1 00:00:00,009 --> 00:00:02,500 All right , good afternoon . Um , all 2 00:00:02,500 --> 00:00:05,679 right , just short , uh , two items 3 00:00:05,679 --> 00:00:07,901 today , and then I'm happy to take your 4 00:00:07,901 --> 00:00:09,679 questions . Yesterday and today 5 00:00:09,679 --> 00:00:11,679 Secretary Austin met with Southeast 6 00:00:11,679 --> 00:00:13,729 Asian defense leaders for the 14th 7 00:00:13,729 --> 00:00:16,649 ASEAN Defense Ministers meeting plus in 8 00:00:16,649 --> 00:00:18,809 Laos , where he laid out a new vision 9 00:00:18,809 --> 00:00:21,170 for ensuring a free , prosperous and 10 00:00:21,170 --> 00:00:23,530 secure Indo-Pacific region through 11 00:00:23,530 --> 00:00:25,940 enhanced US defense cooperation with 12 00:00:25,940 --> 00:00:28,049 Southeast Asian allies and partners 13 00:00:28,450 --> 00:00:30,409 centered on ASEANN and its member 14 00:00:30,409 --> 00:00:32,353 states . This enhanced cooperation 15 00:00:32,353 --> 00:00:34,131 seeks to advance the collective 16 00:00:34,131 --> 00:00:36,220 capacity of ASEANN . And individual 17 00:00:36,220 --> 00:00:38,220 Southeast Asian nations by building 18 00:00:38,220 --> 00:00:40,849 capabilities , exchanging expertise , 19 00:00:41,180 --> 00:00:43,340 ensuring free trade , and bolstering 20 00:00:43,340 --> 00:00:45,930 sovereignty . You can find the full 21 00:00:45,930 --> 00:00:48,097 Department of Defense vision statement 22 00:00:48,097 --> 00:00:50,208 for a prosperous and secure Southeast 23 00:00:50,208 --> 00:00:52,152 Asia as well as a readout from the 24 00:00:52,152 --> 00:00:54,319 secretary's engagements on the margins 25 00:00:54,319 --> 00:00:56,740 of ADMM plus on Defense.gov . And 26 00:00:56,740 --> 00:00:58,740 looking to tomorrow , the secretary 27 00:00:58,740 --> 00:01:00,351 will wrap up his trip to the 28 00:01:00,351 --> 00:01:02,573 Indo-Pacific with a historic first ever 29 00:01:02,573 --> 00:01:04,684 visit by a US Secretary of Defense to 30 00:01:04,684 --> 00:01:06,518 Fiji . He'll meet with the Prime 31 00:01:06,518 --> 00:01:08,184 Minister and other leaders to 32 00:01:08,184 --> 00:01:10,018 strengthen our bilateral defense 33 00:01:10,018 --> 00:01:12,129 partnership and discuss ways in which 34 00:01:12,129 --> 00:01:14,240 the US will continue to invest in the 35 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:16,529 Pacific Island region . And turning to 36 00:01:16,529 --> 00:01:18,730 Ukraine yesterday we announced an 37 00:01:18,730 --> 00:01:21,849 additional $275 million security 38 00:01:21,849 --> 00:01:24,016 assistance package for Ukraine , which 39 00:01:24,016 --> 00:01:27,059 was the 70th tranche of aid since 40 00:01:27,059 --> 00:01:29,690 August 2021 . This presidential 41 00:01:29,690 --> 00:01:31,690 drawdown authority package provides 42 00:01:31,690 --> 00:01:33,579 critical capabilities , including 43 00:01:33,579 --> 00:01:35,357 munitions for HAs , artillery , 44 00:01:35,357 --> 00:01:37,190 anti-tank weapons , drones , and 45 00:01:37,190 --> 00:01:39,357 protective equipment . And with that , 46 00:01:39,357 --> 00:01:41,690 I'm happy to take your questions . Lita . 47 00:01:41,690 --> 00:01:43,690 Thanks , Sabrina . Um , a couple of 48 00:01:43,690 --> 00:01:45,801 questions on the missile strike drone 49 00:01:45,801 --> 00:01:49,550 in Ukraine . First , um , it was , can 50 00:01:49,550 --> 00:01:52,099 you confirm , uh , it was an , uh , 51 00:01:52,110 --> 00:01:55,150 intermediate range missile . Second , 52 00:01:55,870 --> 00:01:59,589 uh . Did Russia provide 53 00:01:59,589 --> 00:02:02,949 advanced warning ? And can you say , 54 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:05,342 can you give us some sort of clarity on 55 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,839 who they call and , and how much 56 00:02:08,839 --> 00:02:11,539 advance notice do they give ? And then 57 00:02:11,539 --> 00:02:13,483 just thirdly on this , what is the 58 00:02:13,483 --> 00:02:16,619 overall US reaction to the missile 59 00:02:16,619 --> 00:02:19,768 strike and Putin's comments today that 60 00:02:20,018 --> 00:02:22,238 he believes Russia has the right to 61 00:02:22,238 --> 00:02:24,979 strike any and take action against 62 00:02:24,979 --> 00:02:27,059 countries that provide weapons to 63 00:02:27,059 --> 00:02:29,710 Ukraine . Thanks , Lita . So , uh , 64 00:02:30,029 --> 00:02:32,251 trying to remember some of the order of 65 00:02:32,251 --> 00:02:34,085 your questions . So , um , I can 66 00:02:34,085 --> 00:02:35,973 confirm that Russia did launch an 67 00:02:35,973 --> 00:02:37,751 experimental intermediate range 68 00:02:37,751 --> 00:02:40,350 ballistic missile . This IRBM was based 69 00:02:40,350 --> 00:02:43,440 on Russia's RS 26 RBA 70 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:45,384 intercontinental ballistic missile 71 00:02:45,384 --> 00:02:48,550 model . Um , in terms of , uh , 72 00:02:48,559 --> 00:02:50,615 notifications to the United States , 73 00:02:50,615 --> 00:02:52,639 the United States was pre-notified 74 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:54,528 briefly before the launch through 75 00:02:54,528 --> 00:02:56,880 nuclear risk reduction channels . Uh , 76 00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:59,111 for more I'd , I'd refer you to state 77 00:02:59,111 --> 00:03:02,550 on that . Um , and , uh , I think your , 78 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:04,942 your third question was on our reaction 79 00:03:04,942 --> 00:03:07,276 to Putin's comments . I mean , you know , 80 00:03:07,276 --> 00:03:09,331 we've seen this type of , you know , 81 00:03:09,331 --> 00:03:11,710 dangerous reckless rhetoric before from , 82 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:14,639 um . President Putin , um . 83 00:03:16,300 --> 00:03:18,467 What we're focused on is continuing to 84 00:03:18,467 --> 00:03:20,800 support Ukraine with what it needs . Um , 85 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:22,633 Ukraine , as you know , has been 86 00:03:22,633 --> 00:03:24,744 successful in continuing to push back 87 00:03:24,744 --> 00:03:26,800 against Russian aggression . We just 88 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:29,022 rolled out another $275 million package 89 00:03:29,022 --> 00:03:31,078 yesterday . You're going to see more 90 00:03:31,078 --> 00:03:33,133 packages continue , um , in the , in 91 00:03:33,133 --> 00:03:35,356 the weeks and months ahead left of this 92 00:03:35,356 --> 00:03:37,467 administration . So that's what we're 93 00:03:37,467 --> 00:03:39,411 really focused on , um , of course 94 00:03:39,411 --> 00:03:39,220 we're going to take seriously the the 95 00:03:39,220 --> 00:03:41,387 rhetoric coming out of Russia , but um 96 00:03:41,387 --> 00:03:43,609 our focus remains on arming Ukraine and 97 00:03:43,609 --> 00:03:45,831 supporting Ukraine what it needs , uh , 98 00:03:45,831 --> 00:03:48,520 the most on the battlefield and . As a 99 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:50,889 reminder , as this reckless uh rhetoric 100 00:03:50,889 --> 00:03:52,960 continues , Putin can choose to end 101 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:55,520 this war today . um , he can choose to 102 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:57,576 withdraw Russian forces and end this 103 00:03:57,576 --> 00:03:59,353 and end , you know , his war of 104 00:03:59,353 --> 00:04:01,576 aggression and his war of choice . So , 105 00:04:01,576 --> 00:04:03,687 um , we're gonna continue to focus on 106 00:04:03,687 --> 00:04:05,909 what Ukraine needs on the battlefield , 107 00:04:05,909 --> 00:04:08,076 Liz . Uh , to follow up on that , um , 108 00:04:08,076 --> 00:04:10,242 earlier this week , Putin signed a new 109 00:04:10,242 --> 00:04:12,353 nuclear doctrine for Russia . Have we 110 00:04:12,353 --> 00:04:14,409 seen their nuclear posture change at 111 00:04:14,409 --> 00:04:16,520 all ? We haven't seen any adjustments 112 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:18,576 that we've observed in their nuclear 113 00:04:18,576 --> 00:04:20,687 posture , and we haven't adjusted our 114 00:04:20,687 --> 00:04:22,853 nuclear posture in exchange . Um , you 115 00:04:22,853 --> 00:04:25,076 know , something that I think I said on 116 00:04:25,076 --> 00:04:27,076 Tuesday is that the changes that we 117 00:04:27,076 --> 00:04:29,298 made were expected and something that , 118 00:04:29,298 --> 00:04:31,242 you know , we've anticipated for a 119 00:04:31,242 --> 00:04:33,298 while , um , again , extremely . You 120 00:04:33,298 --> 00:04:35,409 know , reckless , but we haven't made 121 00:04:35,409 --> 00:04:37,631 any adjust adjustments to our posture . 