Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh Holds a Press Briefing

View Online Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh Holds a Press Briefing July 12, 2024 DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY SABRINA SINGH: Hi. Good afternoon. Happy Friday. Thanks for being here today. I know we don't usually do briefings on a Friday, so appreciate you adjusting your schedules. So first, starting off, I'd like to acknowledge the end of a successful week of the NATO summit. As you know, Secretary Austin had engagements throughout the week with his counterparts, including bilateral engagements and hosting a dinner for defense ministers on Wednesday evening. This week, we celebrated NATO's historic achievements during the 75 years since its establishment and further deepened our bonds with our NATO allies and other partners. We also reaffirmed our commitment to supporting Ukraine in its fight for freedom from Russian aggression. In support of that commitment, the department announced yesterday the 61st presidential drawdown authority package, which has an estimated value of $225 million. This package will provide Ukraine additional capabilities to meet its most urgent needs and includes one Patriot battery, munitions for rocket systems and artillery and anti-tank weapons. For a complete listing of the PDA's contents, I would direct you to defense.gov. Separately this morning, Secretary Austin also spoke by phone with Russian Minister of Defense, Andrey Belousov. During the call, the Secretary emphasized the importance of maintaining lines of communication amid Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine. The last time Secretary Austin spoke with his Russian counterpart was on June 25, 2024, and later today, a brief readout of the call will be posted to defense.gov. And finally, I'd like to provide an update on the temporary pier or the Joint Logistics Over The Shore capability that has been used to surge humanitarian assistance into Gaza. On Wednesday, U.S. Central Command personnel attempted to re-anchor the temporary pier to the beach in Gaza to resume humanitarian operations. However, due to technical and weather related issues, CENTCOM personnel were unable to re-anchor the pier to the shore. The pier support vessels and equipment returned to Ashdod and will remain there for now. A re-anchoring date has not yet been set at this time. To date, more than 8,000 metric tons, or nearly 20 million pounds of humanitarian aid have been delivered from the pier to the marshaling area where it can be collected by humanitarian organizations for onward delivery and distribution. As we said when we first announced this, the pier is part of a comprehensive response to the humanitarian situation in Gaza. In addition to enabling the delivery of life saving aid, implementation of JLOTS has enabled the development of Cyprus as a port for inspections and deliveries directly into Gaza. Aid can now be inspected in Cyprus and delivered directly into Gaza through Israel's Ashdod port and crossings in the north. The deployment of this pier has also helped secure Israeli commitment to opening additional crossings into northern Gaza. Since the opening of these crossings, we've seen more trucks moving from Jordan directly into northern Gaza to help alleviate the dire humanitarian conditions. As we announced yesterday, the pier will soon cease operations with more details on that process and timing available in the coming days. We're very proud of our service members and all those supporting this effort and who have enabled vital humanitarian assistance to get into — to those in Gaza who need it most. Without a doubt, lives have been saved because of their work and commitment under very challenging conditions. And as hundreds of thousands of people continue to face emergency levels of food insecurity across Gaza, the United States will continue to take all possible action to ensure increased aid flows are sustained at the scale needed to meet the needs on the ground. As we've said from the beginning, DOD will continue to work closely with USAID and others in the Middle East region to support these important efforts. And with that, I'd be happy to take your questions. I believe we have AP joining us on the phone today. So I'll turn it over to Tara Copp. Q: Hi, Sabrina. Thanks for doing this. Um, so just on the pier, you said no decision has been made on it, but it sounds like it might just be too much between the sea states and the small amount of aid left to make it — uh, make sense to reattach. Is that kind of the deliberations that you guys are going through right now? MS. SINGH: Thanks, Tara, for the question. So certainly um, sea states environmental factors are going to be taken into consideration when it comes to their re-anchoring. I — again, as I said at the top, a re-anchoring date has not been set at this time. When and if that does happen, we'd be of course certainly to keep you updated on that front. And did you have another one? Q: I do, a couple. Um, so — but is one of the options you're thinking is just at this point because the weather is going to get worse and you'd never really been intending to have it last later in the summer anyway that this might be the end of the pier — MS. SINGH: Yeah, so — yeah, appreciate the question. Again, can't predict the weather. It's something that we are assessing day by day. We know for the next few days there are going to be higher sea states that would not allow a re-anchoring to be possible. Again, at this time, I just don't have more information to