JUST IN: Pentagon Holds Press Briefing After Announcing Gaza Aid Pier Will Permanently Shut Down

3 months ago

On Friday, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh answered reporter questions during a Pentagon press briefing.

Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:

https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript

Stay Connected
Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes
More From Forbes: http://forbes.com

Transcript

00:00Hi, good afternoon, happy Friday.

00:03Thanks for being here today.

00:04I know we don't usually do briefings on a Friday, so appreciate you adjusting your schedules.

00:11So first, starting off, I'd like to acknowledge the end of a successful week of the NATO Summit.

00:16As you know, Secretary Austin had engagements throughout the week with his counterparts,

00:21including bilateral engagements and hosting a dinner for defense ministers on Wednesday

00:25evening.

00:26This week we celebrated NATO's historic achievements during the 75 years since its establishment

00:32and further deepened our bonds with our NATO allies and other partners.

00:37We also reaffirmed our commitment to supporting Ukraine in its fight for freedom from Russian

00:41aggression.

00:43In support of that commitment, the Department announced yesterday the 61st Presidential

00:47Drawdown Authority Package, which has an estimated value of $225 million.

00:53This package will provide Ukraine additional capabilities to meet its most urgent needs

00:57and includes one Patriot battery, munitions for rocket systems and artillery, and anti-tank

01:03weapons.

01:04For a complete listing of the PDA's contents, I would direct you to defense.gov.

01:09Separately, this morning, Secretary Austin also spoke by phone with Russian Minister

01:15of Defense Andrei Belousov.

01:17During the call, the Secretary emphasized the importance of maintaining lines of communication

01:22amid Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine.

01:26The last time Secretary Austin spoke with his Russian counterpart was on June 25, 2024,

01:31and later today a brief readout of the call will be posted to defense.gov.

01:36And finally, I'd like to provide an update on the Temporary Pier, or the Joint Logistics

01:41Over-the-Shore capability that has been used to surge humanitarian assistance into Gaza.

01:47On Wednesday, U.S. Central Command personnel attempted to re-anchor the Temporary Pier

01:51to the beach in Gaza to resume humanitarian operations.

01:55However, due to technical and weather-related issues, CENTCOM personnel were unable to re-anchor

02:00the pier to the shore.

02:02The pier, support vessels, and equipment returned to Ashdod and will remain there for now.

02:08A re-anchoring date has not yet been set at this time.

02:12To date, more than 8,000 metric tons, or nearly 20 million pounds of humanitarian aid, have

02:18been delivered from the pier to the marshaling area, where it can be collected by humanitarian

02:22organizations for onward delivery and distribution.

02:26As we said when we first announced this, the pier is part of a comprehensive response to

02:31the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

02:34In addition to enabling the delivery of life-saving aid, implementation of JLOTs has enabled the

02:41development of Cyprus as a port for inspections and deliveries directly into Gaza.

02:47Aid can now be inspected in Cyprus and delivered directly into Gaza through Israel's Ashdod

02:51port and crossings in the north.

02:54The deployment of this pier has also helped secure Israeli commitment to opening additional

02:59crossings into northern Gaza.

03:02Since the opening of these crossings, we've seen more trucks moving from Jordan directly

03:06into northern Gaza to help alleviate the dire humanitarian conditions.

03:12As we announced yesterday, the pier will soon cease operations.

03:16With more details on that process and timing available in the coming days, we're very proud

03:21of our service members and all those supporting this effort, and who have enabled vital humanitarian

03:26assistance to get in to those in Gaza who need it most.

03:30Without a doubt, lives have been saved because of their work and commitment under very challenging

03:35conditions.

03:37And as hundreds of thousands of people continue to face emergency levels of food insecurity

03:42across Gaza, the United States will continue to take all possible action to ensure increased

03:47aid flows are sustained at the scale needed to meet the needs on the ground.

03:52As we've said from the beginning, DOD will continue to work closely with USAID and others

03:57in the Middle East region to support these important efforts.

04:00And with that, I'd be happy to take your questions.

04:02I believe we have AP joining us on the phone today, so I'll turn it over to Tara Kopp.

04:06Hi, Sabrina.

04:08Thanks for doing this.

04:10So just on the pier, you said no decision has been made on it, but it sounds like it

04:16might just be too much between the C-States and the small amount of aid left to make sense

04:23to reattach.

04:24Is that kind of the deliberations that you guys are going through right now?

04:28Thanks, Tara, for the question.

04:29So certainly, C-States environmental factors are going to be taken into consideration when

04:36it comes to the re-anchoring.