122 00:04:37,631 --> 00:04:39,853 Something from earlier this week , um , 123 00:04:39,853 --> 00:04:42,076 the Ukraine's use of or reported use of 124 00:04:42,076 --> 00:04:44,076 attacks . um , can you confirm that 125 00:04:44,076 --> 00:04:46,242 Ukraine used attack them um on targets 126 00:04:46,242 --> 00:04:48,464 in Russia ? I still don't have anything 127 00:04:48,464 --> 00:04:50,576 to announce or confirm , but you know 128 00:04:50,576 --> 00:04:52,687 what if there is a , if there is more 129 00:04:52,687 --> 00:04:54,631 to share , I certainly will , um , 130 00:04:54,631 --> 00:04:56,798 again you just saw us roll out another 131 00:04:56,798 --> 00:04:59,076 $275 million package earlier this week . 132 00:04:59,076 --> 00:05:01,076 Um , we're gonna continue to supply 133 00:05:01,076 --> 00:05:03,187 Ukraine what it what it needs , but , 134 00:05:03,187 --> 00:05:05,020 um , I'd really refer you to the 135 00:05:05,020 --> 00:05:07,353 Ukrainians to speak to their operations . 136 00:05:07,353 --> 00:05:09,464 All right , just to clarify something 137 00:05:09,464 --> 00:05:11,631 you said in response to AIA , you said 138 00:05:11,631 --> 00:05:13,909 this was based on an RS-26 Rue missile . 139 00:05:13,909 --> 00:05:16,020 Does that mean it was an RS 26 or was 140 00:05:16,020 --> 00:05:18,076 it one of the one of the derivatives 141 00:05:18,076 --> 00:05:17,964 like an RS 28 ? Can you be just a 142 00:05:17,964 --> 00:05:20,131 little more specific on that ? I can't 143 00:05:20,131 --> 00:05:22,186 get more specific other than that it 144 00:05:22,186 --> 00:05:24,408 was based off of what I would say is it 145 00:05:24,408 --> 00:05:26,520 was based off of the design of the RS 146 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:28,686 26 , um , but I'm just not going to be 147 00:05:28,686 --> 00:05:30,908 able to give you more details than that 148 00:05:30,908 --> 00:05:32,908 right now . And then just a sort of 149 00:05:32,908 --> 00:05:35,131 related question on a different topic , 150 00:05:35,131 --> 00:05:35,084 the provision or the decision to 151 00:05:35,084 --> 00:05:37,417 provide anti-personnel mines to Ukraine , 152 00:05:37,417 --> 00:05:40,809 uh , can you say , um . First , 153 00:05:41,220 --> 00:05:43,220 what type of anti-personnel mines ? 154 00:05:43,220 --> 00:05:45,053 What makes you so confident that 155 00:05:45,053 --> 00:05:47,331 they'll be used correctly ? And second , 156 00:05:47,331 --> 00:05:48,776 given the position of the 157 00:05:48,776 --> 00:05:50,887 administration , um , essentially two 158 00:05:50,887 --> 00:05:52,664 years ago , does this require a 159 00:05:52,664 --> 00:05:54,779 presidential waiver or or some step 160 00:05:54,779 --> 00:05:57,339 there to OK the export of these ? So in 161 00:05:57,339 --> 00:05:59,670 terms of how the Ukrainians employ 162 00:05:59,670 --> 00:06:01,781 these mines on the battlefield , um , 163 00:06:01,899 --> 00:06:03,869 the Ukrainians have given us their 164 00:06:03,869 --> 00:06:06,329 assurances that they are going to , uh , 165 00:06:06,660 --> 00:06:09,649 only use them in Ukraine . Um , we are 166 00:06:09,649 --> 00:06:11,850 providing a , uh , different variants 167 00:06:11,850 --> 00:06:13,850 of the type of minds . I'm just not 168 00:06:13,850 --> 00:06:15,850 going to get into more details than 169 00:06:15,850 --> 00:06:17,961 that . Um , I think it's important to 170 00:06:17,961 --> 00:06:19,739 note that the reason why we are 171 00:06:19,739 --> 00:06:21,906 providing these APLs is because as the 172 00:06:21,906 --> 00:06:24,017 battlefield has changed and the fight 173 00:06:24,017 --> 00:06:26,239 has evolved over time , so have we , so 174 00:06:26,239 --> 00:06:28,461 have our support , um , and I think you 175 00:06:28,461 --> 00:06:30,628 saw the secretary speak to this , um , 176 00:06:30,628 --> 00:06:32,739 on his travel , but , um , Russia has 177 00:06:32,739 --> 00:06:34,906 changed their tactics , so they're not 178 00:06:34,906 --> 00:06:34,809 leading with their mechanized forces , 179 00:06:34,850 --> 00:06:37,017 they're leading with dismounted forces 180 00:06:37,017 --> 00:06:39,720 and so . Because of that , we feel that 181 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:41,942 these APLs and how they will be able to 182 00:06:41,942 --> 00:06:43,887 be used on the battlefield will be 183 00:06:43,887 --> 00:06:45,998 helpful to Ukraine , um , in terms of 184 00:06:45,998 --> 00:06:49,660 um . Your , uh , second question on if 185 00:06:49,660 --> 00:06:51,882 there needs to be something , a type of 186 00:06:51,882 --> 00:06:54,104 waiver . I'd I'd refer you to the White 187 00:06:54,104 --> 00:06:56,380 House to speak to that . Tree . Um , on 188 00:06:56,380 --> 00:06:58,324 this sort of scale of escalation , 189 00:06:58,324 --> 00:07:00,269 where do you see the IRBM ? It's 190 00:07:00,269 --> 00:07:03,179 obviously not an ICBM , but , um , you 191 00:07:03,179 --> 00:07:06,089 know , a level of concern and , uh , 192 00:07:06,140 --> 00:07:08,362 where is , where is this sort of line , 193 00:07:08,362 --> 00:07:10,584 this particular missile . So this was a 194 00:07:10,584 --> 00:07:12,696 new um type of lethal capability that 195 00:07:12,696 --> 00:07:14,862 was employed on the battlefield . Um , 196 00:07:14,862 --> 00:07:17,029 so that's certainly of concern to us , 197 00:07:17,029 --> 00:07:19,029 um , and we're gonna . You know , I 198 00:07:19,029 --> 00:07:21,239 don't have a uh an assessment of its 199 00:07:21,239 --> 00:07:23,128 impacts right now , um , but it's 200 00:07:23,128 --> 00:07:24,850 something that of course we're 201 00:07:24,850 --> 00:07:27,559 concerned by , um , but what's been 202 00:07:27,559 --> 00:07:29,839 escalatory in this war is the fact that 203 00:07:29,839 --> 00:07:31,839 Russia decided to turn to a foreign 204 00:07:31,839 --> 00:07:34,172 country and bring those , uh , you know , 205 00:07:34,172 --> 00:07:36,283 deep . soldiers into the fight , um , 206 00:07:36,415 --> 00:07:38,535 so we're going to continue to monitor 207 00:07:38,535 --> 00:07:40,535 what we're focused on is supporting 208 00:07:40,535 --> 00:07:42,757 Ukraine and arming Ukraine with what it 209 00:07:42,757 --> 00:07:44,702 needs . Just following up on Lea's 210 00:07:44,702 --> 00:07:46,868 question , uh , President Putin talked 211 00:07:46,868 --> 00:07:48,868 sort of , you know , uh , said that 212 00:07:48,868 --> 00:07:50,757 actually the US was escalating by 213 00:07:50,757 --> 00:07:52,924 giving , um , uh , allowing Ukraine to 214 00:07:52,924 --> 00:07:55,202 hit inside Russia with the attack guns , 215 00:07:55,202 --> 00:07:57,313 and then there was a a possibility of 216 00:07:57,313 --> 00:07:59,368 the conflict becoming more global if 217 00:07:59,368 --> 00:08:01,646 you could just sort of respond to that , 218 00:08:01,646 --> 00:08:03,591 his sort of , um . You know , very 219 00:08:03,591 --> 00:08:05,646 clear sort of accusation that it was 220 00:08:05,646 --> 00:08:07,813 the United States' fault that it was , 221 00:08:07,813 --> 00:08:09,924 you know , becoming more escalatory . 222 00:08:10,179 --> 00:08:12,799 Yeah , I think it's pretty clear and 223 00:08:12,799 --> 00:08:14,855 couldn't be more black and white and 224 00:08:14,855 --> 00:08:17,077 what's escalatory here . Russia invaded 225 00:08:17,077 --> 00:08:19,299 its sovereign neighbor . We can go back 226 00:08:19,299 --> 00:08:21,632 2 years , continue to look at the facts . 227 00:08:21,632 --> 00:08:23,855 Uh , we've been very clear publicly and 228 00:08:23,855 --> 00:08:26,077 privately to Russia that we're going to 229 00:08:26,077 --> 00:08:28,100 support Ukraine , um , because . 