1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:04,010 Hey , uh good afternoon , everyone . Uh 2 00:00:04,019 --> 00:00:06,130 Just a few things at the top and then 3 00:00:06,130 --> 00:00:07,963 I'll go ahead and uh answer your 4 00:00:07,963 --> 00:00:10,619 questions . So , um the the US army 5 00:00:10,630 --> 00:00:12,899 Europe and Africa led exercise , 6 00:00:12,909 --> 00:00:16,159 Defender 23 will begin April 22nd . 7 00:00:16,649 --> 00:00:18,719 This annual nearly two month long 8 00:00:18,729 --> 00:00:20,959 exercise is focused on the strategic 9 00:00:20,969 --> 00:00:23,040 deployment of us based forces , 10 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:25,239 employment of army pre positioned 11 00:00:25,250 --> 00:00:27,129 stocks and interoperability with 12 00:00:27,139 --> 00:00:29,030 European allies and partners . 13 00:00:29,309 --> 00:00:32,139 Approximately 9000 us troops and about 14 00:00:32,150 --> 00:00:34,900 17,000 troops from 26 allied and 15 00:00:34,909 --> 00:00:37,569 partner nations will participate and 16 00:00:37,580 --> 00:00:39,691 portions of the exercise will stretch 17 00:00:39,691 --> 00:00:41,969 across 10 different European countries . 18 00:00:42,340 --> 00:00:44,451 Equipment from Koni began arriving in 19 00:00:44,451 --> 00:00:46,340 Spain this week in advance of the 20 00:00:46,340 --> 00:00:48,979 exercise and that includes roughly 7000 21 00:00:48,990 --> 00:00:51,212 pieces of military equipment which will 22 00:00:51,212 --> 00:00:53,046 be transferred to Europe for the 23 00:00:53,046 --> 00:00:55,569 exercise to be combined with 13,000 24 00:00:55,580 --> 00:00:57,650 pieces of equipment drawn from 25 00:00:57,659 --> 00:01:00,380 prepositioned stocks . And then finally 26 00:01:00,389 --> 00:01:02,619 on Thursday , Deputy Secretary of 27 00:01:02,630 --> 00:01:04,630 Defense Doctor Hicks will travel to 28 00:01:04,630 --> 00:01:06,580 Chicago where she will visit naval 29 00:01:06,589 --> 00:01:08,811 station Great Lakes to hear from senior 30 00:01:08,811 --> 00:01:10,910 leadership medical providers and 31 00:01:10,919 --> 00:01:13,141 recruiters on their ongoing recruitment 32 00:01:13,141 --> 00:01:15,363 and health care efforts . She will also 33 00:01:15,363 --> 00:01:17,559 join the recruits for a lunch and 34 00:01:17,569 --> 00:01:19,402 participate in a facility tour . 35 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:21,680 Following that visit , Doctor Hicks 36 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:23,791 will participate in an interview with 37 00:01:23,791 --> 00:01:26,013 Jon Stewart . John . I'm sorry , excuse 38 00:01:26,013 --> 00:01:27,847 me , Jon Stewart at the Warhorse 39 00:01:27,847 --> 00:01:30,013 symposium at the University of Chicago 40 00:01:30,013 --> 00:01:32,124 Harris School of Public Policy . This 41 00:01:32,124 --> 00:01:34,069 event will be live streamed on the 42 00:01:34,069 --> 00:01:35,902 Warhorse youtube page . And then 43 00:01:35,902 --> 00:01:38,013 finally on Friday , Doctor Hicks will 44 00:01:38,013 --> 00:01:40,124 travel to the Defense Innovation Unit 45 00:01:40,124 --> 00:01:42,236 and Manufacturing Times Digital for a 46 00:01:42,236 --> 00:01:44,489 discussion and tour and with that , I'd 47 00:01:44,500 --> 00:01:46,556 be happy to kick things off with the 48 00:01:46,556 --> 00:01:49,199 associated press . Hi , thanks for 49 00:01:49,209 --> 00:01:51,449 doing this . Um I wanted to ask about 50 00:01:51,459 --> 00:01:53,626 the meeting going on right now between 51 00:01:53,626 --> 00:01:56,209 us and Taiwanese leaders in California 52 00:01:56,220 --> 00:01:58,930 has the defense department . Uh I guess 53 00:01:58,940 --> 00:02:01,610 sent out any additional assets to uh 54 00:02:01,620 --> 00:02:04,589 the Indo Pacific in case China responds 55 00:02:04,599 --> 00:02:06,710 like it did the last time when we had 56 00:02:06,710 --> 00:02:08,932 the speaker visit Taiwan . I have a few 57 00:02:08,932 --> 00:02:11,043 more . Sure at this moment , no , our 58 00:02:11,043 --> 00:02:13,099 posture has not changed . So we have 59 00:02:13,099 --> 00:02:15,210 not sent out any additional assets as 60 00:02:15,210 --> 00:02:17,432 far as I'm aware . Have you noticed any 61 00:02:17,432 --> 00:02:19,599 uptick in traffic as where there would 62 00:02:19,599 --> 00:02:21,710 be a potential China response to this 63 00:02:21,710 --> 00:02:24,460 visit ? Uh I mean , there's there would 64 00:02:24,470 --> 00:02:27,229 be no reason for China to respond in 65 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:30,039 any aggressive way . Um transits like 66 00:02:30,050 --> 00:02:31,910 this are routine . Um I believe 67 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:34,229 President Tsai has transited the United 68 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:38,039 States six times since 2016 . So um at 69 00:02:38,050 --> 00:02:40,050 this point , there would be no , no 70 00:02:40,050 --> 00:02:42,217 reason for an overreaction from , from 71 00:02:42,217 --> 00:02:44,470 the PR C in any way ? Ok . And then I 72 00:02:44,479 --> 00:02:46,590 wanted to take the opportunity to ask 73 00:02:46,590 --> 00:02:49,669 about the status of us training in 74 00:02:49,679 --> 00:02:52,210 Taiwan . Um How many troops are in 75 00:02:52,220 --> 00:02:54,479 Taiwan right now ? And is that number 76 00:02:54,490 --> 00:02:56,940 expected to continue to grow ? Let me 77 00:02:56,949 --> 00:02:59,116 get back to you on the exact numbers ? 78 00:02:59,116 --> 00:03:01,338 I just don't want to misspeak on that . 79 00:03:01,338 --> 00:03:03,560 Um But I'd be happy to , to , to follow 80 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:03,199 back up with you on . 81 00:03:07,750 --> 00:03:09,972 We , we made some announcements at from 82 00:03:09,972 --> 00:03:11,806 the beginning of the year as you 83 00:03:11,806 --> 00:03:13,639 probably recall . And during the 84 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:15,861 secretary's hearing , he talked ongoing 85 00:03:15,861 --> 00:03:18,083 um training and partnership with , with 86 00:03:18,083 --> 00:03:20,194 the Taiwanese . But I just don't have 87 00:03:20,194 --> 00:03:22,417 any further announcements from what was 88 00:03:22,417 --> 00:03:21,960 already announced previously this year . 