1 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:04,751 Good afternoon , everyone . Thank you 2 00:00:04,751 --> 00:00:06,973 for joining us , everyone . That's here 3 00:00:06,973 --> 00:00:09,140 in the PBR and everyone that's joining 4 00:00:09,140 --> 00:00:11,196 us via Zoom this afternoon . We have 5 00:00:11,196 --> 00:00:13,418 Admiral Craig Fowler , the commander of 6 00:00:13,418 --> 00:00:16,240 U S South com , and General Glenn Van 7 00:00:16,240 --> 00:00:18,129 Herck , commander of U S Northern 8 00:00:18,129 --> 00:00:20,470 Command , here to here to speak few 9 00:00:20,470 --> 00:00:22,637 words to you and take your questions . 10 00:00:22,940 --> 00:00:24,829 Um , in just a moment , they will 11 00:00:24,829 --> 00:00:26,996 provide you their opening statements . 12 00:00:26,996 --> 00:00:29,051 I want to remind everybody on online 13 00:00:29,051 --> 00:00:31,273 Please keep your devices on mute unless 14 00:00:31,273 --> 00:00:33,384 you're speaking . Um , we will try to 15 00:00:33,384 --> 00:00:35,496 balance questions here from the floor 16 00:00:35,496 --> 00:00:37,496 and out to zoom and the phone . And 17 00:00:37,496 --> 00:00:39,662 let's try to keep things to a question 18 00:00:39,662 --> 00:00:41,880 and a follow up with that said , And 19 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:44,047 without further ado , I leave to you , 20 00:00:44,047 --> 00:00:46,269 sir . Thank you . And thanks for taking 21 00:00:46,269 --> 00:00:48,324 the time to join us here today . And 22 00:00:48,324 --> 00:00:50,436 and thanks for the important job that 23 00:00:50,436 --> 00:00:52,547 you all do , telling the story of our 24 00:00:52,547 --> 00:00:54,491 military and it's important to the 25 00:00:54,491 --> 00:00:56,658 world . Really . It's a pleasure to be 26 00:00:56,658 --> 00:00:58,880 here alongside my friend and shipmate , 27 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:00,824 General Glenn Van Hurt . Our teams 28 00:01:00,824 --> 00:01:03,047 worked shoulder to shoulder together to 29 00:01:03,047 --> 00:01:05,213 confront the threats and challenges of 30 00:01:05,213 --> 00:01:07,213 this hemisphere and the two biggest 31 00:01:07,213 --> 00:01:09,213 threats are China and transnational 32 00:01:09,213 --> 00:01:11,491 criminal organizations . As the end up , 33 00:01:11,491 --> 00:01:13,713 a com commander stated his hearing last 34 00:01:13,713 --> 00:01:15,880 week , China is the greatest long term 35 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:18,102 strategic threat to the security in the 36 00:01:18,102 --> 00:01:20,158 21st century , the Chinese Communist 37 00:01:20,158 --> 00:01:22,158 Party , insidious and corrosive and 38 00:01:22,158 --> 00:01:24,980 corrupt influences at work globally and 39 00:01:24,980 --> 00:01:27,710 in this region . Some examples include 40 00:01:27,710 --> 00:01:29,877 their pursuit of multiple port deals , 41 00:01:30,140 --> 00:01:33,120 loans for political leverage , vaccine 42 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:35,360 diplomacy that undermines sovereignty , 43 00:01:35,940 --> 00:01:38,510 state surveillance , it and the 44 00:01:38,510 --> 00:01:40,740 exploitation of resources such as 45 00:01:40,770 --> 00:01:42,714 illegal , unregulated , unreported 46 00:01:42,714 --> 00:01:45,580 fishing . Transnational criminal 47 00:01:45,580 --> 00:01:47,830 organizations also pose a serious 48 00:01:47,830 --> 00:01:49,608 threat to regional security and 49 00:01:49,608 --> 00:01:51,700 sovereignty . They profit from a 50 00:01:51,700 --> 00:01:54,150 multibillion dollar a year enterprise 51 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:55,882 that thrives on corruption and 52 00:01:55,882 --> 00:01:57,882 contributes to tens of thousands of 53 00:01:57,882 --> 00:01:59,827 American deaths every year . These 54 00:01:59,827 --> 00:02:01,882 transnational criminal organizations 55 00:02:01,882 --> 00:02:03,993 are a threat to us here in the United 56 00:02:03,993 --> 00:02:05,993 States and to our partner nations . 