Pentagon Holds Press Briefing After US Military Bases Across Europe Enter Heightened State Of Alert

2 months ago

Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder holds a press briefing.

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00:00Jennifer

00:01General Ryder, does Secretary Austin think that Ukraine should be allowed to join NATO?

00:05I think you've heard Secretary Austin and others say that that Ukraine's future is in NATO

00:11And so it's not a u.s. Decision whether or not to let Ukraine into NATO. It's a it's a NATO Alliance decision

00:19So 32 countries, but certainly the things that we are doing now are to and you've heard others say

00:26This is build a bridge for Ukraine to come into NATO

00:29And so part of that is working with them in in terms of looking at their military and their defense capabilities

00:35Not only to ensure that they can sustain those into the future

00:39But also to build interoperability in for the day when they are a member of NATO

00:45Leaders next week at the summit decide to allow Ukraine into NATO the u.s. Would support that

00:51Well, again, I'm not going to get ahead of what NATO may or may not announce other than to say, you know

00:56We've been very clear that we see that Ukraine's future is in NATO

01:00Can I follow up on the threat to US bases in Europe is the threat a potential terror threat linked to the NATO summit?

01:08so again

01:11There is no single

01:13Threat as I understand it as it relates to

01:17Yukon's

01:18Efforts to step up vigilance. It's a combination of factors

01:22Again, military commanders around the world have the authority to take appropriate and prudent measures to ensure the safety and security of our forces

01:30But again as I understand it, this is not necessarily

01:33Based on a a single threat but out of an abundance of caution

01:39Let me go to Jim and then I'll come here

01:42Joe just real quick. You said that they've talked about the dynamics on the ground in Ukraine

01:48Have the dynamics changed? What did the ministers tell the secretary about the about the situation?

01:57again, Jim, you know, we'll get you a fuller readout here, but

02:02you know what what we continue to see on the ground is it remains a tough fight Russia continues to

02:09Attempt to take ground, but the Ukrainians have done a good job of holding a line

02:16again for context in the seven months

02:20That we were working to get additional security assistance and supplemental funding for Ukraine the Russians

02:28made an effort to try to push and take

02:34Ukrainian territory and really did not accomplish that much in terms of the the amount of geography that they were able to take

02:41So what we see now is the Ukrainians in large part

02:46Empowered by the security assistance. It's being rushed in to include ammunition or not, you know continuing to hold the line

02:53We'll continue to support them in their efforts to defend themselves

02:56Talk about counter

02:59offensives

03:00Again, well, we'll get you a readout, but I'm not going to get into talking about potential future operations or you know

03:06Refer you the Ukrainians talk about their operations, sir

03:09Thanks general. I go back to the pier

03:13the

03:14Marshall area was full according to the information that you gave us last week is almost full and the W

03:23Fp said that they already transferred

03:26The sensitive aid material that could be ruined

03:30Under the open air to their depots inside the area somehow

03:36Do you have any latest on the situation there?

03:40Because the WFP says that the security condition is not still yet at the level that they want

03:47Have you ever contacted your idea of counterparts about that?

03:51Israeli defense minister was here a week before so any talks about providing security for this

04:01Yeah, so a few things there so first of all

04:03For specifics, I would refer to you refer you to the world World Food Program and USA ID

04:09As I understand it the World Food Program has begun to take

04:15Some of that aid out of the marshalling area to onward

04:18warehouses and distribution centers

04:20But for the details on that, I'd have to refer you to them

04:24Okay, I do you have any talks with them to provide security for the aid?

04:28well, as you know, we've established a coordination cell that is comprised of

04:34humanitarian organizations IDF

04:37US forces that are managing the pier

04:40And again, as I understand it World Food Program is also discussing security with the IDF

04:46But ultimately this is a question for humanitarian organizations

04:51To determine of what level of security support do they require and need?

04:56Recognizing that they are not combatants on the battlefield in the middle of a combat zone attempting to deliver humanitarian assistance

05:02So those conversations are of course always ongoing

05:05If your question is whether or not, you know

05:08The u.s. Is planning to put boots on the ground and provide security. The answer is no

05:13So I'll just leave it there

05:15Characterize the amount of aid that's sitting in Cyprus and then also does either Cyprus or the amount of aid in Cyprus or

05:23At the end of the pier, does that factor into the decision about whether or not you return it and reattach it?