04:39Again, as I said at the top, a re-anchoring date has not been set at this time.

04:44When and if that does happen, we'd be, of course, certainly to keep you updated on that

04:48front.

04:49And did you have another one?

04:51I do.

04:52A couple.

04:53So, but is one of the options you're thinking is just at this point, because the weather's

04:56going to get worse and you've never really been intending to have it last later in the

05:00summer anyway, that this might be the end of the pier?

05:03Yeah.

05:04So, yeah, appreciate the question.

05:07Can't predict the weather.

05:08It's something that we are assessing day by day.

05:11We know for the next few days there are going to be higher C-States that would not allow

05:16a re-anchoring to be possible.

05:18Again, at this time, I just don't have more information to provide on when and if a re-anchoring

05:24date has been or will be possible.

05:28If a re-anchoring does happen, of course, as we always do, we would read that out to

05:31you.

05:32And anything additional?

05:33And then I'll come in the room.

05:35Just one last, does the Pentagon have any of its own intelligence corroborating that

05:42Russia tried to assassinate arms makers, Western arms makers who are assisting with the effort

05:50in Ukraine?

05:51And was this brought up in Austin's call with his counterpart?

05:55Thanks Tara for the question.

05:56In terms of any further details on the call, I'm just not going to be able to provide that

06:01on at this time.

06:03I think what you're referring to is, I've seen some of those reports.

06:07Of course, we always, with any of our allies and partners, always share intelligence and

06:12information.

06:13But I just don't have more to add at this time as well.

06:15I'll come in the room.

06:16Warren.

06:17One peer question and then one question on the call with the Russian counterpart.

06:22Whose decision was it to end or not extend the peer operation?

06:25Is that a General Kirill decision?

06:26Is that SecDef or is that the President?

06:28And when was that decision made?

06:30To, I'm sorry, to end?

06:33So, as we always said, the peer is temporary.

06:36A decision, it's not just one person, it is a collective decision that is made.

06:40And of course, a recommendation comes up from the commander all the way up to the secretary.

06:45We always said that this peer was temporary.

06:48And given the sea states, the weather conditions that we know we're always going to get worse

06:52throughout the summer, the mission of the peer will be concluding at some time soon.

06:59But I just don't have an exact date for you.

07:01And then on the call with the Russian counterpart, with Minister Belousov, this is now two calls

07:06in two and a half weeks.

07:08Was this one also initiated by Secretary Austin?

07:11And it certainly seems like these are more common than they've been over the course of

07:14two and a half years, of the last two and a half years.

07:17Is this to be expected to continue?

07:19Will there be a more regular pace of discussions here between the two?

07:23This call was initiated by the Russian Minister of Defense.

07:27In terms of future calls, you know, of course, nothing to announce.

07:30But as the secretary has said, and what I also mentioned at the top, is that maintaining

07:37lines of communication is incredibly important right now.

07:41And so if there are future calls, we'd read those out as well.

07:43Was there a specific reason given?

07:45Yeah, I just don't have any more to provide at this time.

07:48Thanks, Sabrina.

07:49President Zelensky has insisted that lifting all restrictions so Ukraine can strike military

07:55targets within Russia would be a, quote, game changer, and that Ukraine needs to hit

08:00those targets and able to win.

08:02What's the Pentagon's assessment of that?

08:04So I think the president spoke to this very directly yesterday at his press conference.

08:11Our policy hasn't changed.

08:13We do allow those cross-border strikes when Russia is attacking from the other side of

08:18the border.

08:19And as the war has changed, we have changed, our policies have adapted.

08:25You've seen that play out in Kharkiv, and it could expand into other areas.

08:29But right now, we have not authorized the use of ATACMs for deep strike capabilities

08:36within Russia.

08:37And I have to remind you, they have other long-range capabilities that are not provided

08:41the United States.

08:43But in terms of our policy, that has not changed.

08:46So what's this coming from then?

08:47Because throughout the week at the NATO summit, Zelensky was pretty adamant that this is a

08:52game changer.

08:55So is that just not true?

08:57Look, of course, you're going to advocate on behalf of your country.

09:01You know, we don't take any issue with that.

09:04Our policy still remains the same.

09:07We believe that Ukraine continues to be successful on the battlefield.

09:11With our policy in place, we've been able to see them hold and strengthen their alliance

09:15around Kharkiv.

09:17Could our policy, could they be allowed to use it into other areas?

09:22We're always adapting.

09:23And as the war has changed, our policy has changed.