57 00:02:05,993 --> 00:02:08,160 This is a national security imperative 58 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:10,327 and it drives irregular migration . As 59 00:02:10,327 --> 00:02:13,010 we're seeing today , South calms focus 60 00:02:13,010 --> 00:02:15,232 is exactly in line with the secretaries 61 00:02:15,232 --> 00:02:17,066 guidance in the national defense 62 00:02:17,066 --> 00:02:18,899 strategy . It's to counter these 63 00:02:18,899 --> 00:02:21,232 threats by building strong partnerships , 64 00:02:21,232 --> 00:02:23,232 an example where U . S presence and 65 00:02:23,232 --> 00:02:25,454 commitment to these partnerships matter 66 00:02:25,454 --> 00:02:27,510 occurred during our covid response . 67 00:02:27,510 --> 00:02:29,510 Despite the challenges posed by the 68 00:02:29,510 --> 00:02:31,677 pandemic . Our partners stepped up and 69 00:02:31,677 --> 00:02:33,732 increase their involvement to nearly 70 00:02:33,732 --> 00:02:37,230 60% of narco narcotics disruptions in 71 00:02:37,230 --> 00:02:39,230 similar fashion . When our partners 72 00:02:39,230 --> 00:02:41,119 requested assist in combating the 73 00:02:41,119 --> 00:02:43,063 spread of the virus , we responded 74 00:02:43,063 --> 00:02:45,119 immediately . To date , South Com is 75 00:02:45,119 --> 00:02:47,330 committed more than 56 million in 76 00:02:47,330 --> 00:02:50,970 funding for 464 projects , donating 77 00:02:50,970 --> 00:02:53,081 much needed equipment and supplies to 78 00:02:53,081 --> 00:02:55,190 28 countries . This is part of the 79 00:02:55,190 --> 00:02:57,357 broader U . S government investment of 80 00:02:57,357 --> 00:02:59,246 more than 230 million . And Covid 81 00:02:59,246 --> 00:03:01,550 response , the largest of any country 82 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,096 with an already fragile region , are 83 00:03:05,096 --> 00:03:07,262 partners in Central America was struck 84 00:03:07,262 --> 00:03:09,430 by ETA and iota too powerful CAT four 85 00:03:09,430 --> 00:03:11,374 and five hurricanes that displaced 86 00:03:11,374 --> 00:03:13,541 millions and caused billions in damage 87 00:03:14,340 --> 00:03:16,451 within hours of the first request for 88 00:03:16,451 --> 00:03:18,673 assistance , Joint Task Force Bravo are 89 00:03:18,673 --> 00:03:21,140 only rapidly deploy unit in the region . 90 00:03:21,150 --> 00:03:24,190 Began rescuing people . Our team saved 91 00:03:24,190 --> 00:03:26,720 more than 850 lives and transported 92 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:28,710 more than £1.2 million of relief 93 00:03:28,710 --> 00:03:32,500 supplies at home . We focused on 94 00:03:32,500 --> 00:03:35,100 building our team through strict force 95 00:03:35,100 --> 00:03:37,044 health protection measures for our 96 00:03:37,044 --> 00:03:38,950 workforce and the elimination of 97 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:41,182 unacceptable behaviors which are like a 98 00:03:41,182 --> 00:03:43,293 cancer to trust and unit cohesion and 99 00:03:43,293 --> 00:03:45,570 readiness . These include racism , 100 00:03:45,580 --> 00:03:47,550 sexual assault and harassment and 101 00:03:47,550 --> 00:03:50,780 extremism . This hemisphere is our 102 00:03:50,780 --> 00:03:52,947 neighborhood , and it's important it's 103 00:03:52,947 --> 00:03:54,891 recognized in the interim national 104 00:03:54,891 --> 00:03:56,947 security guidance . It's a region of 105 00:03:56,947 --> 00:03:59,169 vital national interest . Thank you and 106 00:03:59,169 --> 00:04:02,590 look forward to your questions . Well , 107 00:04:02,590 --> 00:04:04,701 good afternoon . Thank several Faller 108 00:04:04,701 --> 00:04:06,534 for your opening comments to the 109 00:04:06,534 --> 00:04:08,646 members of the media that are joining 110 00:04:08,646 --> 00:04:10,757 us here today , both in person and on 111 00:04:10,757 --> 00:04:12,868 the phone . I look forward to today's 112 00:04:12,868 --> 00:04:14,979 engagement and hopefully many more in 113 00:04:14,979 --> 00:04:17,034 the future . I'm honored to serve as 114 00:04:17,034 --> 00:04:16,530 the commander of North American 115 00:04:16,530 --> 00:04:18,540 Aerospace Defense Command and the 116 00:04:18,540 --> 00:04:20,651 United States Northern Command . It's 117 00:04:20,651 --> 00:04:22,596 great for the second time today to 118 00:04:22,596 --> 00:04:24,762 