89 00:03:21,970 --> 00:03:24,860 And then just one last uh with the 90 00:03:25,100 --> 00:03:27,100 announcement with the Philippines , 91 00:03:27,399 --> 00:03:29,566 would there be any potential for those 92 00:03:29,566 --> 00:03:32,729 bases being to be used to support us 93 00:03:32,740 --> 00:03:34,910 Taiwan exercises or training ? Uh 94 00:03:34,919 --> 00:03:36,869 basically would the Philippines be 95 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:39,213 supporting that training as well ? Well , 96 00:03:39,213 --> 00:03:41,436 I again , we just made the announcement 97 00:03:41,436 --> 00:03:43,213 yesterday , so on , on those uh 98 00:03:43,213 --> 00:03:45,213 additional bases um that we will be 99 00:03:45,213 --> 00:03:47,324 using . So I'm not going to speculate 100 00:03:47,324 --> 00:03:49,547 or getting into hypotheticals . I'll uh 101 00:03:49,547 --> 00:03:51,713 when we have more to announce , I'd be 102 00:03:51,713 --> 00:03:53,936 happy to happy to let you know . Yeah , 103 00:03:53,936 --> 00:03:57,289 I'll come to Liz right here . Hm . Does 104 00:03:57,300 --> 00:03:59,467 this visit to the United States by the 105 00:03:59,467 --> 00:04:01,356 Taiwanese President , president , 106 00:04:01,356 --> 00:04:03,411 damage relations with China ? No , I 107 00:04:03,411 --> 00:04:05,633 mean not at all . We don't believe that 108 00:04:05,633 --> 00:04:07,850 this again , China shouldn't use this 109 00:04:07,860 --> 00:04:10,649 visit as a pretext in any way to 110 00:04:10,899 --> 00:04:13,970 increase any aggressive activity around 111 00:04:13,979 --> 00:04:15,923 the Taiwan Strait . I mean , these 112 00:04:15,923 --> 00:04:18,257 visits are , these transits are routine . 113 00:04:18,257 --> 00:04:21,299 Um The transit is consistent with our 114 00:04:21,329 --> 00:04:23,869 one China policy . Um and again , these 115 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:26,200 are not um this is not an official 116 00:04:26,209 --> 00:04:30,149 visit . Um this is a a transit that as 117 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:32,271 I mentioned , President Tsai has done 118 00:04:32,271 --> 00:04:34,720 before six times since 2016 . So we 119 00:04:34,730 --> 00:04:38,690 don't see this as um in increasing or 120 00:04:38,700 --> 00:04:40,559 adding to any tension with our 121 00:04:40,570 --> 00:04:42,799 relationship with China . Thank you . 122 00:04:42,809 --> 00:04:46,049 And one more um does the uh Chi does 123 00:04:46,059 --> 00:04:48,337 Secretary Austin's Chinese counterpart ? 124 00:04:48,337 --> 00:04:51,179 Um have any , has he reached out um to 125 00:04:51,190 --> 00:04:53,246 Secretary Austin to have any sort of 126 00:04:53,246 --> 00:04:55,529 discussion ? Um Has any anyone from 127 00:04:55,540 --> 00:04:57,651 China reached out from to the dod ? I 128 00:04:57,651 --> 00:04:59,762 don't have any calls to read out from 129 00:04:59,762 --> 00:05:01,984 the secretary at this time . Dan , nice 130 00:05:01,984 --> 00:05:04,207 to see you in the briefing room over to 131 00:05:04,207 --> 00:05:06,318 you . Hey , thanks for your time . Uh 132 00:05:06,318 --> 00:05:08,429 logical follow on the on these Taiwan 133 00:05:08,429 --> 00:05:10,540 questions . Uh China and us officials 134 00:05:10,540 --> 00:05:12,707 have both acknowledged that there's an 135 00:05:12,707 --> 00:05:14,873 aircraft carrier that China has placed 136 00:05:14,873 --> 00:05:16,873 in close proximity to the island at 137 00:05:16,873 --> 00:05:19,040 this point ? Uh Does the Pentagon have 138 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:21,151 any concern about that ? Is there any 139 00:05:21,151 --> 00:05:23,373 communication about that ? Um and , and 140 00:05:23,373 --> 00:05:25,596 then I hear you saying that the Chinese 141 00:05:25,596 --> 00:05:28,269 should not be responding to this in any 142 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:30,168 kind of aggressive way , but that 143 00:05:30,168 --> 00:05:32,390 doesn't mean they won't uh what kind of 144 00:05:32,390 --> 00:05:34,557 Pentagon preparations are underway for 145 00:05:34,557 --> 00:05:36,557 that . Thanks Dan . So we've , I've 146 00:05:36,557 --> 00:05:38,390 seen the reporting that um and I 147 00:05:38,390 --> 00:05:40,375 believe that there are additional 148 00:05:40,385 --> 00:05:42,885 carriers operating within um the Taiwan 149 00:05:42,894 --> 00:05:45,274 Strait or , or nearby . Um These naval 150 00:05:45,285 --> 00:05:46,841 operations are happening in 151 00:05:46,841 --> 00:05:48,952 international waters . It's something 152 00:05:48,952 --> 00:05:50,729 that we do um on routine and do 153 00:05:50,729 --> 00:05:52,952 exercises within international waters . 154 00:05:52,952 --> 00:05:55,118 Um But again , we don't see any reason 155 00:05:55,118 --> 00:05:58,135 for China to overreact or to take this 156 00:05:58,144 --> 00:06:00,033 visit . Uh take this transit as a 157 00:06:00,033 --> 00:06:02,535 pretext for any aggression . Um 158 00:06:03,190 --> 00:06:06,170 Again , this is something that we've 159 00:06:06,179 --> 00:06:08,012 seen before . President Tsai has 160 00:06:08,012 --> 00:06:10,235 transited the United States before . Um 161 00:06:10,235 --> 00:06:12,401 This does not go against our one China 162 00:06:12,401 --> 00:06:15,369 policy . Um And so I don't want to get 163 00:06:15,380 --> 00:06:17,829 into hypotheticals on , you know , what 164 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:20,061 would the United States do if , if , if 165 00:06:20,061 --> 00:06:22,172 something were to happen , again , we 166 00:06:22,172 --> 00:06:24,172 don't see this as this transit as a 167 00:06:24,172 --> 00:06:26,395 reason for any , any pretext that China 168 00:06:26,395 --> 00:06:28,390 should use um for any additional 169 00:06:28,399 --> 00:06:30,260 aggression , Jenny , 170 00:06:33,510 --> 00:06:36,720 Thank you . This is the easy one . Uh 171 00:06:36,730 --> 00:06:40,200 chairman of the is 172 00:06:40,649 --> 00:06:43,100 for you , chairman of the Joint Chiefs 173 00:06:43,109 --> 00:06:45,519 of Staff , General Miley said that the 174 00:06:45,529 --> 00:06:49,130 congressional hearing last week that 175 00:06:49,140 --> 00:06:52,670 the United States spend a huge amount 176 00:06:52,679 --> 00:06:56,320 of ammunition in the war in Ukraine . 177 00:06:56,809 --> 00:07:00,679 How will the US rep replenishing 178 00:07:01,070 --> 00:07:04,209 the its ammunition stockpile ? 