05:30So I would refer you to USA ID since they they ultimately manage the amount of incoming and outgoing aid

05:37In terms of how much is in in Cyprus?

05:40And as always, you know when you take a step back and you look at the big picture here in terms of what is it?

05:46That the international community is trying to do

05:48It's trying to get aid into Gaza for the people of Gaza. The Maritime Corridor is one aspect of that

05:55and so

05:57lots of different variables, you know will be

06:00Considered in terms of how best to get that aid in right now

06:04The Maritime Corridor affords a way to get aid in so as long as that's useful

06:09That will be something that we continue to look at

06:12And I'll just have to leave it there

06:14Plans to reattach them here as of now as I mentioned right now looking at the weather states

06:18I can't give you a date on on when that would occur, but that's something that we're monitoring

06:23So, you know, I'll keep you posted on that. Let me go to the phone here and I'll come back into the room

06:28Let me go to

06:29JJ green WTOP

06:35Thanks general rider

06:38Talking with some u.s. Allies and NATO partners

06:41for the NATO

06:43Summit coming up. They've repeatedly talked about their concern as

06:47Recently as today that they think Russia is likely preparing for an attack on a NATO country within the next three to five years

06:55So what if anything can the Pentagon say about how it views that potential threat?

06:59And I know you're not trying to scope out how you're going to deal with possibilities

07:03But how does the Pentagon view Russia's increasingly aggressive acts and possibly

07:09Plans to deal with this thing if it happens

07:11Yeah, thanks JJ. Well, I mean this is why

07:15Russia is

07:16Taken into account in our national defense strategy. It's it's very clearly outlined as an acute threat as

07:23evidenced by its action

07:26actions in places like Ukraine

07:29And and other malign activity that we've seen Russia

07:33Being associated with over the last, you know several years

07:37so I

07:39Would refer you to the the national defense, you know strategy in terms of the kinds of things that we're doing

07:46But there's also you know

07:48Our relationship with allies and partners around the world to ensure deterrence the NATO Alliance being one of those things. It's a collective

07:57defense

07:58Focused on on ensuring that it's very clear that we're going to

08:04Support one another's security to deter that the type of aggression that we're seeing in places like Ukraine

08:10So leave it there. Let me go to Nancy

08:13General in light of the Supreme Court ruling has the Pentagon assessed that now any order given by the president to u.s

08:20service members is lawful

08:22so

08:24You know what I would say is is always the case with any decision or order

08:29We have legal counsel lawyers are available throughout the Department of Defense to advise military leaders

08:36Regarding the legal or prudential impacts of orders as well as the legal

08:41effects and consequences such orders could have so that's going to enable any leader regardless of

08:47you know the decision or the order that they're contemplating to make informed legal and ethical decisions as it pertains to

08:54Potential orders in the future or scenarios. I'm just not going to get in the hypothetic

09:00Because

09:01the way the

09:02Ruling is written. It would appear that if all official acts are protected from immunity

09:08It's hard to understand a scenario that could be ruled as any order as illegal or even immoral at this point

09:13Is it not is there any sort of official review then?

09:17Yeah, I mean I appreciate the question, but again, I'm not I'm not going to get into a thought exercise

09:22Other than to say that we like always have the benefit of a legal counsel training on ethics standards

09:30and any leader that is

09:32Contemplating a decision or an order has the benefit of seeking that counsel to make an informed ethical and legal decision

09:39So again, well, I appreciate the question. I'm you know, not going to get into hypothetical scenarios

09:46I'm never interested in thought exercises

09:48What I'm trying to understand though

09:49Is there any kind of formal review or is it now being left to the discretion of individual commanders?

09:55Yeah, not that I'm aware of. Okay, Natasha

09:59Can you give us an update on the f-16 training for the Ukrainians where that stands at this point how many have graduated if any?

