan has said that Ankara is going to be able to hopefully recoup 1.4 billion dollars that it paid for the f-35s Um, it was blocked from buying those Can you provide us any sort of update on that? Can you confirm that that will happen? What's going on with those talks now between turkey and the u.s. I don't have any update on that I direct you to the state department. Yeah Yes Unless you don't have a question Regarding u.s. Forces in syria, is there any change in their positions? No, there's no there's no been no posture changes So, uh, there's no plan to relocate or withdraw them from syria I have no updates to announce. There's been no changes to our force posture in syria or iraq You know, i'm asking this because According to some reports russia and syrian government Coordinating to move towards the eastern part of the country that borders with iraq. Yeah, I cannot confirm those reports Again, our posture hasn't changed our mission in syria and iraq remains To ensure the continuing defeat of isis. I have no posture changes to announce today Yeah Thank you. Sabrina So I asked about this on tuesday and I thought maybe we could just get some more clarity So the in terms of the port temporary port that's being constructed It would seem from the perspective of the us taxpayer who's funding that and the civilians in gaza who now have to wait 60 days to get the aid That it would seem more logistically to make sense to use a port either in egypt and it or israel And bring the aid through so why are we constructing a port instead of doing those two things? Yeah, no, I appreciate the question and you're not going to get much more of a different answer than you got on tuesday But to clarify this is a floating pier um with the with a causeway and um in terms of Other access points. This is what the u.s. Military deemed as the most efficient way to get aid in with our capabilities And that's why that decision was made More efficient than than you know, how could it take 60 days to get? You know items from israel and just drive them down Well, we fully support the entry ports on the the um The crossings like on land to be to allow aid to flow more freely in that's something that we continue to pressure You've seen that in Some of the secretaries readouts with minister galant that we continue to want to see Humanitarian aid increase into gaza the best way to do that is by land options. Those are clearly You know not viable at this time and so at the direction of the president He directed more aid to flow into gaza to the palestinian people So we started conducting airdrops and now we're conducting a floating pier From the government of israel who were you know paying billions to support their war We have very direct conversations with the idf and um at all levels of government with the israeli government rio Thank you sabrina The president essentially opposed the japanese companies planned to buy us still this morning So, uh, does the pentagon process the japanese investment in the u.s Could be a could be a national security concern for the united states. I don't have anything more for you on that rio I'm sorry. I'd direct you to the white house. I know they spoke to this earlier today As I understood the pentagon called for more Integrated defense supply chain with allies and partners. Yeah, so how concerned is the pentagon that? the the u.s Opposition to this still deal with japan could have broader negative impact on the pentagon's initiatives to increase the defense industrial cooperation with japan We certainly value our relationship with the japanese government We work closely with them whether it being exercises or in other ways through commercial economic aspects For this specific question when it comes to this Deal that you're referencing. I just don't have more information for you on that That's sort of out of the department of defense. I'd refer you to the white house Yeah, tom Thanks, sabrina following up on the hady evacuations of non-essential us personnel from the embassy there was over the last couple days Also the evacuation of private u.s citizens from more remote parts of hady Help facilitated in part by the u.s. Military. I'm wondering to the best of your knowledge How does that work in other words? Who comes to the pentagon and ask for that support? I know you guys don't initiate that that would who would I couldn't figure that out. I couldn't find that out How does that work, please? So i'm not tracking any citizens within hady that need like from further remote parts that needed evacuation That's something that like if you are an american citizen in a country that needs whether it be assistance I'd be that would go through the state department, but the personnel that Left with some of our service members were embassy personnel non-essential personnel It's your understanding that the military has not helped evacuate We're not talking about embassy people or those associated with everybody So your understanding the military has not evacuated any other to my understanding. That's correct. It's just embassy personnel. Thank you Yeah, yeah I have questions on osprey Sure Yesterday us force japan resumed osprey flights in japan and first Do you know if the u.s. Spiritually resumed osprey flights somewhere other than japan after they lifted I don't I I don't I would direct you to the services to speak to that on where other flights have taken on from And secondly in local communities in japan There are such concerns that there was not enough sufficient explanation about the cause of the osprey clash last year So what would be your response to such concerns? Well, the secretary had a call with his Japanese counterpart Yesterday, and I think we put out a readout Of this at the end of the day This was a decision that the services made that these ospreys are able to fly The secretary has confidence in the services ability to conduct to conduct an investigation into what happened but also in the ability for our service members to fly these ospreys and so I would refer you to the services to speak more broadly on you know Any in-depth investigations or incidents that you're referring to But the secretary certainly has confidence is in nav air and what they are able to do I'm going to go to the phones and have you come back in the room. Uh, jeff shogle task and purpose Thank you. Is the united states sending ships aircraft and other assets To the caribbean in case they are needed Yeah, jeff at this time right now. We are not um, of course if if asked by DHS or or the state department if we need to we can certainly Surge assets to any region that might need help but at this time again our focus I think you're referring to hady our focus right now is just john Making sure that our personnel in the embassy are are safe and that's why you've seen an increase in our security posture there Okay, and I'll take one more from the phone heather us and I Hi, thanks so much. Um, just to follow up on the red seat with In terms of the what the houthis have been doing it. We now have had a ship sink three people killed and then another attack with about 28 different drones So it seems like it's escalating. So in terms of the terms I know that you said you're continuing to work on it But is the us concerned that it's deterrence is is not working And then a quick question about it weapons we extend to israel um Given that there's been so many casualties among civilians as the uh, the u.s. And the department of defense You know said hey, you know israel we're no longer going to be sending you these weapons unless you start um Being better about not killing innocent civilians Thanks heather for the question. So right now. Um, the department's priorities