appear along beside the Admiral Faller 119 00:04:24,762 --> 00:04:26,810 as U . S South . Com is a crucial 120 00:04:26,860 --> 00:04:29,100 partner for homeland defense . I'm 121 00:04:29,100 --> 00:04:31,211 hoping some of you were able to watch 122 00:04:31,211 --> 00:04:33,267 the testimony earlier this morning , 123 00:04:33,267 --> 00:04:35,378 but if you didn't , I'll be providing 124 00:04:35,378 --> 00:04:35,350 you with some highlights and my 125 00:04:35,350 --> 00:04:37,572 priorities of my commands that I shared 126 00:04:37,572 --> 00:04:39,830 with the Senate members NORAD and US 127 00:04:39,830 --> 00:04:41,663 North Commerce separate commands 128 00:04:41,663 --> 00:04:43,719 charged with the critical mission of 129 00:04:43,719 --> 00:04:45,830 defending the United States and North 130 00:04:45,830 --> 00:04:47,941 America , respectively . NORAD is the 131 00:04:47,941 --> 00:04:49,830 bi national command that provides 132 00:04:49,830 --> 00:04:51,941 aerospace warning , aerospace control 133 00:04:52,050 --> 00:04:54,050 and maritime warning for the United 134 00:04:54,050 --> 00:04:56,010 States and Canada . United States 135 00:04:56,010 --> 00:04:57,788 Northern Command is the command 136 00:04:57,788 --> 00:04:59,732 responsible for the defense of the 137 00:04:59,732 --> 00:05:01,732 homeland defense , support of civil 138 00:05:01,732 --> 00:05:03,566 authorities and theater security 139 00:05:03,566 --> 00:05:05,621 cooperation with Canada , Mexico and 140 00:05:05,621 --> 00:05:07,566 the Bahamas . Today , thousands of 141 00:05:07,566 --> 00:05:09,510 United States and Canadian service 142 00:05:09,510 --> 00:05:11,732 members and civilians serve under these 143 00:05:11,732 --> 00:05:13,566 two great commands and stand the 144 00:05:13,566 --> 00:05:13,500 watches . We defend our nation's 145 00:05:13,500 --> 00:05:15,900 against all threats , whether posed by 146 00:05:15,910 --> 00:05:18,360 our competitors , natural disasters or 147 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:20,550 the global pandemic . Over the last 148 00:05:20,550 --> 00:05:22,610 year , NORAD fighters , tankers and 149 00:05:22,610 --> 00:05:24,388 airborne early warning aircraft 150 00:05:24,388 --> 00:05:26,499 responded to multiple incursions into 151 00:05:26,499 --> 00:05:28,666 our air defense identification zones . 152 00:05:28,666 --> 00:05:30,777 Additionally , multiple ships already 153 00:05:30,777 --> 00:05:32,999 under the operational control to defend 154 00:05:32,999 --> 00:05:35,054 our maritime approaches and US North 155 00:05:35,054 --> 00:05:36,888 Northern Command synchronize the 156 00:05:36,888 --> 00:05:38,888 department's effort to various lead 157 00:05:38,888 --> 00:05:40,832 federal agencies . As thousands of 158 00:05:40,832 --> 00:05:43,054 service members deployed in the North , 159 00:05:43,054 --> 00:05:44,960 Kamio are to aid states and local 160 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:46,793 communities in the fight against 161 00:05:46,793 --> 00:05:48,738 coronavirus . Today , thousands of 162 00:05:48,738 --> 00:05:50,682 service members are providing life 163 00:05:50,682 --> 00:05:52,793 saving vaccinations to our citizens . 164 00:05:52,793 --> 00:05:54,960 To date , in support of FEMA , those D 165 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:57,016 O . D members have administered more 166 00:05:57,016 --> 00:06:00,210 than 700,000 nearly 750,000 167 00:06:00,220 --> 00:06:02,500 vaccines . No matter the threat , we 168 00:06:02,500 --> 00:06:05,100 are always ready to defend our lives of 169 00:06:05,100 --> 00:06:07,156 our citizens and our homelands , and 170 00:06:07,156 --> 00:06:09,378 we're honored to be assisting with this 171 00:06:09,378 --> 00:06:11,378 whole government effort to end this 172 00:06:11,378 --> 00:06:13,378 carriage of curve it . But covid is 173 00:06:13,378 --> 00:06:15,211 just one area that has our daily 174 00:06:15,211 --> 00:06:17,378 attention . Right now . The threats we 175 00:06:17,378 --> 00:06:19,489 face in the pace of change in the geo 176 00:06:19,489 --> 00:06:21,433 strategic environment continues to 177 00:06:21,433 --> 00:06:23,544 advance . We have entered an area era 178 