10:08And whether there's going to be another tranche going in for training and then on the question of American contractors going into Ukraine

10:15Has a decision been made yet on whether that's going to be

10:19Facilitated or allowed by the Biden administration in terms of DoD contracts for American firms that want to go in and help

10:26Yeah on your latter question Natasha again, you know, where the the press reporting out there and I'm just not going to comment on

10:35internal

10:36Discussions or proposals that may or may not be under consideration

10:40as it relates to the

10:43F-16s

10:44I'm tracking that there's currently over a dozen pilots training

10:48On the f-16 in both Denmark and the United States for operational security reasons

10:53I'm not going to be able to get into the specific numbers of pilots at those locations and the training timelines

11:00But as you'll recall, you know, the the training is tailored to the pilots

11:05and it will continue to depend on student experience their English language skills their

11:13You know flying experience whether they go through basic flying training or to advanced

11:18you know f-16 fighter training and so the the

11:22the

11:24Air power coalition capability coalition that has been put together by the UDC G continues to look at that at this

11:31Holistically and take into account Ukraine's needs

11:36That's the alarm sorry guys, it's all the time I have

11:40takes into account

11:42you know

11:43Holistically, not only the training aspect but the logistics sustainment and maintenance aspects of this

11:49So making sure that when the capability is provided to Ukraine

11:53It's something that they are going to be trained and ready to execute in a safe

11:57effective manner

11:58So a lot of work continues to go into that effort

12:02And I'm sure we'll have much more to provide in the near future

12:05Track to finish and be

12:07Completed for at least some of the pilots and have some of the capabilities actually moved to Ukraine this year

12:12So as I understand, I mean some of the pilots have already graduated

12:15And you know have gone on to to follow on training

12:19in Europe

12:21But again, you know, I'll let Ukraine talk to the specifics of where their pilots are and what their status is

12:26But again right now the initial deliveries of f-16s as you're tracking are set to take place sometime this summer

12:35So again, we'll have more to provide in the future on that

12:38Yes, sir

12:40One this newest military aid package to Ukraine will be announced is it going to be coming days during the NATO summit soon

12:50That's as specific as I can get for you right now, but you know again, well, we'll keep you updated on that night

12:55I appreciate you know, the the interest will definitely get you more details here in the near future

13:00Spoke about more Patriot interceptors

13:04Should we expect also that he asked will transfer more Patriot systems to Ukraine in addition to interceptors?

13:11So I don't have anything to announce beyond you know, what we highlighted earlier again

13:16Air defense is a capability that we recognize Ukraine needs and so we're working with

13:22Allies and partners throughout the world to identify capabilities and get those to them as quickly as as possible

13:28Let me take a couple more from the phone here Jeff Seldon VOA

13:33General, thanks very much earlier today

13:35CSIS issued a report looking at satellite imagery showing for likely Chinese listening stations in Cuba

13:42Including one not far from Guantanamo Bay that had not been previously reported

13:47Does the Pentagon have any reaction to this report to these facilities?

13:51Or to and what's the assessment of China's activity in Cuba in terms of expanding its surveillance capabilities?

13:59Yeah, thanks Jeff did see the report, you know, not gonna necessarily get into commenting or confirming the specifics

14:07in there

14:08I will say that as always we're confident that we can continue to meet our security commitments both at here both here at home

14:15and in the region as you may have heard a

14:18Sayer the White House say, you know almost a year ago

14:22They've been tracking that these activities have been going on for decades

14:26The PRC had completed an upgrade of its facilities in Cuba in 2019

14:31We know that the PRC is going to continue to try to enhance its presence in Cuba

14:37And we will continue to keep working to disrupt that

14:41So we're continuing to monitor this closely

14:44taking steps to counter it but that's

14:47All I've got on that now, we'll just leave it there Jeff. Let me go to Jeff Shogle task and purpose

14:53Thank you. According to media reports three US service members in Okinawa have been charged with sexual assault since December

15:01Has the secretary been briefed on this has he spoken with his Japanese counterpart on this and have these alleged incidents?

15:09Affected the Alliance at all

15:11Yeah, thanks Jeff

15:13so the secretary is

15:16of course tracking

15:18This closely. I will say that the alleged behavior of those members does not reflect the core values of the u.s

15:25Military nor does it represent the conduct of the overwhelming majority of Jap Japan based personnel that we have forward deployed?