provide on when and if a re-anchoring date has been or will be possible. If a re-anchoring does happen, of course, as we always do, we would read that out to you. And anything additional and then I'll come in the room. Q: Just one last, um, does the Pentagon have any uh of its own intelligence corroborating that Russia tried to um assassinate arms makers, Western arms makers who are assisting with the effort in Ukraine? And was this brought up in Austin's call with his counterpart? MS SINGH: Thanks, Tara for the question. In terms of any further details on the call, I'm just not going to be able to provide that at this time. I've seen some of those reports. Of course, we always with any of our allies and partners, always share intelligence and information, but I just don't have more to add at this time as well. I'll come in the room. Oren. Q: One pier question and then one question on the call with the Russian counterpart. Um, whose decision was it to — to end or not extend the pier operation? Is that a General Kurilla decision? Is that — is that SECDEF or is that the president? And when was that decision made to? MS. SINGH: So as we always said, the pier is temporary. A decision — it's not just one person. It is a collective decision that is made. And of course, a recommendation comes up from the commander all the way up to the secretary. We always said that this pier was temporary. And given the sea states, the weather conditions that we know we're always going to get worse throughout the summer, the mission of the pier will be concluding at some time soon, but I just don't have an exact date for you. Q: And then on the call with the Russian counterpart with Minister Belousov, um, this is now two calls in two and a half weeks. Was this — was this one also initiated by Secretary Austin? And — and it certainly seems like these are more common than they've been over the course of two and a half years — of the last two and a half years. Is — is this to be expected to continue? Will there be a more regular pace of — of discussions here between the two? MS. SINGH: This call was initiated by the Russian minister of Defense. In terms of future calls, of course, nothing to announce, but as the secretary has said and what I also mentioned at the top is that maintaining lines of communication is incredibly important right now. If there are future calls, we'd read those out as well. Q: Was there any specific reason given about — MS. SINGH: Yeah, I just don't have any more to provide at this time. Liz? Q: Thanks, Sabrina. Uh, President Zelenskyy has insisted that lifting all restrictions, so Ukraine can strike military targets within Russia would be a quote "game changer" and that Ukraine needs to hit those targets enabled to win. What's the Pentagon's assessment of that? MS. SINGH: I think the president spoke to this very directly yesterday at his press conference. Our policy hasn't changed. We do allow those cross border strikes when Russia is attacking from the other side of the border. And as the war has changed, we have changed. Our policies have adapted. And you've seen that play out in Kharkiv and it could expand into other areas. But right now we have not authorized the use of ATACMS for deep strike capabilities within Russia. I have to remind you, they have other long-range capabilities that are not provided by the United States, but in terms of our policy that has not changed. Q: So — so what's this coming from then? Because throughout the week at the NATO summit, Zelenskyy was pretty adamant that this is a game changer, uh, so — so is that just not true? MS. SINGH: Look, of course, you're going to advocate on behalf of your country. You know, we don't take any issue with that. Our policy still remains the same. We believe that Ukraine continues to be successful in the battlefield. With our policy in place, we've been able to see them hold and strengthen their lines around Kharkiv. Could our policy — could they be allowed to use it into other areas? We're always adapting. And as the war has changed, our policy has changed. But of course, we are always mindful of escalation and that's something, that is the reason why we have the policy the way it is. Constantine? Q: Thanks, Sabrina. Um, you mentioned you sort of said that if the piers re-anchored twice. Is there a world where the re-anchoring attempts are scrubbed and this is the, you know, the pier has done the last work it will do? MS. SINGH: It really depends on the sea states and the environment. And right now, obviously I can't predict that. What we are committed to is making sure that every single piece of aid, metric ton of aid that is in Cyprus is moved into Gaza. Whether that be through the port of Ashdod or through the temporary pier, no matter what the aid that was assembled will get to the people who need it most. Q: And can you just speak a little bit more into the — about the decision making process in to cease operations? Was that because of these challenges with the sea state and the environmental factors? Or was it because aid in — in Cyprus is dwindling and nearing, you know, sort of the end of that? MS. SINGH: Well, I think it's important to remember that we always said this was a temporary operation. It was always going to have an end date. That exact end date, I don't have for you right now, but we'll keep you updated on that. I think it's also really important to remember that during the course of the time that JLS has been operating, we acknowledge that there have been bumps in the road. We have had to take it offline. There have been repairs that