179 00:07:04,820 --> 00:07:07,042 Thank you . That's a great question . I 180 00:07:07,042 --> 00:07:09,209 don't know if that's easy , Jenny . Um 181 00:07:09,209 --> 00:07:11,376 No , we are , we are of course focused 182 00:07:11,376 --> 00:07:13,542 on our , our military readiness and um 183 00:07:13,542 --> 00:07:15,709 uh our stocks and that's why we have a 184 00:07:15,709 --> 00:07:17,653 whole division here focused on our 185 00:07:17,653 --> 00:07:19,876 acquisitions and continuing to contract 186 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:23,739 to um not only supply Ukraine but to 187 00:07:23,750 --> 00:07:26,455 also backfill our own stock . We know 188 00:07:26,466 --> 00:07:29,145 that ammunition is something , um that 189 00:07:29,156 --> 00:07:31,156 is one of Ukraine's priorities . So 190 00:07:31,156 --> 00:07:33,212 we're going to continue to work with 191 00:07:33,212 --> 00:07:35,267 our partners and allies to give them 192 00:07:35,267 --> 00:07:37,489 what they need on the battlefield , but 193 00:07:37,489 --> 00:07:39,378 also maintaining our own military 194 00:07:39,378 --> 00:07:41,976 readiness . United States to see the 195 00:07:41,985 --> 00:07:44,446 ammunition for South Korea . You know 196 00:07:44,515 --> 00:07:48,391 that is this full stockpile or going to 197 00:07:48,402 --> 00:07:50,911 be sent to Ukraine ? I'm not gonna get 198 00:07:50,921 --> 00:07:53,143 into more specifics . We of course have 199 00:07:53,143 --> 00:07:55,365 stocks all around the world that we can 200 00:07:55,365 --> 00:07:57,477 pull from and , and choose to use and 201 00:07:57,477 --> 00:07:59,643 move at our , at our um when we decide 202 00:07:59,643 --> 00:08:01,810 to . Um , but again , I just , I'm not 203 00:08:01,810 --> 00:08:04,032 gonna get into more specifics on that . 204 00:08:04,032 --> 00:08:06,088 Yeah , of course , Carla in the back 205 00:08:09,540 --> 00:08:11,709 Sabrina . Um Can you please give us 206 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:13,831 some speaker ? Can you hear me ? Ok . 207 00:08:13,831 --> 00:08:15,910 Um Can you please update us on the 208 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:18,149 traumatic brain injuries that occurred 209 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:20,271 based on the Iranian backed attack in 210 00:08:20,271 --> 00:08:22,493 Syria ? What's the count at now or have 211 00:08:22,493 --> 00:08:24,382 you completed the , um , have you 212 00:08:24,382 --> 00:08:26,730 completed the checks uh into how many 213 00:08:27,410 --> 00:08:29,619 in all those places ? Um So I don't 214 00:08:29,630 --> 00:08:31,852 have an update for you just yet on from 215 00:08:31,852 --> 00:08:33,640 the initial assessment when we 216 00:08:33,650 --> 00:08:35,317 announced that there were six 217 00:08:35,317 --> 00:08:39,309 additional um wounded uh with TB I . Um 218 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:41,320 it is something that we continue to 219 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:43,431 assess and these are things that take 220 00:08:43,431 --> 00:08:45,950 time and um our service members will 221 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:47,960 continue to go in for screenings to 222 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:50,320 assess if there are , if , if they have , 223 00:08:50,330 --> 00:08:52,330 or , or screening for TB I . But at 224 00:08:52,330 --> 00:08:54,386 this moment right now , I just don't 225 00:08:54,386 --> 00:08:56,497 have more to provide . Can you commit 226 00:08:56,497 --> 00:08:58,719 to giving us , uh , once the assessment 227 00:08:58,719 --> 00:09:00,663 is complete to giving us the final 228 00:09:00,663 --> 00:09:00,599 count on that ? And if you don't mind , 229 00:09:00,609 --> 00:09:02,776 can we also find out , have there been 230 00:09:02,776 --> 00:09:05,869 any additional attacks on us and 231 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:08,650 coalition forces in Syria and have , 232 00:09:08,659 --> 00:09:11,020 have us forces retaliated for any of 233 00:09:11,030 --> 00:09:12,974 the previous attacks that were not 234 00:09:12,974 --> 00:09:15,030 retaliated against yet ? Sure . Um , 235 00:09:15,030 --> 00:09:17,197 and I will probably forget one of your 236 00:09:17,197 --> 00:09:19,252 questions . So , apologies . Um , in 237 00:09:19,252 --> 00:09:21,363 terms of additional attacks , I'm not 238 00:09:21,363 --> 00:09:23,474 tracking any additional attacks on us 239 00:09:23,474 --> 00:09:25,586 forces within , um , since I was last 240 00:09:25,586 --> 00:09:27,808 briefing up here on Monday . Um , but I 241 00:09:27,808 --> 00:09:29,697 will certainly certainly keep you 242 00:09:29,697 --> 00:09:31,752 updated on any additional wounded or 243 00:09:31,752 --> 00:09:33,974 any updates on our service members that 244 00:09:33,974 --> 00:09:36,086 were impacted by those attacks . Um , 245 00:09:36,086 --> 00:09:38,308 again , this is something that can take 246 00:09:38,308 --> 00:09:40,474 time as we continue to do screenings . 247 00:09:40,474 --> 00:09:42,697 I would expect we could see the numbers 248 00:09:42,697 --> 00:09:44,919 increase . Um , and so I'd certainly be 249 00:09:44,919 --> 00:09:47,197 happy to get back to you on that front . 250 00:09:47,197 --> 00:09:50,440 Yeah . Correct . Yeah . 251 00:09:51,190 --> 00:09:54,809 Er , cousin , thanks . So 252 00:09:54,820 --> 00:09:58,760 Finland is now a NATO member . And can 253 00:09:58,770 --> 00:10:00,969 you tell us if there is a plan to 254 00:10:00,979 --> 00:10:03,340 deploy new equipment , troops to 255 00:10:03,349 --> 00:10:06,789 Finland based on the NATO Defense 256 00:10:06,799 --> 00:10:09,260 Posture ? I don't have anything to 257 00:10:09,270 --> 00:10:11,437 announce today in terms of deployments 258 00:10:11,437 --> 00:10:13,492 to Finland . Um We certainly welcome 259 00:10:13,492 --> 00:10:16,859 Finland as the 31st member to NATO . Um 260 00:10:16,900 --> 00:10:18,678 You saw the secretary put out a 261 00:10:18,678 --> 00:10:21,190 statement , I think just , just to home 262 00:10:21,359 --> 00:10:23,526 the point that , you know , a year ago 263 00:10:23,526 --> 00:10:26,429 or over a year ago , I think President 264 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:28,273 Putin thought he would break the 265 00:10:28,273 --> 00:10:30,909 alliance and today we're standing here , 266 00:10:30,919 --> 00:10:33,260 it's even stronger growing with an 267 00:10:33,270 --> 00:10:35,326 additional member , but I just don't 268 00:10:35,326 --> 00:10:37,270 have any updates on any , anything 269 00:10:37,270 --> 00:10:39,492 additional to that would be deployed or 270 00:10:39,492 --> 00:10:42,809 coordinated with Finland Posture . Or 271 00:10:42,820 --> 00:10:45,630 let me ask this this way , do you think 272 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:48,169 that the , the Finland membership to 273 00:10:48,179 --> 00:10:50,650 NATO will change the US Posture in 274 00:10:50,659 --> 00:10:53,250 Europe significantly or how ? I don't , 275 00:10:53,260 --> 00:10:56,380 I I it's a bit of a hypothetical um as , 276 00:10:56,390 --> 00:10:58,112 as the ascension just happened 277 00:10:58,112 --> 00:11:00,112 yesterday . But no , I mean , we're 278 00:11:00,112 --> 00:11:02,334 gonna keep our , our maintain our force 279 00:11:02,334 --> 00:11:04,501 posture in Europe and continue to work 280 00:11:04,501 --> 00:11:06,501 with Finland . We were working with 281 00:11:06,501 --> 00:11:08,723 Finland before they joined NATO . Um So 282 00:11:08,723 --> 00:11:10,668 I don't anticipate any significant 283 00:11:10,668 --> 00:11:12,834 