230 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:31,662 Another sovereign country doing that to 231 00:08:31,662 --> 00:08:33,884 its neighbors should not go unchecked , 232 00:08:33,884 --> 00:08:36,369 and the United States , our partners 233 00:08:36,369 --> 00:08:38,480 and allies around the world stand for 234 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:40,647 an international rules based order and 235 00:08:40,647 --> 00:08:42,758 that's what brings us together at the 236 00:08:42,758 --> 00:08:44,480 table , like-minded values and 237 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:46,647 principles . So we're going to support 238 00:08:46,647 --> 00:08:46,489 Ukraine as long as it takes , and we've 239 00:08:46,489 --> 00:08:48,600 been pretty clear about that from the 240 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:51,340 beginning , um , again . Putin has the 241 00:08:51,340 --> 00:08:53,507 decision and the authority to end this 242 00:08:53,507 --> 00:08:55,340 war today . Um , he continues to 243 00:08:55,340 --> 00:08:57,118 escalate . He continues to take 244 00:08:57,118 --> 00:08:59,340 provocative actions like you just saw , 245 00:08:59,340 --> 00:09:02,299 um , with this uh uh recent IRBM that 246 00:09:02,299 --> 00:09:06,020 was launched um into Ukraine , the 247 00:09:06,020 --> 00:09:08,380 bringing in of DPRK soldiers into the 248 00:09:08,380 --> 00:09:11,099 fight each time these actions are more 249 00:09:11,099 --> 00:09:13,179 escalatory , simply what the United 250 00:09:13,179 --> 00:09:15,190 States is doing and our 50 or so 251 00:09:15,190 --> 00:09:17,412 partners and allies around the world is 252 00:09:17,412 --> 00:09:19,523 giving Ukraine what it needs to be in 253 00:09:19,523 --> 00:09:21,690 the fight . Um , and I also think it's 254 00:09:21,690 --> 00:09:23,912 important to remember that every single 255 00:09:23,912 --> 00:09:26,079 day , Russia is expending , you know , 256 00:09:26,079 --> 00:09:28,134 approximately 1200 casualties on the 257 00:09:28,134 --> 00:09:31,960 battlefield . Um . Ukraine has proven 258 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:33,960 itself time and again , and we're , 259 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:36,127 we're , you know , very proud to stand 260 00:09:36,127 --> 00:09:38,293 with them in this fight . Fadi . Thank 261 00:09:38,293 --> 00:09:40,071 you , Sabrina . Speaking of the 262 00:09:40,071 --> 00:09:42,127 rules-based order , um , that , um , 263 00:09:42,127 --> 00:09:44,071 say you're defending the ICC today 264 00:09:44,071 --> 00:09:46,238 issued two warrants against , uh , for 265 00:09:46,238 --> 00:09:48,349 the , uh , Prime Minister of Israel , 266 00:09:48,349 --> 00:09:50,349 Mr . Netanyahu , and former Defense 267 00:09:50,349 --> 00:09:52,571 Minister Mr . Galant alleging that they 268 00:09:52,571 --> 00:09:54,849 committed crimes against humanity , uh , 269 00:09:54,849 --> 00:09:56,960 war crimes including using starvation 270 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:59,479 as a , a tool of war , um , a weapon of 271 00:09:59,479 --> 00:10:02,260 war . Um , what do you think of that 272 00:10:02,260 --> 00:10:04,859 decision and will it , uh , cause the 273 00:10:04,859 --> 00:10:07,081 department and the secretary to rethink 274 00:10:07,429 --> 00:10:09,429 the support you're providing Israel 275 00:10:09,429 --> 00:10:11,979 with in its war in Gaza . Thanks , Fadi 276 00:10:11,979 --> 00:10:14,820 for the question . So the United States 277 00:10:14,820 --> 00:10:16,709 fundamentally rejects the court's 278 00:10:16,709 --> 00:10:18,931 decision to issue these arrest warrants 279 00:10:18,931 --> 00:10:21,098 um for senior Israeli officials . Um , 280 00:10:21,098 --> 00:10:23,900 we remain concerned by the prosecutor's 281 00:10:23,900 --> 00:10:26,489 rush to seek arrest warrants and . Um , 282 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:28,670 you know , some of the processes that 283 00:10:28,670 --> 00:10:30,750 this , this has played out in , um , 284 00:10:30,940 --> 00:10:32,996 and again we've been very clear that 285 00:10:32,996 --> 00:10:35,218 the ICC does not have jurisdiction over 286 00:10:35,218 --> 00:10:37,162 this matter . So you know we're in 287 00:10:37,162 --> 00:10:39,273 coordination with our partners , um , 288 00:10:39,273 --> 00:10:41,551 including Israel discussing next steps . 289 00:10:41,551 --> 00:10:43,773 I'm not gonna have much more for you as 290 00:10:43,773 --> 00:10:45,884 I I refer you to the State Department 291 00:10:45,884 --> 00:10:44,909 and the White House for a little bit 292 00:10:44,909 --> 00:10:47,309 more , but , um , in terms of our 293 00:10:47,309 --> 00:10:49,420 support for Israel , we're continuing 294 00:10:49,420 --> 00:10:52,489 to support Israel , um . Uh , with the 295 00:10:52,489 --> 00:10:54,822 assistance it needs and it's , you know , 296 00:10:55,049 --> 00:10:56,882 fight against Hamas and Lebanese 297 00:10:56,882 --> 00:10:59,049 Hezbollah , but that doesn't mean that 298 00:10:59,049 --> 00:11:01,049 we can't continue to make clear our 299 00:11:01,049 --> 00:11:03,530 concerns on the conduct and how they 300 00:11:03,530 --> 00:11:05,419 are conducting those operations , 301 00:11:05,419 --> 00:11:07,197 whether it be in Gaza or on the 302 00:11:07,197 --> 00:11:09,308 northern border . So you're rejecting 303 00:11:09,308 --> 00:11:11,090 the decision based on I guess 304 00:11:11,090 --> 00:11:13,650 technicalities and jurisdiction . What 305 00:11:13,650 --> 00:11:15,799 do you think of the allegations ? 306 00:11:16,530 --> 00:11:18,363 Commit crimes and crimes against 307 00:11:18,363 --> 00:11:21,520 humanity . Again , we don't see eye to 308 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:23,679 eye on where the ICC is , and I , as 309 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:25,599 I've said , we reject the court's 310 00:11:25,599 --> 00:11:27,932 decision to issue these arrest warrants . 311 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:29,904 So I think that , uh , pretty much 312 00:11:29,904 --> 00:11:32,016 implies that we don't agree with that 313 00:11:32,016 --> 00:11:34,071 decision . OK , so what is the legal 314 00:11:34,071 --> 00:11:36,238 opinion you're basing your rejection ? 315 00:11:36,238 --> 00:11:38,293 Did the did the department issue any 316 00:11:38,293 --> 00:11:40,460 legal opinion on what's been happening 317 00:11:40,460 --> 00:11:42,571 in Gaza ? Did you study any incidents 318 00:11:42,571 --> 00:11:45,859 that were mentioned in the ICC decision ? 319 00:11:46,020 --> 00:11:48,242 I'm not aware of a formal legal opinion 320 00:11:48,242 --> 00:11:50,242 being issued by this department . I 321 00:11:50,242 --> 00:11:52,520 think you've asked me that before . Um , 322 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:52,390 some of the things that , you know . 323 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:56,400 Either public reports or private 324 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:58,456 reports or reports from , you know , 325 00:11:58,456 --> 00:12:00,719 NGOs we always take those seriously and 326 00:12:00,719 --> 00:12:02,941 we've had those conversations from here 327 00:12:02,941 --> 00:12:04,890 at the podium and um when Minister 328 00:12:04,890 --> 00:12:06,640 Galant was in was in the seat 329 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:08,751 previously , you know , the secretary 330 00:12:08,751 --> 00:12:11,150 was regularly engaging with him about 331 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:13,929 um what was happening in Gaza , what 332 00:12:13,929 --> 00:12:16,096 was happening on on that that northern 333 00:12:16,096 --> 00:12:18,789 border in Lebanon . And I mean we take 334 00:12:18,789 --> 00:12:20,830 it so seriously that we installed a 335 00:12:20,830 --> 00:12:23,549 maritime corridor uh to get aid into 336 00:12:23,549 --> 00:12:26,150 Gaza . So it's , it's um it's something 337 00:12:26,150 --> 00:12:28,317 that we're going to continue to engage 338 00:12:28,317 --> 00:12:30,539 with the Israelis on and we have people 339 00:12:30,539 --> 00:12:32,539 in the region right now engaging on 340 00:12:32,539 --> 00:12:32,229 these on on these issues that you're 341 00:12:32,229 --> 00:12:34,669 raising . So again , I'm not aware of 342 00:12:34,669 --> 00:12:36,725 like a legal review coming from this 343 00:12:36,725 --> 00:12:38,780 building , but . All the issues that 344 00:12:38,780 --> 00:12:40,710 you raise every single day , uh , 345 00:12:40,770 --> 00:12:42,937 whether it be here in in this briefing 346 00:12:42,937 --> 00:12:45,048 room or , or , you know , in , in our 347 00:12:45,048 --> 00:12:47,103 office , we take very seriously , of 348 00:12:47,103 --> 00:12:49,381 course . So if you don't have any , uh , 349 00:12:49,381 --> 00:12:51,492 Legal assessment , how can you , uh , 350 00:12:51,492 --> 00:12:54,140 reject , uh , what's been presented by 351 00:12:54,140 --> 00:12:56,362 a legal body , one of the highest , you 352 00:12:56,362 --> 00:12:58,640 know , it's an international law court . 353 00:12:58,750 --> 00:13:00,972 How can you reject it if you don't have 354 00:13:00,972 --> 00:13:03,139 a counter a legal assessment ? What is 355 00:13:03,139 --> 00:13:05,306 your , is it a political rejection and 356 00:13:05,306 --> 00:13:07,472 if you don't have a legal assessment . 