15:33and so

15:35We are

15:36Closely working with the local communities to address their concerns regarding these cases

15:41We are deeply troubled by the severity of the allegations and we regret

15:46The anxiety this has caused

15:48Japan is one of our closest allies

15:51And so we will continue to do everything we can to keep the lines of communication open on this

15:56The respective units are working diligently with local authorities to investigate the allegations

16:02Thoroughly while also ensuring due legal process under applicable applicable laws and agreements. So

16:09I'll just leave it there. Thanks Jeff. Come back to the room here. Yes, Jenny

16:13They could generate two patients on North Korea and China

16:17First station North Korea launched another bursting missiles into the East Coast yesterday

16:24And the North Korea claimed that it successfully tested the multiple

16:30World hats last week. What is the Pentagon's?

16:36Reactions on me. Well, I think you saw that Indo-Pacific Command put out a statement on that again

16:42We continue to

16:46To highlight the fact that this kind of destabilizing disruptive behavior is irresponsible

16:51We continue to call on North Korea to return to diplomatic discussions

16:57but in those particular launches while there was no

17:02assessment that it

17:03Posed a threat to the u.s

17:05Or our allies or partners in the region is something that we will continue to take seriously

17:10China

17:11according to the New York Times that

17:14China is a purchasing farmland and next to us military

17:20bases across the United States and

17:24it as a

17:26strategic base one Italian u.s. Military unit and

17:30using it for

17:32intelligence

17:34Activities do you think this is a threat to national security?

17:39and

17:40What action do we do United States take against the China?

17:46Well, you know, it is something that we continue to closely monitor as you're probably aware

17:52This is something also that the the US government writ large has looked at to include through

17:58CFIUS, so I would refer you to

18:02Department of Commerce to for and Treasury for more questions on that. Thank you

18:08General I have a question for the Italian television looking at the NATO summit next week

18:12Is the secretary how the secretaries planning to address?

18:18The issues that we saw coming out with President Biden and the debate with the with the counterpart of NATO

18:24What is he planning to do because the question might be asked if the president is still capable to take the proper decisions when it?

18:31comes to the military

18:32Road. Yeah, so I'm kind of reject the notion the question

18:38If you guys are planning, you know, like a plane or something, you know, like a script or something to say

18:44Yeah, it's a ridiculous question

18:47Secretary Austin will be there supporting President Biden the president United States at the NATO summit. Just leave it at that

18:53Sir going back to Nancy's questions. So was there no anticipation or any, you know

18:59Preparatory like legal discussions about the ruling that could really complicate

19:04Troops ability to defy what they might have previously known as an illegal or immoral

19:11order

19:12Again, look, let's not conflate the Supreme Court

19:17deliberation and debate about you know

19:20presidential authorities and the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the access to legal counsel that military leaders have on

19:27Any given day on a variety of topics around the world?

19:32Any commander or any leader can consult legal counsel to get an assessment on whether or not a

19:39Decision or an order regardless of what it is is legal ethical moral and appropriate and that doesn't change

19:46it doesn't change as I'm sure you can appreciate in a

19:50democracy where

19:52Laws are written by humans and they're malleable and there's always going to be a variability to that

19:58which is why you have legal counsel so that you can get advice on that and so when it comes to the Department of

20:04Defense and prosecuting our duties to defend the country throughout the world

20:07We're always going to have the benefit of informed legal counsel to make informed ethical and legal decisions

20:15Yes, real. I'll come back

20:18My question is on China and Taiwan's on Tuesday

20:22Taiwan said China's Coast Guard detained a Taiwanese fishing boat near a Taiwanese island

20:29Do you have a comment on this incident? And also do you think China has increased their coercive activities towards Taiwan in these days?

20:37I don't have a comment on the latter

20:39I'd have to refer you to Taiwan to talk about the status of their their fishing vessel again. Look broadly speaking

20:46We've been very clear

20:47About PRC's aggressive activities in the South China Sea and beyond

20:53And we'll continue to work closely with our allies and partners to to address that behavior

20:58Constantine, um

21:00Thanks. Um, so on this line of questioning about the Supreme Court decision, you know

21:04I I get what you're saying that the Pentagon has lawyers available to consult for commanders to consult

21:11But does the Pentagon feel that that is enough of a bulwark

21:15Against a commander-in-chief that the Supreme Court has ruled to be pretty much immune from legal prosecution

21:24Again guys, I appreciate the line of questioning. I've provided you my response and I'm gonna leave it at that

21:32I guess what we're trying to understand is if this you described as a debate

21:36But it was a decision by the Supreme Court and that decision was that official acts are immune

21:41And I think what we're trying to understand is if the president any order that he gives

21:46Does not face any possibility of prosecution

21:50Then how come US service members could be charged for carrying out those acts?