changes at this time , but if anything 284 00:11:12,834 --> 00:11:15,001 does , we certainly get back to you on 285 00:11:15,001 --> 00:11:18,099 that front , Randy , thank you so much 286 00:11:18,109 --> 00:11:20,053 for taking my questions . I have a 287 00:11:20,053 --> 00:11:22,276 couple and then a follow up on what you 288 00:11:22,276 --> 00:11:24,442 said about Deputy Secretary Hicks . So 289 00:11:24,442 --> 00:11:26,469 first NBC reported this week that 290 00:11:26,479 --> 00:11:28,780 defense officials confirmed the Chinese 291 00:11:28,789 --> 00:11:31,059 spy balloon was able to gather 292 00:11:31,070 --> 00:11:33,070 intelligence from several sensitive 293 00:11:33,070 --> 00:11:35,380 American military sites before it was 294 00:11:35,390 --> 00:11:37,700 shot down . Dod pointed back to 295 00:11:37,710 --> 00:11:39,909 previous claims that the balloon had 296 00:11:39,919 --> 00:11:42,950 limited additive value . And for 297 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:45,099 intelligence collection that was over 298 00:11:45,109 --> 00:11:47,419 and above what China is likely able to 299 00:11:47,429 --> 00:11:49,700 collect through things like satellites 300 00:11:49,710 --> 00:11:51,729 in low earth orbit . But the 301 00:11:51,739 --> 00:11:53,850 intelligence that China collected via 302 00:11:53,850 --> 00:11:56,169 this balloon was mostly from electronic 303 00:11:56,179 --> 00:11:58,599 signals which are very specifically and 304 00:11:58,609 --> 00:12:00,609 inherently different from satellite 305 00:12:00,609 --> 00:12:02,969 data . So what then do you mean by 306 00:12:02,979 --> 00:12:05,780 limited additive value of what was 307 00:12:05,789 --> 00:12:08,030 collected by China ? I can't confirm 308 00:12:08,039 --> 00:12:10,261 that that that was what was collected . 309 00:12:10,261 --> 00:12:12,880 We're still doing an analysis of the 310 00:12:12,890 --> 00:12:14,946 high altitude balloon that , that we 311 00:12:14,946 --> 00:12:17,500 shot down reporting yesterday . Dod 312 00:12:17,510 --> 00:12:20,380 said they pointed us back to that last 313 00:12:20,390 --> 00:12:22,446 thing we've heard months ago that it 314 00:12:22,446 --> 00:12:24,501 was limited additive value . So what 315 00:12:24,501 --> 00:12:26,723 I'm trying to understand is do you mean 316 00:12:26,723 --> 00:12:28,890 they already had this information from 317 00:12:28,890 --> 00:12:31,001 satellites that are up there or is it 318 00:12:31,001 --> 00:12:33,223 different from the signals ? We're just 319 00:12:33,223 --> 00:12:35,334 trying to understand the balloon flew 320 00:12:35,334 --> 00:12:37,390 over American people on the ground ? 321 00:12:37,390 --> 00:12:39,501 What was collected ? What do you mean 322 00:12:39,501 --> 00:12:41,668 by limited additive value ? Right . So 323 00:12:41,668 --> 00:12:43,668 um what we mean by limited additive 324 00:12:43,668 --> 00:12:45,723 value is what Chinese satellites can 325 00:12:45,723 --> 00:12:49,559 collect on , on as they orbit versus 326 00:12:49,570 --> 00:12:51,719 what the balloon was able to collect 327 00:12:51,729 --> 00:12:53,896 and the precautionary measures that we 328 00:12:53,896 --> 00:12:56,080 were able to put in place to guard 329 00:12:56,090 --> 00:12:58,200 against our sensitive data data , we 330 00:12:58,210 --> 00:13:00,719 limited their ability to collect on our 331 00:13:00,729 --> 00:13:03,200 sites . Um So let me just finish here . 332 00:13:03,210 --> 00:13:06,039 So again , uh not gonna comment on the 333 00:13:06,049 --> 00:13:07,938 specific reporting that I saw the 334 00:13:07,938 --> 00:13:10,348 reports in the NBC . Um I'm not going 335 00:13:10,357 --> 00:13:12,668 to comment on what was being collected . 336 00:13:12,677 --> 00:13:14,788 We still are doing our analysis right 337 00:13:14,788 --> 00:13:16,510 now . The international uh the 338 00:13:16,510 --> 00:13:18,621 intelligence community is involved in 339 00:13:18,621 --> 00:13:22,408 that . Um And again , this is something 340 00:13:22,418 --> 00:13:24,029 that the administrator , the 341 00:13:24,029 --> 00:13:26,251 administration identified the problem . 342 00:13:26,251 --> 00:13:28,196 We addressed the problem . We feel 343 00:13:28,196 --> 00:13:30,418 confident in the precautionary measures 344 00:13:30,418 --> 00:13:32,585 that we were able to put in place that 345 00:13:32,585 --> 00:13:34,529 the balloon was not able to gather 346 00:13:34,529 --> 00:13:36,640 sensitive information that would have 347 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:38,640 provided any additional information 348 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:40,640 that a satellite wouldn't have been 349 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:42,696 able to collect . It's the same data 350 00:13:42,696 --> 00:13:44,807 that satellites would be collecting . 351 00:13:44,807 --> 00:13:44,286 That's what you're saying . I'm 352 00:13:44,296 --> 00:13:46,352 suggesting that we're still doing an 353 00:13:46,352 --> 00:13:48,574 analysis brandy . And when we have more 354 00:13:48,574 --> 00:13:50,629 to provide , I'd be happy to do it . 355 00:13:50,629 --> 00:13:52,685 Let me know when you do two more for 356 00:13:52,685 --> 00:13:54,796 you , Senator Blumenthal , he and two 357 00:13:54,796 --> 00:13:56,629 legal firms just filed a lawsuit 358 00:13:56,629 --> 00:13:58,796 against the department of defense that 359 00:13:58,796 --> 00:14:00,518 claims that D D is withholding 360 00:14:00,518 --> 00:14:02,574 information about toxic chemicals on 361 00:14:02,574 --> 00:14:04,352 military bases from Afghanistan 362 00:14:04,352 --> 00:14:06,240 veterans , some of whom are still 363 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:08,296 reportedly suffering from sicknesses 364 00:14:08,296 --> 00:14:10,304 associated with this . So , is the 365 00:14:10,314 --> 00:14:12,536 department withholding this information 366 00:14:12,536 --> 00:14:14,425 and what's O sds response to this 367 00:14:14,425 --> 00:14:16,592 lawsuit ? Yeah , I wouldn't be able to 368 00:14:16,592 --> 00:14:18,647 comment on pending leg uh , uh , any 369 00:14:18,647 --> 00:14:20,647 lawsuit right now . And then , um , 370 00:14:20,647 --> 00:14:22,814 just finally , uh , you mentioned Ds D 371 00:14:22,814 --> 00:14:24,925 Hicks going to D I U . Um , tell us a 372 00:14:24,925 --> 00:14:27,092 little bit more about what she's gonna 373 00:14:27,092 --> 00:14:29,147 be doing there . Is she meeting with 374 00:14:29,147 --> 00:14:31,370 Doug Beck ? Has Doug Beck met with Mike 375 00:14:31,370 --> 00:14:33,314 mad at this point . What is D I US 376 00:14:33,314 --> 00:14:35,314 response ? Um Now that they've also 377 00:14:35,314 --> 00:14:37,203 found out who their director is . 