357 00:13:08,739 --> 00:13:10,683 Yeah , again Friday , I'm just not 358 00:13:10,683 --> 00:13:12,628 gonna have more for you to provide 359 00:13:12,628 --> 00:13:14,517 other than what I said is that we 360 00:13:14,517 --> 00:13:16,739 reject the court's decision . Um , that 361 00:13:16,739 --> 00:13:18,961 doesn't necessarily mean that it has to 362 00:13:18,961 --> 00:13:21,017 go through a legal process . Uh , we 363 00:13:21,017 --> 00:13:23,017 can reject decisions from the court 364 00:13:23,017 --> 00:13:25,183 that come down in various forms . Um , 365 00:13:25,183 --> 00:13:27,350 we're in discussions with our partners 366 00:13:27,350 --> 00:13:29,406 including Israel on next steps , but 367 00:13:29,406 --> 00:13:31,572 I'm just not gonna have more for you . 368 00:13:31,572 --> 00:13:31,340 Yeah , thank you very much , Sabrina . 369 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:34,150 Um , the Russian president suggests 370 00:13:34,150 --> 00:13:37,739 that this regional conflict now has 371 00:13:37,739 --> 00:13:39,909 global elements and the British are 372 00:13:39,909 --> 00:13:41,950 talking about fighting the Russian 373 00:13:41,950 --> 00:13:44,989 tonight if needed . Um , IRBMs are 374 00:13:44,989 --> 00:13:47,211 being fired into Ukraine and Ukraine is 375 00:13:47,211 --> 00:13:49,469 firing US and British missiles into 376 00:13:49,469 --> 00:13:51,900 Russia , so you are accusing Russia of 377 00:13:51,900 --> 00:13:54,122 escalating . They are accusing you back 378 00:13:54,122 --> 00:13:56,178 of escalating , but one thing is for 379 00:13:56,178 --> 00:13:58,233 certain that things are escalating . 380 00:13:58,233 --> 00:14:00,122 Where do you think this is headed 381 00:14:00,122 --> 00:14:02,178 towards , because many countries are 382 00:14:02,178 --> 00:14:04,233 very much concerned that hundreds of 383 00:14:04,233 --> 00:14:06,178 millions of people are going to be 384 00:14:06,178 --> 00:14:08,456 impacted by what could actually unfold . 385 00:14:08,456 --> 00:14:10,789 So where do you think this is headed to ? 386 00:14:10,789 --> 00:14:12,900 Well , I'll say something that I that 387 00:14:12,900 --> 00:14:15,011 we've said from the beginning is that 388 00:14:15,011 --> 00:14:14,849 we don't seek a wider regional conflict . 389 00:14:14,890 --> 00:14:17,650 We don't seek war with Russia , and I 390 00:14:17,650 --> 00:14:19,650 think we've been pretty clear about 391 00:14:19,650 --> 00:14:21,650 that from this podium and from this 392 00:14:21,650 --> 00:14:23,761 administration . What we are going to 393 00:14:23,761 --> 00:14:25,983 do though , and what we have made clear 394 00:14:25,983 --> 00:14:28,094 in public channels and in private and 395 00:14:28,094 --> 00:14:30,039 private channels is that we're not 396 00:14:30,039 --> 00:14:31,983 going to stand for another country 397 00:14:31,983 --> 00:14:34,094 invading its neighbor and we're going 398 00:14:34,094 --> 00:14:36,206 to continue to support Ukraine in its 399 00:14:36,206 --> 00:14:38,206 fight and I think it's important to 400 00:14:38,206 --> 00:14:40,372 remember that this isn't a secret this 401 00:14:40,372 --> 00:14:42,428 was known from the very beginning we 402 00:14:42,428 --> 00:14:44,761 warned Russia , you know , back in 2020 . 403 00:14:44,761 --> 00:14:46,804 To , um , not to do this , um , and 404 00:14:46,974 --> 00:14:49,385 they did it anyways and so there are 405 00:14:49,385 --> 00:14:51,607 consequences for that but we don't want 406 00:14:51,607 --> 00:14:53,552 to see this escalated into a wider 407 00:14:53,552 --> 00:14:55,565 regional conflict we don't seek war 408 00:14:55,565 --> 00:14:58,025 with Russia um but absolutely you're 409 00:14:58,025 --> 00:15:00,375 gonna see like-minded allies and 410 00:15:00,375 --> 00:15:02,465 partners come together to support 411 00:15:02,465 --> 00:15:04,521 Ukraine , um , and that's what we're 412 00:15:04,521 --> 00:15:06,632 gonna continue to do . If I could ask 413 00:15:06,632 --> 00:15:08,632 one more follow up . Um , I , I , I 414 00:15:08,632 --> 00:15:10,854 know that you say that you don't want a 415 00:15:10,854 --> 00:15:13,076 wider war and that you don't want it to 416 00:15:13,076 --> 00:15:15,298 escalate , but it looks like it is kind 417 00:15:15,298 --> 00:15:15,130 of escalating from both US forces 418 00:15:15,130 --> 00:15:17,241 aren't in the fight . You don't see I 419 00:15:17,241 --> 00:15:19,320 mean the the only . Other foreign 420 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:21,431 country that's been brought into this 421 00:15:21,431 --> 00:15:23,542 fight is North Korean soldiers on the 422 00:15:23,542 --> 00:15:25,653 battlefield , but you're not seeing , 423 00:15:25,653 --> 00:15:27,820 you know , US fighters on the ground , 424 00:15:27,820 --> 00:15:29,876 um , and that's not the intention of 425 00:15:29,876 --> 00:15:31,876 this administration . You're saying 426 00:15:31,876 --> 00:15:33,931 that Russia invaded Ukraine . That's 427 00:15:33,931 --> 00:15:35,876 correct . You're saying that North 428 00:15:35,876 --> 00:15:37,987 Korean soldiers were brought into the 429 00:15:37,987 --> 00:15:40,153 battlefield . That's correct . I'm not 430 00:15:40,153 --> 00:15:39,840 like looking into who's right , who's 431 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:42,062 wrong , but the fact is that things are 432 00:15:42,062 --> 00:15:44,007 escalating and other countries are 433 00:15:44,007 --> 00:15:46,118 getting . Um , dragged into this , so 434 00:15:46,118 --> 00:15:48,173 like what I'm saying is that are you 435 00:15:48,173 --> 00:15:50,429 concerned that this escalation is 436 00:15:50,669 --> 00:15:52,989 accelerating at a speed that no one 437 00:15:52,989 --> 00:15:55,700 would really like . I think we're 438 00:15:55,700 --> 00:15:57,700 always going to be concerned by the 439 00:15:57,700 --> 00:15:59,811 reckless rhetoric coming out . We are 440 00:15:59,811 --> 00:16:01,922 certainly concerned by the escalatory 441 00:16:01,922 --> 00:16:04,144 moves and acknowledging your point that 442 00:16:04,144 --> 00:16:06,033 Russia is making when it comes to 443 00:16:06,033 --> 00:16:08,144 employing DPRK forces on the ground , 444 00:16:08,144 --> 00:16:10,700 um , that , I mean , we acknowledge 445 00:16:10,700 --> 00:16:12,900 that is escalatory and that would be 446 00:16:12,900 --> 00:16:14,900 met with a response and that's what 447 00:16:14,900 --> 00:16:16,789 we're working with Ukraine on and 448 00:16:16,789 --> 00:16:18,678 continuing to support them on the 449 00:16:18,678 --> 00:16:20,900 battlefield , um . But to your larger 450 00:16:20,900 --> 00:16:23,539 question of , you know , escalation and 451 00:16:23,539 --> 00:16:25,706 bringing in countries into the fight , 452 00:16:25,706 --> 00:16:27,872 I'll make it very clear again we don't 453 00:16:27,872 --> 00:16:29,872 seek war with Russia that's not our 454 00:16:29,872 --> 00:16:32,095 intention , but we absolutely are gonna 455 00:16:32,095 --> 00:16:34,317 gonna support Ukraine and that's that's 456 00:16:34,317 --> 00:16:36,428 been something that the president has 457 00:16:36,428 --> 00:16:38,539 been very clear about since day one . 458 00:16:38,539 --> 00:16:40,761 Charlie , thank you , Sabrina . He said 459 00:16:40,761 --> 00:16:42,817 the United States was notified . Was 460 00:16:42,817 --> 00:16:44,761 that a matter of days , hours , or 461 00:16:44,761 --> 00:16:46,761 minutes about this missile ? In his 462 00:16:46,761 --> 00:16:46,729 remarks today , Putin said that US 463 00:16:46,729 --> 00:16:49,039 defense systems are incapable of 464 00:16:49,039 --> 00:16:51,261 intercepting these weapons anyway . How 465 00:16:51,261 --> 00:16:53,770 much of a threat do they pose ? And 466 00:16:53,770 --> 00:16:55,869 second question . The reports today 467 00:16:55,869 --> 00:16:58,036 that the North Korean general may have 468 00:16:58,036 --> 00:17:00,036 been injured . Um , can you confirm 469 00:17:00,036 --> 00:17:02,280 that they've engaged in combat or 470 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:04,391 confirm that report ? I can't confirm 471 00:17:04,391 --> 00:17:07,599 the report on a North Korean um uh 472 00:17:08,290 --> 00:17:10,512 general , general officer , I think you 473 00:17:10,512 --> 00:17:12,369 said , um , being injured in the 474 00:17:12,369 --> 00:17:14,719 battlefield , but that being said , uh . 