09:27But of course, we are always mindful of escalation, and that's something that is the reason why

09:32we have the policy the way it is.

09:34Konstantin.

09:35Thanks, Maria.

09:36You mentioned, you sort of said that if the PUR is re-anchored twice, is there a world

09:41where the re-anchoring attempts are scrubbed and this is the, you know, the PUR has done

09:46the last work it will do?

09:47It really depends on the sea states and the environment.

09:50And right now, obviously, I can't predict that.

09:53What we are committed to is making sure that every single piece of aid, metric ton of aid,

09:58that is in Cyprus is moved into Gaza.

10:01So whether that be through the port of Ashdod or through the temporary pier, no matter what,

10:06the aid that was assembled will get to the people who need it most.

10:10And can you just speak a little bit more into the, about the decision-making process in

10:15terms to cease operations?

10:17Was that because of these challenges with the sea state and the environmental factors?

10:21Or was it because aid in Cyprus is dwindling and nearing, you know, sort of the end of that?

10:29Well, I think it's important to remember that we always said this was a temporary operation.

10:32It was always going to have an end date.

10:35That exact end date, you know, I don't have for you right now, but we'll keep you updated on that.

10:40I think it's also really important to remember that during the course of the time that JALOS

10:46has been operating, you know, we acknowledge that there have been bumps in the road.

10:51We have had to take it offline.

10:52There have been repairs that needed to be made, but you cannot discount the fact that

10:57we were able to get nearly 20 million pounds of aid into Gaza and for onward distribution.

11:03We got it in, of course, to the marshalling area.

11:07That aid is going to save lives.

11:08So I think it's important to remember that in the context of the temporary pier, one,

11:13it was always going to have an end date.

11:15Two, we're working on other avenues and in ways with USAID to get aid into Gaza.

11:21And then three, of course, this was always going to be a temporary method.

11:26I will go back to the phones and then happy to come back into the room here.

11:29Idris, Reuters.

11:30Yeah, two quick questions.

11:33The White House earlier this week announced some long-range fires being moved to Germany,

11:39sort of, you know, on and off, and then eventually being placed there in 2026.

11:45What's the message the U.S. is trying to send with those long-range fires in Germany?

11:50And secondly, the announcement was made by the White House.

11:52Unless I've missed something, the Pentagon has not put anything out on that.

11:57Is there a new policy that the White House is going to announce forced posture movements,

12:01not the Pentagon?

12:02If you could give any more details on that.

12:04Thanks, Idris.

12:06Well, you know, the president was leading the NATO summit this week.

12:11He announced it.

12:12We, of course, when rotations happen, we do announce that either in a statement or, you

12:18know, reading it out from the podium.

12:20But again, as you mentioned, this is not something that's happening until 2026.

12:25So give us a little time here.

12:28As you also mentioned, these are episodic deployments and will help inform planning

12:33for ensuring future stationing.

12:37And we are, you know, in terms of the message that it sends, we are working in close collaboration

12:42with the German government and the Army to continue to finalize these details.

12:47But it is about shoring up support within Europe.

12:50And that's something that not only you saw with this announcement, but with what the

12:54president and the secretary in their engagements with NATO, with their counterparts at the

13:00NATO summit all this week.

13:02Okay, I'll take another one from the phone here.

13:05Jeff Schogol, Task and Purpose.

13:07Thank you very much.

13:08And I stand with all the Military Times reporters and sightline union reporters laid off today.

13:14I understand if you have to take this question.

13:16When the president said that U.S. and Chinese military leaders now have direct access, did

13:22he mean there's now a hotline between U.S. and Chinese leaders or that middle-to-middle

13:29communications have reset to a time before Speaker Pelosi visited Taiwan?

13:34Thank you.

13:35Thanks, Jeff, for the question.

13:36I don't have to take that question.

13:37I would refer you to the White House to speak more to the president's comments.

13:41Last question.

13:42Jeff Seldin, VOA.

13:43Sabrina, thanks.

13:44The U.N. this week issued a report on Afghanistan, and it indicated al-Qaida is sending more

13:50operatives there and opening new training camps.

13:52It also said that ISIS-K has managed to infiltrate some of the Taliban ministries and also push

13:58into Central Asia and is even running a special ops force in Iran.

14:03How concerned is the Pentagon about al-Qaida and ISIS-K operations out of Afghanistan?

14:08And what, if anything, at this point, is the Pentagon doing to push back?

14:13As a second unrelated question, has the Pentagon been impacted at all by the AT&T breach that

14:19was disclosed?