378 00:14:37,203 --> 00:14:39,536 Anything more you can share on her trip , 379 00:14:39,536 --> 00:14:39,341 there would be helpful . Sure , great 380 00:14:39,351 --> 00:14:41,518 questions . I'm not gonna get ahead of 381 00:14:41,518 --> 00:14:43,629 this , uh , deputy secretary's trip . 382 00:14:43,629 --> 00:14:45,684 Uh I'm , I will be going on the trip 383 00:14:45,684 --> 00:14:47,740 and looking forward to it , but um , 384 00:14:47,740 --> 00:14:49,684 when I have more to share , I will 385 00:14:49,684 --> 00:14:51,851 share it , but right now I'm not gonna 386 00:14:51,851 --> 00:14:51,541 get ahead of her trip and , and what 387 00:14:51,552 --> 00:14:53,608 she'll be doing to add on what she's 388 00:14:53,608 --> 00:14:55,885 looking to get from D I U on this trip . 389 00:14:55,885 --> 00:14:57,830 I don't right now , but when she's 390 00:14:57,830 --> 00:14:59,774 there , uh I mean , she's gonna be 391 00:14:59,774 --> 00:15:02,052 meeting with folks there on the ground , 392 00:15:02,052 --> 00:15:01,711 but I don't wanna get ahead of her trip 393 00:15:01,721 --> 00:15:03,940 and , and um , what she'll be doing . 394 00:15:03,950 --> 00:15:06,172 So I'll just , I'm gonna , I'm gonna go 395 00:15:06,172 --> 00:15:08,450 ahead and move . I'm not gonna get any , 396 00:15:08,450 --> 00:15:10,506 any specific meetings . Yeah , right 397 00:15:10,506 --> 00:15:14,080 here in the back . Hi , thank 398 00:15:14,090 --> 00:15:16,669 you . Um So Secretary Blinken said 399 00:15:16,679 --> 00:15:18,735 today that the US and its allies are 400 00:15:18,735 --> 00:15:20,901 working to build up Ukraine's military 401 00:15:20,901 --> 00:15:23,940 to NATO standards and NATO increased 402 00:15:23,950 --> 00:15:26,739 NATO interoperability . What specific 403 00:15:26,750 --> 00:15:30,400 steps is the dod taking to increase in 404 00:15:30,619 --> 00:15:33,049 ability between the two countries with , 405 00:15:33,059 --> 00:15:35,469 uh with , with Ukraine and NATO and 406 00:15:35,479 --> 00:15:37,757 Ukraine ? Well , some of the equipment , 407 00:15:37,757 --> 00:15:39,923 the capabilities assistance that we're 408 00:15:39,923 --> 00:15:43,500 giving are NATO NATO equipment and NATO 409 00:15:44,119 --> 00:15:46,175 compatibility is the same . So it is 410 00:15:46,175 --> 00:15:49,770 about , um , transitioning over from 411 00:15:49,780 --> 00:15:52,169 old Soviet equipment into NATO standard 412 00:15:52,179 --> 00:15:55,119 equipment and um and systems . And so 413 00:15:55,130 --> 00:15:57,352 that's one way to do it . I mean , also 414 00:15:57,352 --> 00:15:59,352 you , you're seeing the world rally 415 00:15:59,352 --> 00:16:03,340 around Ukraine um in this uh in 416 00:16:03,349 --> 00:16:05,516 the war that was launched a year ago , 417 00:16:05,516 --> 00:16:08,130 I think that certainly shows allies and 418 00:16:08,140 --> 00:16:10,307 partners are standing with Ukraine and 419 00:16:10,307 --> 00:16:11,900 that certainly increases 420 00:16:11,909 --> 00:16:14,330 interoperability with Ukraine and 421 00:16:14,340 --> 00:16:16,739 between NATO and the United States and 422 00:16:16,750 --> 00:16:18,694 just a quick follow up , uh is the 423 00:16:18,694 --> 00:16:20,583 Pentagon concerned that there are 424 00:16:20,583 --> 00:16:22,806 escalatory risks with this , you know , 425 00:16:22,806 --> 00:16:24,694 the US Secretary of State kind of 426 00:16:24,694 --> 00:16:26,700 implying at least from the Russian 427 00:16:26,710 --> 00:16:29,340 standpoint , it might seem like we're 428 00:16:29,349 --> 00:16:31,460 working towards Ukraine becoming a de 429 00:16:31,460 --> 00:16:33,516 facto member of NATO . So is there a 430 00:16:33,516 --> 00:16:35,849 concern about how Putin might view this ? 431 00:16:35,849 --> 00:16:38,071 Well , we have an open door policy when 432 00:16:38,071 --> 00:16:41,299 it comes to NATO , should a country 433 00:16:41,309 --> 00:16:43,476 decide and want to pursue a membership 434 00:16:43,476 --> 00:16:45,460 with NATO that is between the NATO 435 00:16:45,469 --> 00:16:47,525 allies and the country that wants to 436 00:16:47,525 --> 00:16:49,934 apply . So we certainly have that um 437 00:16:49,945 --> 00:16:52,167 open door policy . But right now , what 438 00:16:52,167 --> 00:16:54,223 we're focused on and what Ukraine is 439 00:16:54,223 --> 00:16:56,334 focused on is defending its sovereign 440 00:16:56,334 --> 00:16:58,556 territory . And so I don't see us um in 441 00:16:58,556 --> 00:17:00,445 terms of supplying , working with 442 00:17:00,445 --> 00:17:02,556 partnering , um supporting Ukraine as 443 00:17:02,556 --> 00:17:04,501 escalatory . Uh what was certainly 444 00:17:04,501 --> 00:17:07,145 escalatory was the invasion of Ukraine 445 00:17:07,155 --> 00:17:09,375 that was launched a year ago . So I 446 00:17:09,385 --> 00:17:11,496 think I'll just go ahead and leave it 447 00:17:11,496 --> 00:17:13,552 at that . I one quick question um on 448 00:17:13,552 --> 00:17:15,829 China uh there's a report out of Nikki , 449 00:17:15,829 --> 00:17:17,939 Nike , Asia that China might be 450 00:17:17,949 --> 00:17:19,800 considering a ban on rare earth 451 00:17:19,810 --> 00:17:22,369 materials to the US . Do you have any 452 00:17:22,380 --> 00:17:24,436 information ? Can you confirm that ? 453 00:17:24,436 --> 00:17:26,602 You know , I am sorry , I haven't seen 454 00:17:26,602 --> 00:17:26,380 the report so I just wouldn't be able 455 00:17:26,390 --> 00:17:28,550 to speak to that . Yeah . Great Chris 456 00:17:28,709 --> 00:17:30,765 right here on the front . Yeah . And 457 00:17:30,765 --> 00:17:34,000 then I'll go behind you . Uh , if I 458 00:17:34,010 --> 00:17:36,630 could follow up on the uh Ukraine Aid , 459 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:38,862 um , the senior defense official , uh , 460 00:17:38,862 --> 00:17:41,150 noted , uh , yesterday , um , there's 461 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:43,439 some uh draw down assistance and 462 00:17:43,449 --> 00:17:46,709 there's some uh USA I assistance , um 463 00:17:46,719 --> 00:17:48,719 which is focused more on medium and 464 00:17:48,719 --> 00:17:50,920 long term needs in that USA I 465 00:17:50,930 --> 00:17:53,790 assistance . Um Are these uh counter 466 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:56,040 drone systems , um , which the defense 467 00:17:56,050 --> 00:17:58,810 official noted would be for the Iranian 468 00:17:58,819 --> 00:18:00,930 drones . So does the Pentagon believe 469 00:18:00,930 --> 00:18:02,930 that Russia is going to continue to 470 00:18:02,930 --> 00:18:06,770 have a strong supply of these Iranian 471 00:18:06,780 --> 00:18:08,790 drones or perhaps even produce them 472 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:10,800 themselves that Ukraine is going to 473 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:12,911 have to deal with this