475 00:17:16,288 --> 00:17:18,344 Where they are positioned , they are 476 00:17:18,344 --> 00:17:21,609 absolutely a fair target and um we 477 00:17:21,609 --> 00:17:24,048 absolutely expect them to be engaged in 478 00:17:24,048 --> 00:17:26,129 the fight but I can't independently 479 00:17:26,129 --> 00:17:28,369 confirm those reports I've seen them um 480 00:17:28,369 --> 00:17:30,249 in terms of , you know , Putin's 481 00:17:30,249 --> 00:17:33,609 comments on our on our force posture or 482 00:17:33,609 --> 00:17:35,553 our defense systems , I'm just not 483 00:17:35,553 --> 00:17:37,776 gonna get into that but what I can tell 484 00:17:37,776 --> 00:17:39,609 you is that again we're going to 485 00:17:39,609 --> 00:17:41,720 continue to support Ukraine with what 486 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:43,720 it needs um to be successful on the 487 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:45,720 battlefield , and I think you asked 488 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:47,720 about the the pre-notification . We 489 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:49,942 were um pre-notified briefly before the 490 00:17:49,942 --> 00:17:52,165 launch , but I'm not just not gonna get 491 00:17:52,165 --> 00:17:54,220 into more specifics than that . Does 492 00:17:54,220 --> 00:17:56,387 this weapon , experimental or not , he 493 00:17:56,387 --> 00:17:58,498 suggests that there there are more of 494 00:17:58,498 --> 00:18:00,720 them , and he intends to use them , and 495 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:02,942 he will warn , as he has done . Do they 496 00:18:02,942 --> 00:18:05,109 pose a real and present threat in this 497 00:18:05,109 --> 00:18:07,319 conflict ? Any weapon that's going to 498 00:18:07,319 --> 00:18:09,041 be employed on the battlefield 499 00:18:09,041 --> 00:18:12,739 absolutely imposes a threat uh to the 500 00:18:12,739 --> 00:18:15,540 Ukrainians , um , and that's why . You 501 00:18:15,540 --> 00:18:17,939 know , this was , as we said , an 502 00:18:17,939 --> 00:18:20,219 experimental intermediate range 503 00:18:20,219 --> 00:18:22,449 ballistic missile . Um , it's certainly 504 00:18:22,449 --> 00:18:24,300 concerning , um , that they are 505 00:18:24,300 --> 00:18:26,411 employing it on the battlefield , but 506 00:18:26,411 --> 00:18:29,180 again , Ukraine has withstood countless 507 00:18:29,180 --> 00:18:31,236 attacks from Russia , uh , including 508 00:18:31,236 --> 00:18:33,180 missiles with significantly larger 509 00:18:33,180 --> 00:18:35,449 warheads than this weapon . So we're 510 00:18:35,449 --> 00:18:37,616 gonna continue to support Ukraine with 511 00:18:37,616 --> 00:18:39,782 what it needs . Janie , thank you very 512 00:18:39,782 --> 00:18:43,170 much . A few questions about the Russia , 513 00:18:43,290 --> 00:18:45,179 North Korea , and Ukraine . First 514 00:18:45,179 --> 00:18:48,410 question . North Korean announced that 515 00:18:48,410 --> 00:18:51,969 it will send 100,000 more 516 00:18:51,969 --> 00:18:55,140 troops if the soldiers . If this 517 00:18:55,140 --> 00:18:58,390 parties died in the Ukraine war 518 00:18:58,939 --> 00:19:02,689 and also President Zinsky said that 519 00:19:02,689 --> 00:19:06,540 up to 100,000 North Korean troops would 520 00:19:06,540 --> 00:19:09,359 have dispatched in the better . How 521 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:11,609 would you react to that ? So we're not 522 00:19:11,609 --> 00:19:13,553 tracking that 100,000 North Korean 523 00:19:13,553 --> 00:19:15,720 troops have been sent to Russia , um , 524 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:17,720 or to fight in this war . What we , 525 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:19,553 what we are tracking and our our 526 00:19:19,553 --> 00:19:21,609 assessments are is that , you know , 527 00:19:21,609 --> 00:19:23,498 there's probably over 11,000 DPRK 528 00:19:23,498 --> 00:19:25,609 soldiers , uh , that are in the Kursk 529 00:19:25,609 --> 00:19:27,887 region and as I , as I said on Tuesday . 530 00:19:27,887 --> 00:19:29,998 Could there be more that gets sent to 531 00:19:29,998 --> 00:19:32,165 the battlefield ? Absolutely something 532 00:19:32,165 --> 00:19:34,498 that we're going to continue to monitor , 533 00:19:34,498 --> 00:19:34,209 but right now our assessment is that 534 00:19:34,209 --> 00:19:36,359 it's approximately 11,000 or over 535 00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:38,692 11,000 I should say in the Kursk region . 536 00:19:39,010 --> 00:19:41,209 It is known that the North Korean 537 00:19:41,209 --> 00:19:45,130 military in participating in battles by 538 00:19:45,130 --> 00:19:48,569 joining the Russian Marine Corps and 539 00:19:48,569 --> 00:19:51,780 airborne troops . Also the video was 540 00:19:51,780 --> 00:19:55,385 shown in Ukraine report . He did that 541 00:19:55,385 --> 00:19:58,564 North Korean soldiers were killed and 542 00:19:58,564 --> 00:20:01,574 injured . Does the US have any 543 00:20:01,574 --> 00:20:03,714 information on the number of North 544 00:20:03,714 --> 00:20:07,025 Korean casualties and the injuries in 545 00:20:07,025 --> 00:20:09,464 battles ? Similarly to what Charlie 546 00:20:09,464 --> 00:20:11,520 asked , I just can't confirm reports 547 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:13,742 that um they've , you know , started to 548 00:20:13,742 --> 00:20:15,964 engage in battle . I've seen the public 549 00:20:15,964 --> 00:20:17,908 reporting out there that a general 550 00:20:17,908 --> 00:20:19,908 officer was wounded , but again , I 551 00:20:19,908 --> 00:20:22,719 can't confirm it . Do we expect these 552 00:20:22,719 --> 00:20:24,941 soldiers to be brought into the fight ? 553 00:20:24,941 --> 00:20:26,997 Yes , absolutely . They are in Kursk 554 00:20:26,997 --> 00:20:29,219 for a region , uh , a reason , um , but 555 00:20:29,219 --> 00:20:31,441 I just can't confirm those reports that 556 00:20:31,441 --> 00:20:33,386 are circle circulating right now . 557 00:20:33,386 --> 00:20:35,386 We'll certainly keep you updated on 558 00:20:35,386 --> 00:20:37,608 that . Yeah , can I just go over here ? 559 00:20:37,608 --> 00:20:39,663 Yeah , thank you , Sabrina . Despite 560 00:20:39,663 --> 00:20:41,886 your rejecting the ICC's decision about 561 00:20:41,886 --> 00:20:44,108 Mr . Netanyahu and his previous defense 562 00:20:44,108 --> 00:20:47,050 minister Galant . There are many ally 563 00:20:47,050 --> 00:20:50,069 countries in NATO like Canada , France 564 00:20:50,069 --> 00:20:52,930 are accepting the decision , uh , but 565 00:20:52,930 --> 00:20:55,239 my question will be about the core 566 00:20:55,239 --> 00:20:57,406 issue which is the humanitarian crisis 567 00:20:57,406 --> 00:21:00,290 in Gaza . Uh , Mr . Secretary was the 568 00:21:00,290 --> 00:21:02,770 first to say that the humanitarian 569 00:21:02,770 --> 00:21:05,209 issue in Gaza could be a tactical 570 00:21:05,209 --> 00:21:07,369 defeat for Israel if they don't take 571 00:21:07,369 --> 00:21:10,089 care of it . So now we are far beyond 572 00:21:10,089 --> 00:21:13,130 that line . And you just send a 573 00:21:13,650 --> 00:21:16,520 shared letter with the State Department 574 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:20,500 to the Israelis , um . To recheck 575 00:21:20,500 --> 00:21:23,609 their position and the humanitarian 576 00:21:23,609 --> 00:21:26,459 situation in Gaza or otherwise you 577 00:21:26,459 --> 00:21:29,619 could um see what you are going to do 578 00:21:29,619 --> 00:21:32,890 with the weapons supply to the Israelis . 579 00:21:33,099 --> 00:21:35,819 So after this decision , even if you 580 00:21:35,819 --> 00:21:38,890 reject it , do you have anything to do 581 00:21:39,170 --> 00:21:41,859 to check the uh humanitarian issue in 582 00:21:41,859 --> 00:21:44,060 Gaza and improve it for the Gazans ? 583 00:21:46,050 --> 00:21:48,272 Sorry , just to understand a little bit 584 00:21:48,272 --> 00:21:50,383 more of your question , you're asking 585 00:21:50,383 --> 00:21:52,839 if we , the United States , um , is , 586 00:21:52,869 --> 00:21:55,449 is monitoring the humanitarian aid 587 00:21:55,449 --> 00:21:57,671 getting into Gaza . The decision of the 588 00:21:57,671 --> 00:21:59,393 ICC is another thing , but the 589 00:21:59,393 --> 00:22:02,329 humanitarian issue and the problems are 590 00:22:02,329 --> 00:22:05,930 there . So are you going to do anything 591 00:22:05,930 --> 00:22:09,489 to uh address this problem in Gaza ? I 592 00:22:09,489 --> 00:22:12,500 mean . Every single day we are engaging 593 00:22:12,500 --> 00:22:14,722 with the Israelis and it's not just the 594 00:22:14,722 --> 00:22:16,944 Department of Defense . I mean you have 595 00:22:16,944 --> 00:22:19,000 other agencies like USAID , you have 596 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:20,889 the UN that are engaging at their 597 00:22:20,889 --> 00:22:23,056 levels to ensure that aid can get in . 