still continue to be supporting Israel in its fight against the terrorist organization hamas. Um, so that does include security assistance And that is through f m f and f m s But as you you are seeing this department is working around the clock to also provide humanitarian aid to palestinians in gaza whether that be through Aid drops and I think I want to say we had our 10th one this morning And then of course the floating pier that we will be setting up that will be off the coast Of gaza that will be able to get Whether it be meals water, whatever else the people need be able to flow that into To gaza at a more regular rate In terms of your question on the red sea again, we're under no impression that we have Completely wiped off the map all of the who these capabilities. We know that they continue to have a robust arsenal They continue to Threaten commercial shipping. I would put the question back on to you though and and You know when you're thinking about this is that? Every time the who these strike a commercial ship or threatened that Passageway they are endangering commerce in the region They are putting at risk 12 to 15 of the world's commerce that flow through that doesn't just impact the united states That doesn't just impact israel that affects the entire world including the people in yemen And so like you mentioned with the ruby mar that was recently that they did hit and that was sank That was carrying Pounds and pounds of fertilizer Not to mention oil that is now leaking out into the red sea that's going to cause an environmental disaster Right in their backyard So it's up to them to make the calculation on when they decide to stop these attacks I can tell you that the united states military In conjunction with our partners and allies will continue to hold the who these accountable Yes, Jen Sabrina Is it your assessment or the pentagon's assessment that the iranian spy ship that is back in the Gulf of Aden Is assisting with the targeting that the hooties When they fire these missiles or drones and if so, is it a legitimate target? Yeah, i'm not going to get into our intelligence assessments. Um, this ship has been there for many years Long before this conflict, um, you know Sort of started in the red sea It's it's a ship that you know rotates out with other iranian ships. They obviously have Equities in the region. So we're we're fully aware of its Ability to operate there, but beyond that. I just wanted to be able to speak to that Djibouti after the us and britain started attacking hootie sites in yemen. Yeah, it left it returned Is it involved with is it a legitimate target? Yeah, no, I appreciate the question I'm just not going to get it further into that. Thank you, Jen. Yes, and then come back Thank you, Sabrina. So completely different topic But I just want to ask you about um sentinel the air force program. That's under review The 2025 budget includes funding for this program. So is that like getting ahead of the review? Is that saying the program's already cleared? Um, I would direct you to the air force for for more specifics on that. I just don't have that in front of me I just don't have anything to add. Yeah. Yes last question Thank you, Sabrina. My question will be about the defense budget overview that published by the do d One specific part, especially a graphic cash my attention. It's about 2024 budget the fiscal year 2024. It says the supplementals Under the supplementals ukraine has 44 billion dollars of aid Which is fighting a nuclear power country like russia with its tanks and planes and everything At the other hand the help to israel is 10 billion dollars quarter of the amount that you are spending For an army that fights a conventional proper army Can we can you give us a breakdown of this amount? Is that including the annual three billion dollar aid as well? I don't have a breakdown in front of me. Um, omb, of course That website has our budget breakdown and and you saw the secretary and others testify on the hill on f y 24 And of course, we still don't have that budget approved. Uh, now we're moving to f y 25 What I can tell you is that uh, we can do many things at once We can continue to support ukraine with what it needs on the battlefield through security assistance We can continue to support israel one of our long-standing allies in its fight against hamas. Um, and One of the things that the budget of course is guided by is our nds Which of course always keeps um an eye on our pacing challenge in the indopacific, which is the prc Um, but for a larger budget breakdown. Look, I just don't have all of that in front of me I would direct you to omb's website For the um The the the aid ship that is going to um gaza you just said south of gaza you will put the pearl at the South of gaza is that I don't think I set a location. Um, no, I I I don't think I did if I did I did not intend to um, we don't have a location yet That's not something that we're going to speak publicly to yet. Um, it's not a ship just to uh, Correct you there. It's it's a it's a pier that will be able to it's a trident pier that will of course be able to be you know, basically Breached into the the beach head and then we'll have a floating pier further off site that will allow for ships and cargo to To basically go there and then be transited to that Floating causeway. Yeah, right. Yeah. One more question. Yeah Is the um, is the us military still conducting is our operations or flights over gaza to help israel? We continue to Work with the israeli government and trying to free those hostages One of the things that we were doing is flying some of that is our but beyond that I just don't have more for you the department is currently doing that I'm not going to speak to what we're currently doing But we are of course assisting in any hostage recovery and rescue that we can do One of the things that you heard us speak to at the very beginning was Flying isr, but I just don't have more for you on that and I'm sorry I thought I had seen an and then maybe your question got answered Follow-up earlier on the marines and Haiti. I mean if you can say anything more about their mission there And sorry if this has been asked before but Has the reason why the marines aren't involved in an evacuation of us citizens in Haiti Is that is there any reason for that other than the white house has not asked? Is there any that's not their mission right now their mission is to secure and you know make sure that our embassy personnel are safe Obviously the environment continues to change in Haiti what we want to see here And I know my colleagues at the state department can speak to this much better But we want to see you know governance restored security Restored in Haiti until that happens. We also need to protect our personnel. That's just what they're doing They're just there at the embassy Should they be tasked with something different? Of course They would be able to respond but right now their mission is just to secure that embassy Do you know how many americans are in Haiti right now beyond the embassy personnel? I don't that would be something that the state department might be able to help with all right. Thanks everyone I just want to be absolutely clear on your response to me that to the best of your knowledge No, u.s. Military personnel has helped evacuate any u.s. Citizens beyond those at the embassy to the best of my knowledge It has been embassy personnel that non essential personnel that have left um, and of course, I would direct you to south com for more Information on you know our presence there But again, it's our the the folks that are on the ground right now are just there to ensure the security of the embassy All right. Thank you