problem . Long 474 00:18:12,911 --> 00:18:15,280 term . I don't , we certainly don't see 475 00:18:15,290 --> 00:18:18,500 it going away this problem . Um We are 476 00:18:18,510 --> 00:18:20,689 seeing the increase in use of , of 477 00:18:20,699 --> 00:18:22,790 Iranian made drones and , and the 478 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:24,856 shipment of those drones to Russia , 479 00:18:24,856 --> 00:18:26,967 we're seeing Russia employing them on 480 00:18:26,967 --> 00:18:29,189 the battlefield . So in terms of , um , 481 00:18:29,189 --> 00:18:31,244 you know , that would be a more of a 482 00:18:31,244 --> 00:18:33,189 supply question of , of to between 483 00:18:33,189 --> 00:18:35,467 Russia and Iran . But in the long term , 484 00:18:35,467 --> 00:18:37,689 we can , I think we can anticipate that 485 00:18:37,689 --> 00:18:39,633 Russia is going to continue to use 486 00:18:39,633 --> 00:18:39,530 these drones , which is why we're 487 00:18:39,540 --> 00:18:41,790 giving them , um , the counter U A S 488 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:43,911 equipment that we did . And I think , 489 00:18:43,911 --> 00:18:46,078 and I'm just looking at , I know you , 490 00:18:46,078 --> 00:18:48,189 you mentioned , um , the , the senior 491 00:18:48,189 --> 00:18:50,356 defense official that spoke to some of 492 00:18:50,356 --> 00:18:52,411 this , but one of the things that we 493 00:18:52,411 --> 00:18:54,578 announced in the package yesterday was 494 00:18:54,578 --> 00:18:56,467 counter U A S laser guided rocket 495 00:18:56,467 --> 00:18:58,467 systems . These are just one of the 496 00:18:58,467 --> 00:19:00,689 systems along with the vampires that we 497 00:19:00,689 --> 00:19:02,856 are that we have um uh promised to the 498 00:19:02,856 --> 00:19:04,967 Ukrainians . These are all gonna help 499 00:19:04,967 --> 00:19:07,133 with the uh counter U A S capabilities 500 00:19:07,133 --> 00:19:09,189 and these capabilities . Um are they 501 00:19:09,189 --> 00:19:12,640 particularly uh expensive to use ? Is , 502 00:19:12,650 --> 00:19:14,872 is , is that a concern going into the , 503 00:19:14,872 --> 00:19:17,094 the Pentagon's thinking for example , a 504 00:19:17,094 --> 00:19:19,119 counter U A S gun , it is a little 505 00:19:19,150 --> 00:19:21,319 cheaper than , than firing some 506 00:19:21,329 --> 00:19:23,551 exquisite missiles . So are you looking 507 00:19:23,551 --> 00:19:25,959 to , to help the Ukrainians defeat 508 00:19:25,969 --> 00:19:28,280 these drones for cheaper than having to 509 00:19:28,290 --> 00:19:31,030 use advanced air defense ? We're giving 510 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:33,262 the Ukrainians what they need right now 511 00:19:33,262 --> 00:19:35,429 on the battlefield , whether no matter 512 00:19:35,429 --> 00:19:37,429 the expense as you can see from our 513 00:19:37,429 --> 00:19:39,670 commitment and we're going to continue 514 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:41,920 to do that . We , the president , the 515 00:19:41,930 --> 00:19:44,097 secretary have said we're with Ukraine 516 00:19:44,097 --> 00:19:46,263 for as long as it takes . And so we're 517 00:19:46,263 --> 00:19:48,097 going to keep providing them the 518 00:19:48,097 --> 00:19:50,263 capabilities that they need just right 519 00:19:50,263 --> 00:19:52,430 behind you and then I can come back to 520 00:19:52,430 --> 00:19:55,890 the front . Thank you so much . Yeah , 521 00:19:55,900 --> 00:19:58,689 of course . Um Russia President 522 00:19:58,699 --> 00:20:01,959 Vladimir Putin had an allegations today 523 00:20:01,969 --> 00:20:04,540 that Western Intelligence services were 524 00:20:04,550 --> 00:20:07,000 contributing to Ukraine's ability to 525 00:20:07,010 --> 00:20:10,739 carry out acts of sabotage . How do you 526 00:20:10,750 --> 00:20:13,719 respond on these allegations ? I 527 00:20:13,729 --> 00:20:15,673 wouldn't really respond to Russian 528 00:20:15,673 --> 00:20:17,729 allegations of , of that . I'm not , 529 00:20:17,729 --> 00:20:19,785 I'm not , I'm not aware of the , I'm 530 00:20:19,785 --> 00:20:19,709 not , I do not see that . So I just 531 00:20:19,719 --> 00:20:22,890 don't really want to speak to it . How 532 00:20:22,900 --> 00:20:25,011 do you , would you describe the level 533 00:20:25,011 --> 00:20:26,900 of Chinese military activities in 534 00:20:26,900 --> 00:20:30,560 recent days around Taiwan ? And has 535 00:20:30,569 --> 00:20:32,680 there been a significant significant 536 00:20:32,689 --> 00:20:34,729 increase ? We're not seeing a 537 00:20:34,739 --> 00:20:36,739 significant increase . We're seeing 538 00:20:36,739 --> 00:20:39,219 routine naval operations continue . Um 539 00:20:39,229 --> 00:20:42,000 Right now , we're continuing to see uh 540 00:20:42,209 --> 00:20:45,219 uh PR C the PR C operating in 541 00:20:45,229 --> 00:20:47,520 international waters . Um And again , I 542 00:20:47,530 --> 00:20:49,530 know , I know I sound like a broken 543 00:20:49,530 --> 00:20:51,641 record here and I don't mean to , but 544 00:20:51,641 --> 00:20:54,079 um this trend , it is , it should not 545 00:20:54,089 --> 00:20:56,145 be used as a pretext for any type of 546 00:20:56,145 --> 00:20:59,069 aggression um or overreaction . Um 547 00:20:59,180 --> 00:21:01,124 Again , this is something that has 548 00:21:01,124 --> 00:21:03,800 happened before . Um And , and we're 549 00:21:03,810 --> 00:21:05,810 going to continue to monitor what's 550 00:21:05,810 --> 00:21:08,032 happening in the region , but we just , 551 00:21:08,032 --> 00:21:10,199 we do not see this as a as a means for 552 00:21:10,199 --> 00:21:12,310 an overreaction by the PR C . I'll go 553 00:21:12,310 --> 00:21:14,421 to right next to you . Thank you very 554 00:21:14,421 --> 00:21:16,532 much . Just a quick call up on Taiwan 555 00:21:16,532 --> 00:21:18,532 again . So , are you less concerned 556 00:21:18,532 --> 00:21:20,532 about the Chinese military activity 557 00:21:20,532 --> 00:21:22,643 this time ? Um You were last summer ? 558 00:21:22,643 --> 00:21:24,477 Well , we continue to monitor we 559 00:21:24,477 --> 00:21:26,699 continue to monitor the activity in the 560 00:21:26,699 --> 00:21:28,588 region . Again , we are our , our 561 00:21:28,588 --> 00:21:30,921 commitment to Taiwan remains rock solid . 