598 00:22:23,056 --> 00:22:26,140 I think you know there there are and 599 00:22:26,140 --> 00:22:27,918 certainly , you know , when the 600 00:22:27,918 --> 00:22:29,640 secretary has engaged with his 601 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:32,199 counterpart , um . They do understand 602 00:22:32,199 --> 00:22:34,579 that there is a need to get aid into 603 00:22:34,579 --> 00:22:36,680 Gaza and to and to your point , you 604 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:38,513 know , you don't want a tactical 605 00:22:38,513 --> 00:22:40,624 victory to be confused with strategic 606 00:22:40,624 --> 00:22:42,680 defeat , which is something that the 607 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:44,458 secretary has spoken about . So 608 00:22:44,458 --> 00:22:46,624 absolutely the need to get aid into to 609 00:22:46,624 --> 00:22:48,550 the people of Gaza , um , that is 610 00:22:48,550 --> 00:22:50,883 strategic in and of itself . We need to , 611 00:22:50,883 --> 00:22:53,369 we , that needs to happen , um . We're 612 00:22:53,369 --> 00:22:55,536 not on the ground . Um , you know , we 613 00:22:55,536 --> 00:22:57,702 did set up that maritime corridor over 614 00:22:57,702 --> 00:22:59,925 the summer to , to , you know , get aid 615 00:22:59,925 --> 00:23:01,949 in as , as fast as we could . Um , 616 00:23:02,130 --> 00:23:04,449 we're working with the Israelis as , as 617 00:23:04,449 --> 00:23:06,560 we've spoken about , they have opened 618 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:08,727 more crossings , so we are seeing more 619 00:23:08,727 --> 00:23:10,838 aid get in . Is it enough ? No , more 620 00:23:10,838 --> 00:23:12,838 needs to get done , and that's what 621 00:23:12,838 --> 00:23:15,060 we're continuing to impress upon them . 622 00:23:15,060 --> 00:23:17,171 The Russian missile attack , you said 623 00:23:17,171 --> 00:23:19,227 it we pre-warned about it . Was that 624 00:23:19,227 --> 00:23:21,393 like it's not a nuclear attack warning 625 00:23:21,393 --> 00:23:24,119 or ? It was in the um it was through 626 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:26,400 the nuclear risk reduction channels and 627 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:28,400 we were briefly notified before the 628 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:32,099 launch . Wafa . I have two questions 629 00:23:32,099 --> 00:23:34,770 first on Iraq . According to 630 00:23:36,729 --> 00:23:39,849 very trusty sources , Iraqi sources , 631 00:23:40,260 --> 00:23:43,739 Iran-backed groups are manufacturing 632 00:23:43,739 --> 00:23:46,540 drones and managing their operations 633 00:23:46,540 --> 00:23:49,300 against Israel from Sinjar . Do you 634 00:23:49,300 --> 00:23:52,729 have any indication that confirms this 635 00:23:52,729 --> 00:23:55,810 and also , do you have indication that 636 00:23:55,819 --> 00:23:59,060 Israel is getting closer to target or 637 00:23:59,060 --> 00:24:01,739 attack these groups in Iraq ? I don't 638 00:24:01,739 --> 00:24:03,939 have anything on on Israel . I would 639 00:24:03,939 --> 00:24:06,161 refer you to them to speak to what they 640 00:24:06,161 --> 00:24:08,328 plan to do or any operations , um , in 641 00:24:08,328 --> 00:24:10,780 terms of IMG groups within Iraq , I 642 00:24:10,780 --> 00:24:13,209 mean , we've certainly seen them launch , 643 00:24:13,339 --> 00:24:15,506 um , you know , attacks at US forces , 644 00:24:15,506 --> 00:24:19,489 but also um attacks towards Israel . Um , 645 00:24:19,510 --> 00:24:21,732 in terms of what you're referencing and 646 00:24:21,732 --> 00:24:24,066 and like production or things like that . 647 00:24:24,066 --> 00:24:26,177 I don't have any confirmation of that 648 00:24:26,177 --> 00:24:28,399 happening in Iraq . What I can tell you 649 00:24:28,399 --> 00:24:30,566 is that Iran continues to supply these 650 00:24:30,566 --> 00:24:32,677 groups with what we've seen , whether 651 00:24:32,677 --> 00:24:34,843 it be drones , ammunition , you know , 652 00:24:34,843 --> 00:24:37,010 they Iran is arming its proxies , um , 653 00:24:37,010 --> 00:24:39,177 how they do that and by what means . I 654 00:24:39,177 --> 00:24:41,399 mean , that's coming from Iran , but in 655 00:24:41,399 --> 00:24:41,229 terms of manufacturing facilities , I 656 00:24:41,229 --> 00:24:43,396 just don't , I don't have more for you 657 00:24:43,396 --> 00:24:45,507 on that . OK , uh , on Lebanon , um , 658 00:24:45,507 --> 00:24:47,469 since the United States recognizes 659 00:24:47,469 --> 00:24:50,109 Lebanon as a sovereign country and 660 00:24:50,109 --> 00:24:52,220 tomorrow , by the way , is uh Lebanon 661 00:24:52,220 --> 00:24:54,810 Independence Day . Uh , does this 662 00:24:54,810 --> 00:24:56,754 department , uh , believe that the 663 00:24:56,754 --> 00:25:00,449 Lebanese armed forces have the same 664 00:25:00,449 --> 00:25:02,920 right as Israel to defend themselves , 665 00:25:03,089 --> 00:25:06,329 uh , particularly after being targeted 666 00:25:06,329 --> 00:25:09,729 directly in recent days and uh losing . 667 00:25:10,369 --> 00:25:13,060 More than a dozen of soldiers . We 668 00:25:13,060 --> 00:25:14,893 certainly are concerned by those 669 00:25:14,893 --> 00:25:17,219 reports . Um , I mean , Lebanese armed 670 00:25:17,219 --> 00:25:19,386 forces are there to also protect their 671 00:25:19,386 --> 00:25:22,459 own citizens . Um , we have , you know , 672 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:25,397 have trained and equipped those forces , 673 00:25:25,660 --> 00:25:29,410 um . to fight the 674 00:25:29,410 --> 00:25:31,729 threat of Hezbollah , um , but again , 675 00:25:31,849 --> 00:25:34,016 I mean Israel conducting operations on 676 00:25:34,016 --> 00:25:35,849 that northern border to weed out 677 00:25:35,849 --> 00:25:37,571 Hezbollah , which , you know , 678 00:25:37,571 --> 00:25:39,571 continues to launch rockets towards 679 00:25:39,571 --> 00:25:41,905 Israel um on an almost daily basis . So , 680 00:25:42,170 --> 00:25:44,281 um , what we certainly want to see is 681 00:25:44,281 --> 00:25:46,003 those last forces , you know , 682 00:25:46,003 --> 00:25:48,170 protected , um , and not get caught in 683 00:25:48,170 --> 00:25:50,170 the crossfire , and we've made that 684 00:25:50,170 --> 00:25:52,272 clear to our Israeli counter . the 685 00:25:52,272 --> 00:25:55,312 right to defend the country , to defend 686 00:25:55,312 --> 00:25:57,312 themselves , particularly in the 687 00:25:57,312 --> 00:26:01,022 context of a potential ceasefire deal 688 00:26:01,603 --> 00:26:03,770 between Israel and Lebanon . Well , if 689 00:26:03,770 --> 00:26:05,936 there's a ceasefire deal , there would 690 00:26:05,936 --> 00:26:08,047 be a cease to fighting , so of course 691 00:26:08,047 --> 00:26:07,912 we wouldn't want to see fighting on 692 00:26:07,912 --> 00:26:10,302 either side . And just to that point , 693 00:26:10,593 --> 00:26:12,815 you know , we have people in the region 694 00:26:12,815 --> 00:26:15,037 right now that are continuing . to push 695 00:26:15,037 --> 00:26:17,204 forward for a ceasefire deal to be put 696 00:26:17,204 --> 00:26:19,537 in place , um , and I'll say , you know , 697 00:26:19,537 --> 00:26:19,375 we are working up to the last , you 698 00:26:19,375 --> 00:26:21,153 know , the final months of this 699 00:26:21,153 --> 00:26:22,931 administration . We're going to 700 00:26:22,931 --> 00:26:25,153 continue to push every single day , but 701 00:26:25,153 --> 00:26:27,319 ultimately , as you mentioned , what's 702 00:26:27,319 --> 00:26:27,255 going to bring , you know , peace and 703 00:26:27,255 --> 00:26:29,366 allow people to return to their homes 704 00:26:29,366 --> 00:26:31,644 on that northern border is a ceasefire . 705 00:26:31,644 --> 00:26:33,755 I'm gonna go right here , yeah . Hi , 706 00:26:33,755 --> 00:26:36,033 um , uh , it's Marina for the revision . 