14:20If so, what is the Pentagon doing to mitigate?

14:24Thanks, Jeff, for the question.

14:26On the AT&T breach, I'm not aware of an impact to the department, but of course, this is

14:30developing in real time.

14:32So if there is an impact, we can let you know on that.

14:37When it comes to ISIS-K and just the proliferation of, you know, ISIS not just in Afghanistan,

14:45but you're seeing also throughout Africa, it is something, of course, that remains top

14:50of mind for the United States, which is why you have our mission in Iraq and Syria to

14:56continue that fight against ISIS.

14:59It's something that we continue to monitor.

15:02And whether it be from AFRICOM or CENTCOM, it's something that we take very seriously.

15:06So of course, we're concerned with any proliferation of any plots or plans against U.S. service

15:12members or our partners and allies around the world, and it's something that we're going

15:15to continue to watch.

15:16All right.

15:17I'll come back in the room here.

15:18Yes, and then I'll come over to you, Sai.

15:19Yeah.

15:20You said that the surge of aid had saved lives.

15:22It's estimated that the amount that was unloaded into the marshalling area was the equivalent

15:28of one day of pre-war aid delivery into Gaza.

15:33Off of that, then, do you know how much actually reached the people off Gaza?

15:37Whose lives were saved?

15:38How many?

15:39So for, in terms of, so maybe I can explain to you our role in distributing an aid and

15:47then what USAID's role and WFP and the UN is.

15:51So what we have done is facilitating the aid getting into the marshalling area in Gaza.

15:56Once it gets to the marshalling area, it gets distributed out by WFP or contracted drivers

16:02that USAID has been in close coordination with.

16:04It goes into distribution centers within Gaza and then gets further distributed out.

16:09I don't have a count for you of how many lives have been saved, but what I can tell you is

16:13that people are hungry.

16:14There are people in need of that food, and we delivered nearly 20 million pounds of food

16:19to the people in Gaza.

16:20So we are saving lives.

16:22I think it's important to remember that.

16:24And what you saw with our forces is running towards the problem.

16:29We created a solution.

16:30We believe it was a success.

16:31Just one other follow-up.

16:32Sure.

16:33Did anyone at the Pentagon research summer Mediterranean sea conditions before embarking

16:39on this project?

16:40There's a sense that you were taken completely by surprise and, in fact, that JLOX is completely

16:44unsuitable for the conditions off the coast of Gaza.

16:48So we are a planning organization.

16:51We have folks all around the world that operate within the Eastern Med at any given time.

16:57Of course, we are aware of the sea conditions within the Eastern Mediterranean.

17:02We are not shying away from the fact that there have been higher sea states that have

17:06at times disrupted delivery of aid and have made it harder to get aid in.

17:11But again, I would say to you and on some of these questions, to do nothing would have

17:17been a failure.

17:19To be part of a solution, that's success.

17:22And that's what you saw with our personnel delivering that aid into Gaza.

17:25Will there be an inquiry now as to where this $230 million of taxpayer money actually went

17:29and whether it was worth it and the decision-making process behind it?

17:32I think it was worth feeding people who needed it most.

17:35Yeah.

17:36All right.

17:37Yeah, Erin, and then I'll come over here.

17:38Just kind of a follow-up.

17:39Sure.

17:40How many days has the pier been functioning, like getting aid off the pier onto land?

17:46I believe it was a total of 20 days since it was anchored in mid-May.

17:53But it's taken food off of the pier and delivered it onto shore, 20 days total.

17:58Well, two separate things.

18:01So the functionality of the pier, it's been operable for about 20 days.

18:06You have to remember that aid started to move when we moved the pier back a few weeks ago

18:12back to Ashdod.

18:14There were those contracted drivers that started moving aid out of the marshalling area into

18:19distribution centers because the marshalling area was essentially at capacity.

18:24So that was happening while aid was not moving off the pier because it was pretty full, but

18:31there wasn't a need to necessarily move aid in at a rapid pace.

18:34Great.

18:35Yes.

18:36Thank you.

18:37How does the Department of Defense of the United States see the current security situation

18:41in Western Balkans, primarily in Kosovo and Metohija?

18:44In this sense, how does Washington see military cooperation and communication with Serbian

18:49authorities about the Preserve Stability and Security Partnership and the prospect

18:54for improving cooperation?

18:55First, I should have said, welcome.

18:58I believe we have some folks joining us from abroad.

19:01And I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name.

19:02Marko Iva Stanjuk, Serbia.