needed to be made. But you cannot discount the fact that we were able to get nearly 20 million pounds of aid into Gaza and for onward distribution. We got it in, of course, to the marshaling area. That aid is going to save lives. So I think it's important to remember that in the context of the temporary pier, one, it was always going to have an end date. Two, we're working on other avenues in ways with USAID to get aid into Gaza. And then three, of course, this was always going to be a temporary method. I will go back to the phones and then happy to come back into the room here. Idris, Reuters. Q: Yeah, two quick questions. Um, the White House uh earlier this week announced some long-range fires being moved to Germany, um, sort of, you know, on and off and then eventually being placed there in 2026. Um, what's the message the US is — is trying to send with those long range fires in Germany? And secondly, the announcement was made by the White House, unless I've missed something, the Pentagon has not put anything out on that. Is there a new policy that the White House is going to announce force posture movements, not the Pentagon? If you could give any more details on that? MS. SINGH: Thanks, Idris. Well, you know, the president was leading the NATO summit this week. He announced it. We, of course, when rotations happen, we do announce that either in a statement or reading it out from the podium. But again, as you mentioned, this is not something that's happening until 2026, so give us a little time here. As you also mentioned, these are episodic deployments and will help inform planning for ensuring future stationing. Im terms of the message that it sends, we are working in close collaboration with the German government and the Army to continue to finalize these details. But it is about shoring up support within Europe. And that's something that not only you saw with this announcement but with what the president and the secretary in their engagements with NATO — with their counterparts at the NATO summit all this week. I'll take another one from the phone here. Jeff Schogol, Task and Purpose. Q: Thank you very much and I stand with all the Military Times reporters and Sightline union reporters laid off today. I understand if you have to take this question. When the president said that U.S. and Chinese military leaders now have direct access, did he mean there's now a hotline between us and Chinese leaders or that mil to mil communications have reset to a time before Speaker Pelosi visited Taiwan? Thank you. MS. SINGH: Thanks, Jeff, for the question. I don't have to take that question. I would refer you to the White House to speak more to the president's comments. Last question, Jeff Seldin, VOA. Q: Sabrina, thanks. The UN this week issued a report on Afghanistan, and it indicated al-Qaida is sending more operatives there and opening new training camps. It also said that ISIS-K has managed to infiltrate some of the Taliban ministries and also push into Central Asia and is even running a special ops force in Iran. How concerned is the Pentagon about al-Qaida and ISIS-K operations out of Afghanistan? And what if anything at this point is the Pentagon doing to push back? As a second unrelated question, has the Pentagon been impacted at all by the AT&T breach that was disclosed? If so, what is the Pentagon doing to mitigate? MS. SINGH: Thanks, Jeff, for the question. On the AT&T breach, I'm not aware of an impact to the department, but of course this is developing in real time. So if there is an impact, we can let you know on that. When it comes to ISIS-K, and just the proliferation of ISIS not just in Afghanistan, but you're seeing also throughout Africa, it is something, of course, that remains top of mind for the United States, which is why you have our mission in Iraq and Syria to continue that fight against ISIS. It's something that we continue to monitor. And whether it be from AFRICOM or CENTCOM, it's something that we take very seriously. So of course, we're concerned with any proliferation of any plots or plans against U.S. service members or our partners and allies around the world and it's something that we're going to continue to watch. All right. I'll come back in the room here. Yes, and then I'll come over to you. Yeah. Q: You said that the surge of aid had saved lives. It's estimated that the amount that was unloaded into the marshaling area was the equivalent of one day of pre-war aid delivery into Gaza. Off that, then do you know how much actually reached the people of Gaza? Whose lives were saved? How many? MS. SINGH: For in terms of— maybe I can explain to you our role in distributing aid and then what USAID's role and WFP and the UN is. So what we have done is facilitating the aid, getting into the marshaling area in Gaza. Once it gets to the marshaling area, it gets distributed out by WFP or contracted drivers that U.S. aid has been in close coordination with. It goes into distribution centers within Gaza and then gets further distributed out. I don't have a count for you of how many lives have been saved, but what I can tell you is that people are hungry. There are people in need of that food, and we delivered nearly 20 million pounds of food to the people in Gaza. So we are saving lives. I think it's important to remember that and what you saw with our forces is running towards the problem. We created a solution. We believe it was a success. Q: Just one other follow up. MS. SINGH: Sure. Q: Did anyone at the Pentagon research summer Mediterranean Sea conditions before embarking on this project? There's