562 00:21:30,921 --> 00:21:33,849 Um We are always going to um make sure 563 00:21:33,859 --> 00:21:36,439 that uh we have the capabilities and 564 00:21:36,449 --> 00:21:38,671 resources within the region to maintain 565 00:21:38,671 --> 00:21:40,782 peace . Um But right now , we're just 566 00:21:40,782 --> 00:21:42,727 continuing to monitor the activity 567 00:21:42,727 --> 00:21:45,300 again . Just a quick the the when 568 00:21:45,310 --> 00:21:47,254 speaker , when then Speaker Pelosi 569 00:21:47,260 --> 00:21:48,880 visited Taipei , the Biden 570 00:21:48,890 --> 00:21:51,060 administration disclosed the concrete 571 00:21:51,069 --> 00:21:53,290 steps that the Chinese military might 572 00:21:53,300 --> 00:21:56,000 do as retaliation ahead of the 573 00:21:56,010 --> 00:21:58,829 speaker's arrival in Taipei . So do you 574 00:21:58,839 --> 00:22:01,479 have the similar uh preview on what 575 00:22:01,489 --> 00:22:03,810 Chinese military might do in response 576 00:22:03,819 --> 00:22:06,097 to the meeting in California this time ? 577 00:22:06,097 --> 00:22:08,041 I don't , but that's because there 578 00:22:08,041 --> 00:22:10,152 should , there really is no cause for 579 00:22:10,152 --> 00:22:12,097 any type of overreaction here . Um 580 00:22:12,097 --> 00:22:14,849 President Tsai's transit is routine . 581 00:22:14,859 --> 00:22:16,748 We've seen this before with other 582 00:22:16,748 --> 00:22:18,637 presidents from Taiwan , with the 583 00:22:18,637 --> 00:22:21,780 President Tsai herself uh visiting here 584 00:22:21,790 --> 00:22:24,369 um uh six times since 2016 . So we 585 00:22:24,380 --> 00:22:26,329 don't see any cause for concern or 586 00:22:26,339 --> 00:22:28,650 overreaction within the region . I'll 587 00:22:28,660 --> 00:22:30,882 go to L A and then I'll come back up to 588 00:22:30,882 --> 00:22:30,709 Tara 589 00:22:35,810 --> 00:22:38,589 one day . We'll be back in the PB R , 590 00:22:38,859 --> 00:22:41,026 the Chinese aircraft carrier . Did you 591 00:22:41,026 --> 00:22:42,970 say there were reports of carriers 592 00:22:42,970 --> 00:22:46,040 plural near Taiwan ? And is Chinese 593 00:22:46,050 --> 00:22:47,883 carriers near Taiwan part of the 594 00:22:47,883 --> 00:22:50,500 routine naval operations ? We're seeing , 595 00:22:50,510 --> 00:22:52,630 I I believe I was referring to the 596 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:54,529 report which I think mentioned um 597 00:22:54,529 --> 00:22:58,364 carriers , but we are seeing um we're 598 00:22:58,375 --> 00:23:00,264 seeing nothing that is out of the 599 00:23:00,264 --> 00:23:02,097 ordinary or what we're seeing is 600 00:23:02,097 --> 00:23:04,785 routine . We're seeing these um naval 601 00:23:04,795 --> 00:23:07,128 ships operating in international waters . 602 00:23:07,128 --> 00:23:09,655 Um Again , we do not believe that this 603 00:23:09,665 --> 00:23:12,694 is any uh that president size transit 604 00:23:12,704 --> 00:23:15,224 is any cause for any type of pretext 605 00:23:15,234 --> 00:23:17,067 for aggression or overreaction . 606 00:23:20,939 --> 00:23:24,680 A to Thanks just to you a quick follow 607 00:23:24,689 --> 00:23:27,150 up . Um I'm curious uh why you're 608 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:29,271 describing it as a transit instead of 609 00:23:29,271 --> 00:23:31,382 an official visit to the US , is that 610 00:23:31,382 --> 00:23:33,560 out of deference to China to not 611 00:23:33,569 --> 00:23:35,625 provoke an overreaction ? And then I 612 00:23:35,625 --> 00:23:37,736 have a Ukraine question . Sure . No , 613 00:23:37,736 --> 00:23:37,530 the transits are private . They're 614 00:23:37,540 --> 00:23:40,079 unofficial uh transits through the 615 00:23:40,089 --> 00:23:42,145 United States and that's how they've 616 00:23:42,145 --> 00:23:44,989 always been , but it's a visit , right ? 617 00:23:45,439 --> 00:23:47,119 Well , I , I would , I , we 618 00:23:47,130 --> 00:23:49,241 characterize it as a transit as is as 619 00:23:49,241 --> 00:23:51,959 it is not an official visit to the 620 00:23:51,969 --> 00:23:54,025 United States . Um Again , these are 621 00:23:54,030 --> 00:23:56,197 routine . This is something that we've 622 00:23:56,197 --> 00:23:58,308 seen from former presidents of Taiwan 623 00:23:58,308 --> 00:24:00,474 before . Uh we've always characterized 624 00:24:00,474 --> 00:24:02,609 them as a transit . Um And we've seen 625 00:24:02,619 --> 00:24:04,841 uh I believe even President Tsai in one 626 00:24:04,841 --> 00:24:08,079 of her visits um visited uh New York 627 00:24:08,089 --> 00:24:10,520 and Los Angeles . Um So again , this is 628 00:24:10,530 --> 00:24:13,829 just routine . Ok . And then on Ukraine , 629 00:24:13,839 --> 00:24:17,589 um yesterday's uh aid package included 630 00:24:17,599 --> 00:24:20,010 more saco terminals and services . 631 00:24:20,459 --> 00:24:22,949 Could you provide an update on efforts 632 00:24:22,959 --> 00:24:26,239 to diversify the types of saco 633 00:24:26,339 --> 00:24:28,339 terminals and services it's able to 634 00:24:28,339 --> 00:24:30,561 provide or are these all still going to 635 00:24:30,561 --> 00:24:33,109 be Starlink ? Um I believe we're still , 636 00:24:33,119 --> 00:24:36,189 if I am um remember correctly that the 637 00:24:36,199 --> 00:24:38,032 saco terminals and services were 638 00:24:38,032 --> 00:24:40,143 announced that the USA I so that will 639 00:24:40,143 --> 00:24:42,366 be through a procurement process . Um I 640 00:24:42,366 --> 00:24:44,588 don't have anything to announce in , in 641 00:24:44,588 --> 00:24:46,532 terms of a contract . Um I believe 642 00:24:46,532 --> 00:24:48,310 earlier when we've talked about 643 00:24:48,310 --> 00:24:50,088 Starlink , there are also other 644 00:24:50,088 --> 00:24:49,939 satellite communications and 645 00:24:49,949 --> 00:24:52,060 capabilities that we would completely 646 00:24:52,060 --> 00:24:54,199 seek out . Um But again , Starlink is 647 00:24:54,209 --> 00:24:56,431 one of the main ones that Ukraine still 648 00:24:56,431 --> 00:24:58,598 continues to use at this time . That's 649 00:24:58,598 --> 00:25:00,849 what I was wondering about is um if you 650 00:25:00,859 --> 00:25:03,189 could give us a status report on uh dod 651 00:25:03,199 --> 00:25:05,366 S kind of the progress you've made and 652 00:25:05,366 --> 00:25:07,532 uh looking at these other companies or 653 00:25:07,532 --> 00:25:09,979 other potential uh vendors , I can when 654 00:25:09,989 --> 00:25:12,045 we have more to announce , but right 655 00:25:12,045 --> 00:25:13,878 now since we just announced this 656 00:25:13,878 --> 00:25:15,711 package and we'll go through the 657 00:25:15,711 --> 00:25:15,339 contracting process and , you know , 658 00:25:15,349 --> 00:25:17,571 that does take a while . But uh when we 659 00:25:17,571 --> 00:25:19,627 have more to announce , I'm , I'd be 660 00:25:19,627 --> 00:25:21,793 happy to get back to you . But at this 661 00:25:21,793 --> 00:25:21,119 time , I just , I just don't have 662 00:25:21,130 --> 00:25:23,130 anything else to share on any other 663 00:25:23,130 --> 00:25:26,130 contracts . Yes . Right over here . Hi . 