707 00:26:36,033 --> 00:26:38,569 So , uh . You guys have a feeling of 708 00:26:38,569 --> 00:26:41,300 like sort of anti-Semitism towards 709 00:26:41,300 --> 00:26:44,689 Israel with this decision uh from the 710 00:26:44,689 --> 00:26:48,569 ICC looking at all the effort that 711 00:26:48,569 --> 00:26:51,290 the US and European allies did to 712 00:26:51,290 --> 00:26:53,770 support Israel at the same time to 713 00:26:53,770 --> 00:26:57,449 support um the the the the civilian in 714 00:26:57,449 --> 00:27:01,040 Gaza but also does it also do you see 715 00:27:01,040 --> 00:27:03,530 do you feel like there's been some of 716 00:27:03,530 --> 00:27:05,530 course it's hard to admit but maybe 717 00:27:05,530 --> 00:27:07,252 some sort of um . Um , lack of 718 00:27:07,252 --> 00:27:10,219 leadership lately from the US in trying 719 00:27:10,219 --> 00:27:13,439 to close the situation in , uh , in , 720 00:27:13,459 --> 00:27:16,250 in Israel . No , I don't think there's 721 00:27:16,250 --> 00:27:18,361 been a lack of leadership . In fact , 722 00:27:18,361 --> 00:27:20,361 as I said , you know , to Wafa , we 723 00:27:20,361 --> 00:27:22,361 have people in the region right now 724 00:27:22,361 --> 00:27:24,630 engaging , um , on all sides to bring a 725 00:27:24,630 --> 00:27:27,160 ceasefire , uh , to that northern 726 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:30,719 border in uh in Lebanon , um , engaging 727 00:27:30,719 --> 00:27:33,489 to bring the hostages home in Gaza , uh , 728 00:27:33,880 --> 00:27:36,959 pushing every single day to get aid 729 00:27:36,959 --> 00:27:39,015 into Gaza to the people that need it 730 00:27:39,015 --> 00:27:41,319 most , um . I mean we have an entire 731 00:27:41,319 --> 00:27:43,449 Central Command AOR with which is 732 00:27:43,449 --> 00:27:45,393 engaging , you know , on a regular 733 00:27:45,393 --> 00:27:46,949 basis with their with their 734 00:27:46,949 --> 00:27:49,171 counterparts . So no , I don't actually 735 00:27:49,171 --> 00:27:51,393 think there's a lack of leadership . In 736 00:27:51,393 --> 00:27:53,393 fact , I think this is where you're 737 00:27:53,393 --> 00:27:55,282 seeing US leadership , you know , 738 00:27:55,282 --> 00:27:57,393 continue to , to push and to lead and 739 00:27:57,393 --> 00:28:00,719 you know , the president is uh was just 740 00:28:00,719 --> 00:28:03,640 wrapped up his , his trip um overseas . 741 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:06,359 The secretary uh is concluding his trip 742 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:08,800 in the Indo-Pacific . You're seeing us 743 00:28:08,800 --> 00:28:10,911 continue to lead on the world stage , 744 00:28:10,911 --> 00:28:13,489 um , and so no , I would push back on 745 00:28:13,489 --> 00:28:16,449 that notion . Or is it seemed like 746 00:28:16,449 --> 00:28:18,393 there is a lot of anti-Semitism to 747 00:28:18,393 --> 00:28:20,650 Israel also . Yeah , I'm not gonna 748 00:28:20,650 --> 00:28:22,761 speak on behalf of the court . That's 749 00:28:22,761 --> 00:28:25,094 not my job . I'd refer you to the court . 750 00:28:25,094 --> 00:28:27,094 I , I , I'm just not gonna speak on 751 00:28:27,094 --> 00:28:26,959 behalf of the court . Konstantine . 752 00:28:27,949 --> 00:28:30,150 Going back to the um uh attack in 753 00:28:30,150 --> 00:28:32,819 Ukraine , can you say how many missiles , 754 00:28:33,069 --> 00:28:35,750 IRBM missiles Russia launched , and can 755 00:28:35,750 --> 00:28:37,989 you confirm reports that the missiles 756 00:28:37,989 --> 00:28:40,619 had uh multiple warheads ? I can't 757 00:28:40,619 --> 00:28:42,619 confirm either of those right now . 758 00:28:42,619 --> 00:28:44,730 We're still doing our assessment with 759 00:28:44,730 --> 00:28:46,897 the Ukrainians , so if we have more to 760 00:28:46,897 --> 00:28:48,952 share , we certainly will . And then 761 00:28:48,952 --> 00:28:48,819 just to follow up on Charlie's question , 762 00:28:48,910 --> 00:28:51,077 um , obviously you've said that we got 763 00:28:51,077 --> 00:28:53,132 a pre-warning from Russia before the 764 00:28:53,132 --> 00:28:55,354 attack , but can you say whether any of 765 00:28:55,354 --> 00:28:57,577 the early detection systems that the US 766 00:28:57,577 --> 00:28:59,799 has to detect a launch like this picked 767 00:28:59,799 --> 00:29:01,854 up the launch , worked as intended ? 768 00:29:01,854 --> 00:29:04,021 Yeah , I , I appreciate the question , 769 00:29:04,021 --> 00:29:03,670 but I'm just not gonna go into those 770 00:29:03,670 --> 00:29:07,150 details . Yeah , I follow up on this . 771 00:29:07,280 --> 00:29:09,560 So just moments ago White House press 772 00:29:09,560 --> 00:29:11,504 secretary said that the US briefed 773 00:29:11,504 --> 00:29:14,229 Ukraine and close allies in recent days 774 00:29:14,660 --> 00:29:16,827 to help them prepare . So what kind of 775 00:29:16,827 --> 00:29:18,993 knowledge do you have in advance ? How 776 00:29:18,993 --> 00:29:21,216 detailed was that and how exactly could 777 00:29:21,216 --> 00:29:23,549 Ukraine prepare for this kind of attack ? 778 00:29:23,549 --> 00:29:25,604 So we , we did brief Ukraine and our 779 00:29:25,604 --> 00:29:27,271 partners and allies um of the 780 00:29:27,271 --> 00:29:29,382 possibility that this could be used , 781 00:29:29,382 --> 00:29:31,493 um , kind of to Constantine's point , 782 00:29:31,493 --> 00:29:33,716 this gets to an intelligence assessment 783 00:29:33,716 --> 00:29:35,882 that I'm just not going to do from the 784 00:29:35,882 --> 00:29:37,882 podium . And Putin said that Russia 785 00:29:37,882 --> 00:29:40,410 launched its missile as a message to 786 00:29:40,410 --> 00:29:42,650 the United States . He said that Russia 787 00:29:42,650 --> 00:29:44,706 considers itself entitled to use its 788 00:29:44,706 --> 00:29:46,928 weapons against the military facilities 789 00:29:46,928 --> 00:29:49,094 of those countries who support Ukraine 790 00:29:49,094 --> 00:29:50,983 with their weapons . What is your 791 00:29:50,983 --> 00:29:53,040 response to that ? And again , we've 792 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:55,151 been , you know , in private channels 793 00:29:55,151 --> 00:29:57,640 as well , very clear , uh , to Russia 794 00:29:57,640 --> 00:30:00,760 that , you know , the invasion of its 795 00:30:00,760 --> 00:30:03,000 sovereign neighbor was an escalatory 796 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:05,119 action and is going to be met with a 797 00:30:05,119 --> 00:30:07,341 response on the global stage and that's 798 00:30:07,341 --> 00:30:09,489 why you see . You know , over 50 799 00:30:09,489 --> 00:30:11,545 countries coming together to support 800 00:30:11,545 --> 00:30:13,433 Ukraine with what it needs , um , 801 00:30:13,433 --> 00:30:15,711 including the United States . So again , 802 00:30:15,711 --> 00:30:17,822 the escalatory action , I think , you 803 00:30:17,822 --> 00:30:19,711 know , fine to focus on his , his 804 00:30:19,711 --> 00:30:21,933 language and what he's saying , but the 805 00:30:21,933 --> 00:30:23,989 escalatory action began in 2022 when 806 00:30:23,989 --> 00:30:27,810 Russia invaded its neighbor . Louie Um , 807 00:30:28,290 --> 00:30:31,689 going back to the missile , um . The 808 00:30:31,689 --> 00:30:33,880 Ukrainian government um seems to be 809 00:30:33,880 --> 00:30:35,991 identifying this as an ICBM . Can you 810 00:30:35,991 --> 00:30:38,213 tell us the distinction and why there's 811 00:30:38,213 --> 00:30:40,269 a difference or a disconnect between 812 00:30:40,479 --> 00:30:42,479 the US assessment and the Ukrainian 813 00:30:42,479 --> 00:30:45,229 assessment ? You know , it's an initial 814 00:30:45,229 --> 00:30:47,680 assessment that they probably did , um , 815 00:30:47,910 --> 00:30:50,790 an IRBM and an ICBM , you know , they 816 00:30:50,790 --> 00:30:52,846 can have similar flight paths , they 817 00:30:52,846 --> 00:30:55,012 can have high trajectories , um , they 818 00:30:55,012 --> 00:30:57,234 can carry large payloads , um , but the 819 00:30:57,234 --> 00:30:59,550 main difference lies in the range and 820 00:30:59,550 --> 00:31:01,828 the strategic purpose . And so I think , 821 00:31:01,910 --> 00:31:03,790 you know , probably an initial 822 00:31:03,790 --> 00:31:06,109 assessment was done . Um , but of 823 00:31:06,109 --> 00:31:07,776 course that's just an initial 824 00:31:07,776 --> 00:31:09,942 assessment and once we were able to do 825 00:31:09,942 --> 00:31:12,165 more , you know , we assessed that this 826 00:31:12,165 --> 00:31:14,229 was or this we know that it was an 827 00:31:14,229 --> 00:31:16,396 intermediate range ballistic missile . 