a sense that you were taken completely by surprise and in fact, the JLOTS is completely unsuitable for the conditions off the coast of Gaza. MS. SINGH: We are a planning organization. We have folks all around the world that operate within the Eastern Med at any given time. Of course, we are aware of the sea conditions within the Eastern Mediterranean. We are not shying away from the fact that there have been higher sea states that have at times disrupted delivery of aid and have made it harder to get aid in. But again, I would say to you and on some of these questions, to do nothing would have been a failure. To be part of a solution, that's success and that's what you saw with our personnel delivering that aid into Gaza. Q: Will there be an inquiry now as to where this $230 million of taxpayer money actually went and whether it was worth it and the decision-making process behind? MS. SINGH: I think it was worth feeding people who needed it most. Yeah. All right. Yeah, Erin, and then I'll come over here. Q: Just kind of a follow up. MS. SINGH: Sure. Q: How many days has the pier been functioning, like getting aid off the pier onto land? MS. SINGH: I believe it's a total of 20 days since it was anchored in mid-May. Q: That it's taken food off of the pier and delivered it onto shore, 20 days total? MS. SINGH: Mm-hmm. Well, two separate things. So the functionality of the pier, it's been operable for about 20 days. You have to remember that aid started to move when we moved the pier back a few weeks ago, back to Ashford. There were those contracted drivers that started moving aid out of the marshaling area into distribution centers because the marshaling area was essentially at capacity. So that was happening while aid was not moving off the pier because there was essentially—it was pretty full, but there wasn't a need to necessarily move aid in at a rapid pace. Great. Yes. Q: Thank you. How does the Department of Defense of the United States see the current security situation in Western Balkan primarily, and Kosovo and Metohija? In the sense, how the Washington see military cooperation and communication with Serbian authorities about the preserve stability and security partnership and the prospect for improving cooperation? MS. SINGH: First, I should have said, welcome. I believe we have some folks joining us from abroad and I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name. Q: Mark , Serbia. MS. SINGH: OK. Thank you and thank you for joining us today. We acknowledge that our two countries, there's been increased mil-to-mil cooperation and are on track for over 100 military to military events in 2024. That's a nearly 25 percent increase from last year and that includes bilateral training, multilateral exercises like Platinum Wolf, that I think you've covered, and high-level visits between both nations. Serbia's active cooperation with NATO is also a cornerstone of our defense relationship, enabling the Serbian Armed Forces valuable contributions to global security through participation in numerous EU and UN peacekeeping missions. So we're going to continue to further deepen our cooperation and through mutually beneficial, bilateral, multilateral exercises. Q: The current situation in Western Balkan primarily comes from Metohija. MS. SINGH: So we acknowledge that there are, certainly are tensions within the Western Balkan region and certainly over the past two years. This heightened concern certainly underscores our ongoing cooperation and partnership in ensuring regional stability, so we're going to continue to monitor that. Rio, and then I'll happily come to you. Q: Thank you, Sabrina. My question is about Japan. So there are some media reports that the U.S. Navy's Ospreys will be deployed at the U.S. base in Iwakuni, Japan for the first time. So could you please confirm the report? And also, this month's DOD has announced its modernization plan to upgrade U.S. tactical airplanes in Japan, so is the potential deployment of Navy's Ospreys in Japan related to DOD's aircraft modernization plan? MS. SINGH: I'm so sorry, Rio. I'm just not going to have a ton for you right now. I haven't seen that report that you referenced, so I just really can't comment on that. We're always looking to looking for ways to modernize our forces, but I just don't have anything more to add to what you had asked. I'm so sorry. We're happy to get back to you on that. Yes. Q: telegraph. I am from Serbia, so my question will be about Serbia. Can we expect some hardware procurements from USA and what can be done in that direction between two countries? MS. SINGH: So as Serbia continues to modernize its military, we believe that the preferred option for procurement would be NATO interoperable equipment and systems. This aligns with Serbia's goals, and presents significant advantages and you're seeing that also, as we're continuing to arm Ukraine, it's about you know NATO interoperability which is incredibly important. And so while US and European equipment may require a higher initial investment, it ensures, right now, the long-term benefits through streamlined training, maintenance and interoperability. Great. Yes. Q: Hi. Please, could you explain, is something about the Western Balkans too because I am from Serbia too, journalist for the . Is Bosnia and Herzegovina or Kosovo and Metohija greater security risk in the Western Balkans? MS. SINGH: So as I mentioned before, we're certainly aware of the heightened tensions within the Western Balkans and we believe that stability and security is vital. Both Kosovo, Bosnia, Herzegovina, they