19:04Okay.

19:05Thank you.

19:06And thank you for joining us today.

19:07So, look, we acknowledge that our two countries, there's been increased mil-to-mil cooperation

19:15and are on track for over 100 military-to-military events in 2024.

19:20That's a nearly 25% increase from last year.

19:24And that includes bilateral training, multilateral exercises like Platinum Wolf that I think

19:28you've covered, and high-level visits between both nations.

19:33Serbia's active cooperation with NATO is also a cornerstone of our defense relationship,

19:39enabling the Serbian Armed Forces' valuable contributions to global security through participation

19:44in numerous EU and UN peacekeeping missions.

19:48So we're going to continue to further deepen our cooperation and through, you know, mutually

19:54beneficial bilateral, multilateral exercises.

19:57What's the situation in Western Balkans, primarily Kosovo and Turkey?

20:01So we acknowledge that there certainly are tensions within the Western Balkan region

20:05and certainly over the past two years.

20:09This heightened concern certainly underscores our ongoing cooperation and partnership in

20:15ensuring regional stability.

20:16So we're going to continue to monitor that.

20:17Rio, and then I'll happily come to you.

20:19Thank you, Sabrina.

20:20Yeah.

20:21My question is about Japan.

20:22So there are some media reports that the U.S. Navy's Ospreys will be deployed at the U.S.

20:27base in Iwakuni, Japan, for the first time.

20:31Could you please confirm the report?

20:33And also, this month DOD has announced its modernization plan to upgrade U.S. tactical

20:38airplanes in Japan.

20:40So is the potential deployment of Navy's Ospreys in Japan related to this DOD's aircraft modernization

20:48plan?

20:49I'm so sorry, Rio.

20:50I'm just not going to have a ton for you right now.

20:52I haven't seen that report that you referenced, so I just really can't comment on that.

20:57We're always looking for ways to modernize our forces, but I just don't have anything

21:01more to add to what you had asked.

21:03I'm so sorry.

21:04We're happy to get back to you on that.

21:05Yes.

21:06Biljana Obradović, Republika Srpska Telegraf.

21:10I am from Serbia.

21:11So my question will be about Serbia.

21:14Can we expect some hardware procurements from USA, and what can be done in that direction

21:20between two countries?

21:22So as Serbia continues to modernize its military, we believe that the preferred option for procurement

21:28would be NATO interoperable equipment and systems.

21:32This aligns with Serbia's goals and presents significant advantages, and you're seeing

21:39that also as we're continuing to arm Ukraine.

21:42It's about NATO interoperability, which is incredibly important.

21:47And so while U.S. and European equipment may require a higher initial investment, it ensures

21:52right now the long-term benefits through streamlined training, maintenance, and interoperability.

21:58Great.

21:59Yes.

22:00Hi.

22:01Please, could you explain something about the Western Balkans, too?

22:08Because I am from Serbia, too, journalist for Kurir.

22:12Is Bosnia and Herzegovina or Kosovo and Matohija greater security risk in the Western Balkans?

22:19So as I mentioned before, we're certainly aware of the heightened tensions within the

22:23Western Balkans, and we believe that stability and security is vital.

22:30Both Kosovo, Bosnia, Herzegovina, they each face distinct challenges.

22:35And so our role is that we are committed to supporting their paths to greater cooperation

22:41and prosperity, and we're going to continue to work closely on that.

22:45Okay.

22:46Yes.

22:47And then I'll come to Louis.

22:48Thank you.

22:49Japan's defense ministry announced today – actually, yesterday in Japan – must discipline, including

22:55the personnel who treated classified information improperly.

23:00And is there serious concern in the Pentagon, especially when U.S. and Japan have been trying

23:05to construct a robust system of information sharing?

23:09Look, I'd refer you to Japan to speak more to, you know, the security measures that they

23:15are taking.

23:16I saw that report as well.

23:18We have confidence in our relationship with the Japanese government and our militaries.

23:23I'd refer you to them to speak more to how they are enhancing their security measures.

23:29But as you saw, we have had and continue to have great engagements.

23:35And I'll just leave it at that.

23:36Yeah.

23:37Louis?

23:38And then I'll come in the back.

23:39Thank you.

23:40I have two questions.

23:41One, I want to follow up on Konstantin's question.

23:42Sure.

23:43So you're saying that, as of right now, you're looking to see whether the JLATS peer

23:49could be operational yet again.

23:52Are alternate methods being looked at for potentially delivering some of that aid from

23:58Cyprus that you mentioned, should that not be the case?