664 00:25:26,140 --> 00:25:28,589 Hi . Um Just to follow up on the , on 665 00:25:28,599 --> 00:25:31,050 the issue . Um is , is the O D 666 00:25:31,060 --> 00:25:34,959 currently paying um for the uh for the 667 00:25:34,969 --> 00:25:37,080 Starling terminals or are those still 668 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:39,979 being provided for free ? Well , um 669 00:25:41,310 --> 00:25:45,060 yes , we Starlink does or um continues 670 00:25:45,069 --> 00:25:48,699 to provide services over Ukraine and I 671 00:25:48,709 --> 00:25:50,800 believe that was announced last year 672 00:25:50,810 --> 00:25:52,866 that they , they were gonna continue 673 00:25:52,866 --> 00:25:55,088 that service . Yes , we have a contract 674 00:25:55,088 --> 00:25:57,310 with Starlink for operating some of the 675 00:25:57,310 --> 00:25:59,366 terminals , um , over Ukraine . That 676 00:25:59,366 --> 00:26:01,588 was also something that was , um , that 677 00:26:01,588 --> 00:26:03,643 has not changed , um , since we last 678 00:26:03,643 --> 00:26:05,977 announced that . Great . All right . Uh , 679 00:26:05,977 --> 00:26:08,199 we'll keep it short and sweet . Oh , do 680 00:26:08,199 --> 00:26:10,199 we have one more Louis ? Ok . Never 681 00:26:10,199 --> 00:26:14,180 mind . We'll keep it long . No , 682 00:26:14,189 --> 00:26:16,430 you're fine looking for an update on 683 00:26:16,439 --> 00:26:18,750 the Abrams . Um , we still haven't seen 684 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:22,310 any paperwork that defines , um , the 685 00:26:22,319 --> 00:26:24,550 accelerated schedule and how that's 686 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:26,709 gonna come out . So I don't have 687 00:26:26,719 --> 00:26:28,941 anything new to announce on that . Um , 688 00:26:28,941 --> 00:26:30,941 training hasn't started and I don't 689 00:26:30,941 --> 00:26:33,310 have anything , um , in terms of , um , 690 00:26:33,420 --> 00:26:35,500 because we combined it with a P D A 691 00:26:35,510 --> 00:26:38,359 package and a USA I , um , so that is 692 00:26:38,369 --> 00:26:40,660 going to take some time . Um , our goal 693 00:26:40,670 --> 00:26:42,837 is to have those to Ukraine before the 694 00:26:42,837 --> 00:26:44,948 end of the year . Um , but that's the 695 00:26:44,948 --> 00:26:47,003 only time frame I can give you right 696 00:26:47,003 --> 00:26:49,849 now . And , uh , yesterday , the senior 697 00:26:49,859 --> 00:26:52,192 defense official provided some training , 698 00:26:52,192 --> 00:26:54,248 some numbers for how many Ukrainians 699 00:26:54,248 --> 00:26:57,550 had been trained , uh , recently on 700 00:26:57,560 --> 00:26:59,630 combined arms tactics . And , and 701 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:03,209 overall is that it's essentially two 702 00:27:03,219 --> 00:27:05,108 brigades worth . Is that going to 703 00:27:05,108 --> 00:27:07,349 continue ? Is that a process that's 704 00:27:07,359 --> 00:27:09,470 going to go throughout the year or is 705 00:27:09,470 --> 00:27:11,989 that only intended for this original 706 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:13,778 shipment of Bradley's and other 707 00:27:13,778 --> 00:27:15,778 vehicles ? Well , the combined arms 708 00:27:15,778 --> 00:27:15,359 training is something that we were 709 00:27:15,369 --> 00:27:18,310 doing since 2014 . So we would expect 710 00:27:18,319 --> 00:27:20,680 it to continue . And , um , as long as 711 00:27:20,689 --> 00:27:22,911 Ukraine wants to continue that training 712 00:27:22,911 --> 00:27:25,078 as well , I don't , you know , I think 713 00:27:25,078 --> 00:27:27,300 we could make adjustments in terms of , 714 00:27:27,300 --> 00:27:29,300 you know , if , if things work on a 715 00:27:29,300 --> 00:27:31,467 certain time schedule for them . But , 716 00:27:31,467 --> 00:27:33,522 um , Uh , yeah , I mean , I think we 717 00:27:33,522 --> 00:27:33,439 would continue that , that training 718 00:27:33,449 --> 00:27:35,338 just as we had been doing and was 719 00:27:35,338 --> 00:27:38,060 routine since 2014 . Ok . 720 00:27:39,609 --> 00:27:41,720 Nice Starlink . Um , I seem to recall 721 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:43,942 that there was a , you know , word that 722 00:27:43,942 --> 00:27:46,053 uh the dod had received a letter from 723 00:27:46,053 --> 00:27:48,276 Starlink saying that Starlink was gonna 724 00:27:48,276 --> 00:27:50,498 cut off . And then you said , well , we 725 00:27:50,498 --> 00:27:51,942 don't comment on internal 726 00:27:51,942 --> 00:27:54,020 communications , right ? So when you 727 00:27:54,030 --> 00:27:56,197 said you're looking at other vendors , 728 00:27:56,197 --> 00:27:58,197 is that because you are moving away 729 00:27:58,197 --> 00:28:00,363 from Starlink or you are continuing or 730 00:28:00,363 --> 00:28:02,474 you've worked out an arrangement with 731 00:28:02,474 --> 00:28:05,050 Starlink that we're unaware of . I'm 732 00:28:05,060 --> 00:28:06,949 just trying to remember the , the 733 00:28:06,949 --> 00:28:09,060 letter from that you're talking about 734 00:28:09,060 --> 00:28:08,920 from last year . No , I mean , we 735 00:28:08,930 --> 00:28:11,209 continue to use Starlink , we continue 736 00:28:11,219 --> 00:28:12,941 to work with Starlink and have 737 00:28:12,941 --> 00:28:14,997 communications with them . There are 738 00:28:14,997 --> 00:28:16,830 other um capabilities that other 739 00:28:16,830 --> 00:28:20,099 providers can uh also provide and and 740 00:28:20,109 --> 00:28:22,939 create another layer of communication 741 00:28:23,150 --> 00:28:26,380 um that we're gonna continue to pursue , 742 00:28:26,390 --> 00:28:28,446 but I just don't have more than into 743 00:28:28,446 --> 00:28:30,446 what Tara was asking . I just don't 744 00:28:30,446 --> 00:28:32,557 have more to announce in terms of any 745 00:28:32,557 --> 00:28:31,880 specific contracts that have been 746 00:28:31,890 --> 00:28:34,057 awarded . So in other words , what was 747 00:28:34,057 --> 00:28:36,112 communicated by Starlink at the time 748 00:28:36,112 --> 00:28:38,390 has not happened that . In other words , 749 00:28:38,390 --> 00:28:40,446 you are continuing with Starlink and 750 00:28:40,446 --> 00:28:42,612 you worked out an arrangement as which 751 00:28:42,612 --> 00:28:44,557 link we're gonna end the service . 752 00:28:44,557 --> 00:28:46,709 We're continuing to um talk and 753 00:28:46,719 --> 00:28:48,830 communicate with Starlink in terms of 754 00:28:48,830 --> 00:28:51,052 um the services that are being provided 755 00:28:51,052 --> 00:28:53,219 to Ukraine . But I just don't have any 756 00:28:53,219 --> 00:28:55,530 update from um what was from , from the 757 00:28:55,540 --> 00:28:57,540 previous , I think it was last year 758 00:28:57,540 --> 00:28:59,651 when we were discussing this . I just 759 00:28:59,651 --> 00:29:01,984 have no update from that . Yeah . Great . 760 00:29:01,984 --> 00:29:02,750 Ok , we'll wrap it up . Thanks everyone .