828 00:31:16,670 --> 00:31:19,630 And at the top you , you mentioned that 829 00:31:19,630 --> 00:31:22,030 this is an experimental missile . What 830 00:31:22,030 --> 00:31:24,380 what makes it experimental ? Uh , what 831 00:31:24,380 --> 00:31:26,547 makes it experimental is that this was 832 00:31:26,547 --> 00:31:28,436 the first time it was used on the 833 00:31:28,436 --> 00:31:30,769 battlefield . Yeah . I have 2 questions , 834 00:31:30,769 --> 00:31:33,989 please . One . Uh , when was the last 835 00:31:33,989 --> 00:31:36,045 time , uh , secretary spoke with the 836 00:31:36,045 --> 00:31:38,469 Russian Defense Minister or what 837 00:31:38,469 --> 00:31:40,580 Russians are saying about this , uh , 838 00:31:41,109 --> 00:31:43,109 longest war now in recent history , 839 00:31:43,670 --> 00:31:47,280 1000 days and more still going on . Um , 840 00:31:47,829 --> 00:31:50,380 I'm sorry , I don't remember the exact 841 00:31:50,380 --> 00:31:53,589 date that the secretary spoke to his 842 00:31:53,589 --> 00:31:55,645 Russian counterpart , but we did put 843 00:31:55,645 --> 00:31:57,645 out a readout of that , and that is 844 00:31:57,645 --> 00:31:59,811 available on defense.gov . I I want to 845 00:31:59,811 --> 00:31:58,849 say it was earlier this summer , but I , 846 00:31:58,910 --> 00:32:01,021 I'm sorry , I don't have that off the 847 00:32:01,021 --> 00:32:03,132 top of my head . Second question , as 848 00:32:03,132 --> 00:32:05,354 far as North Korea's support for Russia 849 00:32:06,189 --> 00:32:09,170 against Ukraine . Some reports are 850 00:32:09,170 --> 00:32:12,650 saying that if you can confirm that 851 00:32:12,650 --> 00:32:15,839 who's behind North Korea helping Russia , 852 00:32:16,170 --> 00:32:19,689 is it China is playing the games or 853 00:32:19,689 --> 00:32:22,770 fighting or helping Russia through 854 00:32:22,770 --> 00:32:24,890 North Korea ? Yeah , so I'm not going 855 00:32:24,890 --> 00:32:27,112 to speak on behalf of North Korea , but 856 00:32:27,112 --> 00:32:29,449 I think North Korea has shown its 857 00:32:29,449 --> 00:32:31,560 ability to make its own decisions and 858 00:32:31,560 --> 00:32:33,699 supporting Russia in its war . Um , 859 00:32:33,930 --> 00:32:35,986 certainly , you know , we've engaged 860 00:32:35,986 --> 00:32:38,619 our PRC counterparts , um . When it 861 00:32:38,619 --> 00:32:40,452 comes to what's happening on the 862 00:32:40,452 --> 00:32:42,508 battlefield in Ukraine , but I think 863 00:32:42,719 --> 00:32:45,180 North Korea is certainly demonstrated 864 00:32:45,180 --> 00:32:47,780 that they want to support Russia in its 865 00:32:47,780 --> 00:32:49,724 continuing war , and if that means 866 00:32:49,724 --> 00:32:51,900 sending off 11,000 soldiers to die on 867 00:32:51,900 --> 00:32:54,067 the battlefield , then so be it . Just 868 00:32:54,067 --> 00:32:56,900 a quick talking , speaking with the 869 00:32:56,900 --> 00:32:59,130 Chinese counterparts and all that , 870 00:32:59,219 --> 00:33:01,386 what is , what are they saying or what 871 00:33:01,386 --> 00:33:05,349 is their Reaction on this Ukraine and 872 00:33:05,349 --> 00:33:07,680 Russia and now North Korea involved . 873 00:33:07,949 --> 00:33:10,005 Yeah , I'm certainly not going to be 874 00:33:10,005 --> 00:33:12,116 the spokesperson for the PRC , yeah , 875 00:33:12,116 --> 00:33:14,338 in the back , yeah , and then I'll come 876 00:33:14,338 --> 00:33:14,199 to I . I wanted to ask a question about 877 00:33:14,199 --> 00:33:16,939 the anti-personnel mines . Sure . um , 878 00:33:16,989 --> 00:33:18,767 can you confirm that those were 879 00:33:18,767 --> 00:33:21,045 included in the package yesterday , um , 880 00:33:21,045 --> 00:33:23,211 and are you expecting to send multiple 881 00:33:23,211 --> 00:33:25,378 tranches of those ? They were included 882 00:33:25,378 --> 00:33:27,489 in the most recent drawdown , um . In 883 00:33:27,489 --> 00:33:30,160 terms of further uh packages , I , I 884 00:33:30,160 --> 00:33:32,271 just don't have more to preview , but 885 00:33:32,271 --> 00:33:34,049 you know , we've , we've made a 886 00:33:34,049 --> 00:33:36,104 commitment . Could they be providing 887 00:33:36,104 --> 00:33:38,104 future packages ? Sure , but I just 888 00:33:38,104 --> 00:33:40,327 don't have anything to to preview right 889 00:33:40,327 --> 00:33:42,327 now . Can you also detail at all if 890 00:33:42,327 --> 00:33:44,549 there how much oversight there is gonna 891 00:33:44,549 --> 00:33:46,493 be on tracking those and how , how 892 00:33:46,493 --> 00:33:48,493 they're used in Ukraine ? Well , so 893 00:33:48,493 --> 00:33:50,271 once , um , you know , once our 894 00:33:50,271 --> 00:33:52,327 equipment or any capabilities turned 895 00:33:52,327 --> 00:33:55,050 over to Ukraine , um . You know , we 896 00:33:55,050 --> 00:33:56,828 work with them and they give us 897 00:33:56,828 --> 00:33:58,661 assurances of how they're used . 898 00:33:58,661 --> 00:34:00,661 Ukraine has given us the assurances 899 00:34:00,661 --> 00:34:02,717 that they're going to be used on the 900 00:34:02,717 --> 00:34:04,606 Ukrainian territory , um , but it 901 00:34:04,606 --> 00:34:06,606 doesn't change the requirement that 902 00:34:06,606 --> 00:34:08,717 Ukraine is going to have to conduct a 903 00:34:08,717 --> 00:34:10,828 massive demining effort at the end of 904 00:34:10,828 --> 00:34:12,494 this war , um , to remove any 905 00:34:12,494 --> 00:34:14,830 unexploded ordinance . Uh , both from 906 00:34:14,830 --> 00:34:17,052 the landmines that Russia hasn't put in 907 00:34:17,052 --> 00:34:19,389 place and also to any anything else 908 00:34:19,389 --> 00:34:21,611 that has been used on the battlefield . 909 00:34:21,611 --> 00:34:23,667 Um , we've already seen them conduct 910 00:34:23,667 --> 00:34:25,945 this type of operation , um , you know , 911 00:34:25,945 --> 00:34:28,000 and , and some of the territory that 912 00:34:28,000 --> 00:34:30,222 they've recaptured , but you know , the 913 00:34:30,222 --> 00:34:32,389 US is committed to supporting them and 914 00:34:32,389 --> 00:34:32,389 to and to helping them with what they 915 00:34:32,389 --> 00:34:34,556 need in those demining efforts , but , 916 00:34:34,556 --> 00:34:36,722 um , absolutely they , you know , have 917 00:34:36,722 --> 00:34:38,833 committed . That they're going to use 918 00:34:38,833 --> 00:34:41,000 these mines in their own territory and 919 00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:40,895 I should have added that they're not 920 00:34:40,895 --> 00:34:43,062 going to use them in populated areas . 921 00:34:43,294 --> 00:34:45,774 No additional tracking in addition to 922 00:34:45,774 --> 00:34:48,665 what would be , we're not tracking it 923 00:34:48,665 --> 00:34:50,887 in terms of where they place them , but 924 00:34:50,887 --> 00:34:53,054 certainly we are going to , you know , 925 00:34:53,054 --> 00:34:55,054 they have given us their assurances 926 00:34:55,054 --> 00:34:57,221 that they will be employed um in a way 927 00:34:57,221 --> 00:34:58,998 that , uh , you know , protects 928 00:34:58,998 --> 00:35:01,709 civilians as well . uh , answered 929 00:35:01,709 --> 00:35:03,598 Louis's question . He said it was 930 00:35:03,598 --> 00:35:05,709 experimental because it was the first 931 00:35:05,709 --> 00:35:04,989 time it was . It was the first time 932 00:35:04,989 --> 00:35:06,711 we've ever seen it used on the 933 00:35:06,711 --> 00:35:08,656 battlefield . That's correct . The 934 00:35:08,656 --> 00:35:10,822 experiment or a test that they carried 935 00:35:10,822 --> 00:35:13,100 out or is this , is it now operational , 936 00:35:13,100 --> 00:35:15,469 I guess , uh , sure , um , sorry , I 937 00:35:15,469 --> 00:35:17,358 didn't mean to not expand more on 938 00:35:17,358 --> 00:35:20,189 Louis's question . Um , you know , for 939 00:35:20,189 --> 00:35:22,411 that's really for Russia to speak to if 940 00:35:22,411 --> 00:35:24,633 they consider this a test , I , the way 941 00:35:24,633 --> 00:35:26,856 we would consider this experimental and 942 00:35:26,856 --> 00:35:28,856 that . This is the first time we've 943 00:35:28,856 --> 00:35:31,022 seen this type of capability used . We 944 00:35:31,022 --> 00:35:33,133 haven't seen them use this previously 945 00:35:33,133 --> 00:35:36,000 and um , you know , it's uh that sort 946 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:38,750 of experimental sounds like it might be 947 00:35:38,750 --> 00:35:40,760 this is like where you know , I , I 948 00:35:40,760 --> 00:35:42,982 would refer you to . I can't say it's a 949 00:35:42,982 --> 00:35:45,189 new capability and that it is building 950 00:35:45,189 --> 00:35:47,520 on a capability that they have , as I 951 00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:51,199 said , it was based on the RS 26 , um , 952 00:35:51,399 --> 00:35:53,621 but it's the first time that we've seen 953 00:35:53,621 --> 00:35:55,788 it employed on the battlefield in this 954 00:35:55,788 --> 00:35:57,732 way . So that's why we consider it 955 00:35:57,732 --> 00:35:59,955 experimental . But again , for Russia , 956 00:35:59,955 --> 00:36:02,121 you know , characterizing it as a test 957 00:36:02,121 --> 00:36:04,177 or , you know , do we expect them to 958 00:36:04,177 --> 00:36:03,520 use this again , that that's not 959 00:36:03,520 --> 00:36:05,879 something I can really answer . IBM 960 00:36:05,879 --> 00:36:07,990 capabilities . I just don't have more 961 00:36:07,990 --> 00:36:10,600 for you right now . Capable of carrying 962 00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:13,030 a nuclear warhead . Um , it could be 963 00:36:13,030 --> 00:36:15,590 refitted to certainly uh carry 964 00:36:15,590 --> 00:36:17,368 different types of , you know , 965 00:36:17,368 --> 00:36:19,646 conventional or nuclear warheads , but , 966 00:36:19,646 --> 00:36:21,812 um , you know , again . So I can share 967 00:36:21,812 --> 00:36:23,649 with you today . OK , thanks everyone .