each face distinct challenges and so our role is that we are committed to supporting their paths to greater cooperation and prosperity and we're going to continue to work closely on that. OK. Yes, and then I'll come to Louie. Q: Thank you. Japan's Defense Ministry announced today, actually, yesterday in Japan, must discipline, including the personnel who treated classified information improperly. Is there serious concern in the Pentagon, especially when U.S. and Japan have been trying to construct a robust system of information sharing? MS. SINGH: Look, I'd refer you to Japan to speak more to the security measures that they are taking. I saw that report as well. We have confidence in our relationship with the Japanese government and our militaries. I'd refer you to them to speak more to how they are enhancing their security measures. But as you saw, we have had and continue to have great engagements. I'll just leave it at that. Yeah, yeah. Louis, and then I'll come in the back. Q: Thank you. I have two questions. One, I want to follow up on Constantine's question. MS. SINGH: Sure. Q: Um, so you're saying that as of right now you're looking to see whether the JLOTS pier could be operational yet again. Um, our alternate methods being looked at for potentially delivering some of that aid from Cyprus that you mentioned, should that not be the case? And I'm kind of framing it as a hypothetical, but you know, I'm sure since you said this is a planning organization, yeah. MS. SINGH: Yeah. No, I don't know if you heard me at the top, but I had mentioned that one of the ways we are looking to get aid into Gaza is through the port of Ashdod. It's sort of a — in its proof-of-concept stages right now. We are looking —, what I can tell you is every metric ton that is on Cyprus or on one of our ships will be delivered in some way into Gaza. But we are looking for those alternative methods. And once we have better fidelity, I will, you know, of course, keep you updated on that. Q: That leads me to my next question. MS. SINGH: Sure. Q: So you established those cells under General Frank at um, at the airbase there in Israel. Is that functionality end with — does that mission end if the JLOTS pier end when the JLOTS pier ends on July 31? Or does it continue in a different frame kind of what you're talking about through Ashdod? MS. SINGH: Again, speculative, and not exactly there yet. The short answer is I think there will be continued cooperation and coordination with the Israeli government to making sure that humanitarian aid is getting in. What that looks like without the pier being, when it eventually ends, and that will be soon, but I again, don't have an exact date. I don't know how, you know, coordination will shift in those cells, but again, we are still going to continue to talk and work with the Israelis on making sure that aid is getting in. And if aid is getting in through our ships through Ashdod, of course, that cell coordination link is going to have to exist in some way. And so it very might well be through that cell. Q: So does that mean that um, American vessels may be transporting this, you know, these shipments from Cyprus in the future beyond the JLS's mission? MS. SINGH: That's exactly what we're working through right now. This is again a proof of concept to try and get aid in through Ashdod and then move it down into Gaza. We're working that through with the Israeli government. When we have more, we'll certainly share whether that involves U.S. ships or commercial ships. I'll keep you updated. Yes, in the back? Q: TV which is a CNN affiliate in the Western Balkans, um — MS. SINGH: Welcome. Q: Yeah, you just mentioned that Serbia is sending arms to Ukraine. Do you know what type of ammunition? MS. SINGH: I no. I didn't mention that I was talking about NATO interoperability, so I don't have anything for you on that. I'd let Serbia speak to their assistance. Q: And there was an article in Financial Times that Serbia is sending arms to Ukraine, which Serbian government denies. And also saying that it's forbidden to transport arms through the third — third countries. But it's obvious that Serbia is producing calibers which are very similar to Russians which can be used in old the Ukrainian military equipment. So how do you assess that? Do you have any assessment on that? MS. SINGH: So appreciate the question, but that's really something that the Serbian government would have to speak to. As you are here in the briefing room, I am the spokesperson for the Department of Defense today up here answering your questions. I would just have to refer you to the Serbian government for more on that. Did I see one more? Yes? Q: Thank you. Uh, U.S. Secretary Blinken announced at NATO summit two days ago that the first F-16 are enroute to Ukraine. Can you confirm that? And how many planes we're talking about? MS. SINGH: I mean, I certainly can. The Secretary of State confirmed that, I'm just not going to get into specific numbers. I would certainly let the Ukrainians speak to that. When they are in country that's always something that we've traditionally done with any presidential drawdown package. We announced some of the equipment, the systems, the capabilities that we are sending, but we do let the Ukrainians speak to when they are in country as that is an operational security consideration that they have to take into account. I'd refer you to the Ukrainians to speak to that. OK, all right. Thank you everyone, and thank you for joining us for those that are coming from abroad.

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