Press Release
☷Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh Holds a Press Conference
U.S. Department of Defense ( By Press Release office)
Mar 15,2024
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Hey everyone , just wanted to give you a quick update on a few things . Secretary Austin is heading to Germany for a meeting on Ukraine defense , Dr . Radha Plumb is our new digital and A . I . officer , and Secretary Austin met with the Latvian Minister of Defense . Also , some funding was recently signed to extend our national security priorities in the Pacific . Just wanted to keep you all in the loop . Let me know if you have any questions!The military does a lot of great work , and we ' re really thankful for their service . Extending the compacts in the Indo - Pacific was a big priority for Congress , and we were able to get it done thanks to everyone working together . Exercise Hanuman Guardian is happening in Thailand this week , which is focused on improving various military capabilities . Secretary Austin will be going to Walter Reed for a routine check - up , but he ' s recovering well . As for Haiti , the embassy is still open and we ' re focused on enhancing security there . There are no current plans for a non - combatant evacuation or for any migrants to go to Guantanamo . We ' re in communication with the State Department and Department of Homeland Security for any further developments . Hey Jen , right now we don ' t have any updates to share , but if that changes , we ' ll definitely keep you in the loop . Regarding the Army finding extra funds for weapons to Ukraine , it ' s a unique situation and if any other services come across similar contracts , we ' ll make sure to update you . As for providing longer - range weapons to Ukraine , there ' s no announcement at this time , but you can check our website for more details . On the topic of the Houthis , there is no evidence of them having hypersonic weapons and our strikes are aimed at degrading their capabilities despite ongoing support from Iran . But we ' re going to keep supporting Operation Prosperity Guardian to make sure commercial ships can keep sailing through the Red Sea , and we ' ll protect our interests while doing so . We ' re always looking for ways to cut off the supply of weapons from Iran to the Houthis , and we ' re monitoring how they ' re getting weapons . As for the investigation into the Abbey Gate bombing , I don ' t have any updates to share at this time . The Besson hasn ' t arrived in the Eastern Med yet , but ships will be departing soon to start constructing the pier . We ' re still working on the logistics of aid distribution and security around the floating pier . We ' ll keep you updated as we progress . And regarding the balloon found off the coast of Alaska , the Department of Defense is looking into it . Q: Any updates on when the review might be complete or any initial indications of what the balloon was , like if it ' s a spy balloon? MS . SINGH: The Secretary has complete confidence in the Navy . For specific updates on ships , I suggest reaching out to the Navy . I don ' t have that information right now . But the Secretary believes that the Navy is capable of fulfilling any mission assigned to them . Q: The Ukrainian government claimed that most of the North Korean weapons used by Russia were defective . Do you think North Korea is still supplying these weapons to Russia? MS . SINGH: For more details on maintenance , please contact the Navy . But to my knowledge , there haven ' t been any impacts . Q: Have there been any impacts on recent missions due to Navy maintenance issues? MS . SINGH: I can ' t comment on their effectiveness as we haven ' t assessed that . However , we know that Russia continues to seek weapons from partners like North Korea and Iran for its ongoing conflict with Ukraine . MS . SINGH: I ' m not aware of the exercise you ' re referring to . I would recommend contacting INDOPACOM for more information . MS . SINGH: No indications yet . The department is currently reviewing it and trying to gather more details . But I don ' t have more information at the moment . We will share it when we ' re ready . Q: So , as for the Navy ' s amphibious ability , the USS Boxer has been delayed from deploying for a few months now . And recently , the USS Wasp had to return to port due to maintenance issues . This is all happening while we ' re discussing a possible NEO in Haiti . So , does Secretary Austin have faith in the Navy ' s ability to maintain its fleet of amphibious ships? Q: Regarding the U . S . and South Korea military joint exercises in the Freedom Shield , why weren ' t U . S . strategic assets allowed to participate?I don ' t have an assessment on how effective those actions are , but it ' s clear that Russia has further isolated itself on the world stage . The United States is standing in opposition to Russia by supporting Ukraine through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group . We support any country that helps Ukraine with security assistance , including providing 155mm artillery shells . Congress needs to pass our urgent supplemental request to provide the necessary funding for Ukraine . As for the suggestion of making the assistance a loan or lend - lease program , negotiations are ongoing in Congress . Currently , the Pentagon has not been tasked with executing a NEO ( Noncombatant Evacuation Operation ) for Ukraine . The embassy in Port - au - Prince is open and additional security personnel have been deployed to reinforce security . We plan for a range of contingencies , but I don ' t have any further information to share at this time . Q: OK , and then my last question is about Turkey ' s president . President Erdogan mentioned that Ankara hopes to recover the $1 . 