21:55So I think what would help us if there's a way to take the question or maybe consider having somebody from

21:59General counsel explain to us how they're thinking about it because that's what we're trying to reconcile because the way you've explained it

22:05a

22:06Service member could follow exactly what the president told them to do and maybe face charges

22:12We're trying to understand why and under what circumstances? Yeah, I mean again, I I appreciate the the questions

22:18but again, what I would tell you is

22:21You know look

22:23without getting into hypotheticals

22:25every situation

22:26has to be assessed on its own merit depending on the situation the context of the situation and

22:31If you are a military leader, you're going to have the benefit of consulting counsel or or policy makers in terms of

22:40You know whether an order or decision is legal ethical or moral that

22:45Won't change and so again, I'm just gonna leave it there

22:50Just taking our requests. I've answered

22:54So could we talk to someone even on a background level to get a better understanding of how the department's thinking about this from a

23:01If we have any updates to provide we'll definitely take that in consideration, sir

23:05Thank you very much with the recent row of Houthis attacks in Red Sea

23:11With more sophisticated weapons

23:13So how much it is big concern for the United States after the Khazar war to keep it Arab allies?

23:20safe from the possible attacks from the Houthis because we know there is a possible deal between United States and

23:26So there we are that is a different state but that is linked with the

23:31peace process so

23:33Now, what is the level of alertness for us in that region specifically?

23:38In terms of regional partners. Well, I mean as you know, we maintain very robust relationships with

23:46partners throughout the Middle East and Central Asia region

23:50To address a variety of security concerns and threats to include the Houthis

23:55And so as we said for a very long time

23:57we're focused on regional security and stability and whether it's through exercising whether it's through diplomatic relationships, whether it's through

24:06economic relationships working to ensure

24:09Security and stability and and that's not going to change. So that also includes addressing threats like the Houthis

24:18Assistance by the United States towards Pakistan from here 2018

24:22We have seen that the military assistance towards Pakistan were totally

24:27You can say there is no military assistance from 2018 only from this administration

24:32We have seen only the civilian assistance and from 2018

24:35but the US was claiming that Pakistan is not doing enough to counter al-qaeda and

24:42Taliban that was like key US demand from Pakistan

24:45But now as US is not there at that time US was there in the region and now Pakistan is going after

24:52Al-qaeda linked groups almost the TTP the Pakistan Taliban group and other groups at this time any

24:59With this administration any consideration for military assistance for Pakistan or other coordination regarding the ongoing Pakistani counter-terrorism operations

25:07Yeah

25:07So I don't I don't have anything to announce as we talked about last time the US and Pakistan do share a security

25:15Cooperation relationship particularly focused on counterterrorism. We have a long history of working together in that regard

25:22And so as opportunities present themselves in the future, you know

25:25I'm sure those conversations will will continue to be ongoing but in terms of any new security assistance

25:31I don't have anything to announce. All right last question. Yes, sir

25:35Some reports are claiming that

25:39Will begin an offensive operation on Lebanon in the second half of July. Do you have any signs about?

25:47this operation maybe will be imminent and

25:50What's your current concern about the possibility of border conflict, yeah, I think you know

25:58Where we're still focused on on is attempting to resolve these tensions through diplomatic

26:05Means and so that continues to be where Secretary Austin is focused and the US government is focused

26:12And so, you know whether or not

26:14There there could be a conflict. I certainly hope not

26:17I'm not going to speculate or get into hypotheticals other than to say again. We we appreciate the fact that

26:23It's tense right now. We want to we don't want to see a situation where?

26:29miscalculation could spiral out of control and and cause a wider regional conflict and so this is why it's important that

26:35We continue to focus on a diplomatic resolution of the situation along the border. Thanks very much. Everybody appreciate it

26:47You

Pentagon Holds Press Briefing After US Military Bases Across Europe Enter Heightened State Of Alert

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