24:02And I'm kind of framing it as a hypothetical, but I'm sure, since you said this is a planning

24:06organization.

24:07Yeah.

24:08Yeah.

24:09No.

24:10And I'm sorry if maybe you, I don't know if you heard me at the top, but I had mentioned

24:15that one of the ways we are looking to get aid into Gaza is through the port of Ashdod.

24:22It's sort of in its proof of concept stages right now.

24:28We are looking, I mean, what I can tell you is every metric ton that is on Cyprus or on

24:34one of our ships will be delivered in some way into Gaza.

24:37But we are looking for those alternative methods.

24:39And once we have better fidelity, I will, of course, keep you updated on that.

24:43So that leads me to my next question.

24:44Sure.

24:45So when you publish those cells under General Frank at the airbase there in Israel, is that

24:53functionality end with, does that mission end if the Jalat's pier, when the Jalat's

25:00pier ends on July 31st?

25:02Or does it continue in a different frame, kind of what you're talking about through

25:05Ashdod?

25:06Well, again, speculative and not exactly there yet.

25:12The short answer is I think there will be continued cooperation and coordination with

25:17the Israeli government to making sure that humanitarian aid is getting in.

25:21What that looks like without the pier being, you know, when it eventually ends and, you

25:26know, that will be soon, but I, again, don't have an exact date.

25:29I don't know how, you know, coordination will shift in those cells.

25:33But again, we are still going to continue to talk and work with the Israelis on making

25:38sure that aid is getting in.

25:40And if aid is getting in through our ships, through Ashdod, of course, that cell coordination

25:45link is going to have to exist in some way.

25:47And so it very might well be through that cell.

25:50So does that mean that American vessels may be transporting this, you know, these shipments

25:58from Cyprus in the future beyond the Jalat's mission?

26:01That's exactly what we're working through right now.

26:05This is, again, a proof of concept to try and get aid in through Ashdod and then move

26:08it down into Gaza.

26:10We're working that through with the Israeli Government.

26:13When we have more, we'll certainly share whether that involves U.S. ships or commercial ships.

26:17I'll keep you updated.

26:18Yes, in the back.

26:19QUESTION.

26:20So Ruslan Vazenovic, N1 TV, which is CNN affiliate in the Western Balkans.

26:25Yeah.

26:26You just mentioned that Serbia is sending arms to Ukraine.

26:29Do you know what type of ammunition?

26:31MS.

26:32CARRINGTON.

26:33I – no, I didn't mention that.

26:34I was talking about NATO interoperability.

26:37So I don't have anything for you on that.

26:39I'd let Serbia speak to their assistance.

26:40QUESTION.

26:41I was talking about that.

26:42There was an article in Financial Times that Serbia is sending arms to Ukraine, which Serbian

26:46Government denies, and also saying that it's forbidden to transport arms through the third

26:53countries.

26:54But it's obvious that Serbia is producing calibers, which are very similar to Russians,

27:00which can be used in all the Ukrainian military equipment.

27:06So how do you assess that?

27:08You have any assessment on that?

27:10MS.

27:11CARRINGTON.

27:12So I appreciate the question, but that's really something that the Serbian Government

27:13would have to speak to.

27:14I am not – as you are here in the briefing room, I am the spokesperson for the Department

27:19of Defense today up here answering your questions.

27:22I would just have to refer you to the Serbian Government for more on that.

27:25Did I see one more?

27:26Yes.

27:27QUESTION.

27:28Thank you.

27:29U.S. Secretary Blinken announced on NATO Summit two days ago that first F-16 are en route

27:33to Ukraine.

27:35Can you confirm that?

27:37And how many planes we are talking about?

27:38MS.

27:39CARRINGTON.

27:40I mean, I certainly can.

27:41The Secretary of State confirmed that.

27:43I'm just not going to get into specific numbers.

27:46I would certainly let the Ukrainians speak to that.

27:50And when they are in country, that's always something that we've traditionally done

27:55with any presidential drawdown package.

27:58We announce some of the equipment, the systems, the capabilities that we are sending.

28:02But we do let the Ukrainians speak to when they are in country, as that is an operational

28:06security consideration that they have to take into account.

28:10And so I'd refer you to the Ukrainians to speak to that.

28:13Okay?

28:14All right.

28:15Thank you, everyone.

28:16And thank you for joining us for those that are coming from abroad.

JUST IN: Pentagon Holds Press Briefing After Announcing Gaza Aid Pier Will Permanently Shut Down

Category

Transcript

Recommended