4 billion it paid for the F - 35s , which it was blocked from purchasing . Can you give us an update on that? Can you confirm if it will happen? What ' s the latest on the talks between Turkey and the U . S . regarding this issue? MS . SINGH: I don ' t have any new information on that . You may want to check with the State Department for updates . Yeah , go ahead . Q: Regarding U . S . forces in Syria , has there been any change in their positions? MS . SINGH: No , there have been no changes in our posture . Q: So there are no plans to withdraw from Syria? MS . SINGH: I don ' t have any updates to share . Our mission in Syria and Iraq remains focused on defeating ISIS . Q: Some reports suggest that Russia and Syria are coordinating to remove U . S . forces from Iraq . Can you confirm this? MS . SINGH: I can ' t confirm those reports . Our posture remains the same . Our priority is defeating ISIS . Q: Thank you . I wanted to follow up on the construction of a temporary port in Gaza . Why is the U . S . building a port instead of using existing ports in Egypt or Israel for aid delivery? MS . SINGH: The floating pier with a causeway was deemed the most efficient way to deliver aid by the U . S . military . We support the use of land crossings for aid delivery as well , but currently , the floating pier is the best option . Why not demand that the Israeli government , who we ' re paying billions to support their war , do something about it? We have direct conversations with the IDF and the Israeli government at all levels . Yeah , thanks Sabrina . The President basically opposed the Japanese companies sponsored by U . S . Steel this morning . So does the Pentagon think that Japanese investment in the U . S . could be a national security concern? I don ' t have any more information on that , sorry . You can ask the White House . Yeah , the Pentagon is concerned about having a more integrated defense supply chain with allies and partners . We value our relationship with the Japanese government and work closely with them in various aspects . However , I don ' t have more information on that specific deal . You can ask the White House . Thanks , Sabrina . Following up on the Haiti evacuations . Sure . There was also the evacuation of private U . S . citizens from remote parts of Haiti , facilitated in part by the U . S . military . How does that work? Who requests that support? I ' m not aware of any citizens in remote parts of Haiti needing evacuation . If you ' re an American citizen in need of assistance in a foreign country , you would go through the State Department . The personnel that left with our servicemembers were embassy personnel . To my knowledge , the military has not evacuated anyone else . Thank you . Yeah , go ahead . I have questions about Osprey . Sure . Yesterday , U . S . Forces Japan resumed Osprey flights in Japan . Do you know if the U . S . The military has started Osprey flights in a different location after the grounding was lifted . MS . SINGH mentioned that she doesn ' t have specific information on where the flights are taking off from and directed inquiries to the respective services . In response to concerns in Japan about the Osprey crash last year , she highlighted that the Secretary had a discussion with his Japanese counterpart and expressed confidence in the services ' ability to investigate the incident . Regarding the situation in the Caribbean , the U . S . is not currently sending ships , aircraft , or assets but is prepared to do so if requested by DHS or the State Department . Questions about the escalating situation in the Red Sea and weapons being sent to Israel were also addressed , with a focus on supporting Israel in its fight against Hamas . But as you can see , this department is working nonstop to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza . We ' ve been doing aid drops , and just this morning we had our 10th one . We ' re also setting up a floating pier off the coast of Gaza to ensure a steady flow of meals , water , and other necessities . Regarding the Red Sea , we ' re aware that the Houthis still pose a threat to commercial shipping . Whenever they attack a ship or threaten the passage , they ' re putting global commerce at risk , not just for the US and Israel , but for the entire world , including the people in Yemen . The recent incident with the Rubymar , which was carrying fertilizer and oil , has caused an environmental disaster in their own backyard . It ' s up to the Houthis to decide when they ' ll stop these attacks , but the US military and our allies will continue to hold them accountable . As for the Iranian spy ship in the Gulf of Aden , it ' s been there for years and has its own interests in the region . I can ' t speak further about its involvement in targeting the Houthis . Regarding the Sentinel program , the 2025 budget includes funding for it . So , like , are we jumping the gun with the review? Does that mean the program has already been approved? I don ' t have all the details , so I suggest checking with the Air Force for more specific information . I really don ' t have anything else to add . And yeah , go ahead with your last question . SINGH: We ' re helping with hostage recovery and rescue , but I can ' t give you any more details on that . Sorry , I thought I saw Anne earlier and may have missed your question . Q: Can you provide more information on the Marines in Haiti and why they aren ' t involved in evacuating U . S . citizens? Is there a specific reason? MS . SINGH: Right now , their mission is focused on ensuring the safety of our embassy personnel and securing the area . The situation in Haiti is constantly changing , and we want to see stability and security restored . Until then , protecting our personnel is a priority .
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