00:06:23,544 --> 00:06:25,656 of renewed global power competition , 179 00:06:25,656 --> 00:06:27,767 and at this time we're facing to peer 180 00:06:27,767 --> 00:06:29,822 competitors , both nuclear arms that 181 00:06:29,822 --> 00:06:31,822 are competing against us on a daily 182 00:06:31,822 --> 00:06:33,656 basis . We must adapt to all the 183 00:06:33,656 --> 00:06:35,822 challenges posed by this reality . Our 184 00:06:35,822 --> 00:06:37,489 competitors have expanded the 185 00:06:37,489 --> 00:06:39,711 definition of competition into economic 186 00:06:39,711 --> 00:06:41,267 and informational areas and 187 00:06:41,267 --> 00:06:43,489 aggressively advance their own military 188 00:06:43,489 --> 00:06:45,600 capabilities to hold our homelands at 189 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:47,378 risk , both kinetically and non 190 00:06:47,378 --> 00:06:49,267 kinetically . We must outpace our 191 00:06:49,267 --> 00:06:51,267 competitors by accelerating our own 192 00:06:51,267 --> 00:06:53,211 efforts to transform our culture , 193 00:06:53,211 --> 00:06:55,267 including factoring homeland defense 194 00:06:55,267 --> 00:06:57,100 into every strategy plan , force 195 00:06:57,100 --> 00:06:59,267 management force design as well as the 196 00:06:59,267 --> 00:07:01,378 aspects of acquisitions and budget so 197 00:07:01,378 --> 00:07:03,100 we can deter in competition de 198 00:07:03,100 --> 00:07:04,933 escalating crisis and defeat and 199 00:07:04,933 --> 00:07:07,156 conflict . To do this , NORAD North com 200 00:07:07,156 --> 00:07:08,989 are concentrating our efforts on 201 00:07:08,989 --> 00:07:11,211 building our capability to deter and if 202 00:07:11,211 --> 00:07:12,767 needed , defend against the 203 00:07:12,767 --> 00:07:14,600 increasingly advanced all domain 204 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:16,656 threats , together with the Canadian 205 00:07:16,656 --> 00:07:18,878 armed forces , were in the early stages 206 00:07:18,878 --> 00:07:21,044 of modernization of NORAD and building 207 00:07:21,044 --> 00:07:23,267 additional military capabilities in the 208 00:07:23,267 --> 00:07:25,156 Arctic . In coordination with the 209 00:07:25,156 --> 00:07:27,322 Missile Defense Agency , United States 210 00:07:27,322 --> 00:07:29,378 Strategic Command in Space com we're 211 00:07:29,378 --> 00:07:31,322 maintaining and improving upon our 212 00:07:31,322 --> 00:07:31,300 ballistic missile defense capabilities 213 00:07:31,690 --> 00:07:33,746 were placing significant emphasis on 214 00:07:33,746 --> 00:07:35,690 left of launch framework that will 215 00:07:35,690 --> 00:07:37,801 provide decision space for our senior 216 00:07:37,801 --> 00:07:39,857 leaders , enabling deterrence and de 217 00:07:39,857 --> 00:07:41,746 escalation options . Vice in game 218 00:07:41,746 --> 00:07:43,912 defeat We're advocating for investment 219 00:07:43,912 --> 00:07:45,912 in all domain awareness to generate 220 00:07:45,912 --> 00:07:47,857 layered since Ingrid and a layered 221 00:07:47,857 --> 00:07:49,912 defense approach that emphasises the 222 00:07:49,912 --> 00:07:52,023 use of an open sense of sensor data , 223 00:07:52,023 --> 00:07:53,912 architecture and machine enhanced 224 00:07:53,912 --> 00:07:55,746 processing . In order to achieve 225 00:07:55,746 --> 00:07:57,801 information , dominance and decision 226 00:07:57,801 --> 00:07:59,579 superiority through information 227 00:07:59,579 --> 00:08:01,523 dominance , we will grant decision 228 00:08:01,523 --> 00:08:03,523 makers increased decision space and 229 00:08:03,523 --> 00:08:05,746 build upon flexible response options to 230 00:08:05,746 --> 00:08:07,912 deter , deny or defeat every threat to 231 00:08:07,912 --> 00:08:10,190 the United States and Canada . Finally , 232 00:08:10,190 --> 00:08:12,357 I have recently signed an unclassified 233 00:08:12,357 --> 00:08:14,134 executive summary of our , uh , 234 00:08:14,134 --> 00:08:16,079 classified NORAD and US North Um , 235 00:08:16,079 --> 00:08:18,301 strategy . You have it here with you as 236 00:08:18,301 --> 00:08:20,301 well . For those in the room . It's 237 00:08:20,301 --> 00:08:22,301 here and anyone else who wants it . 238 00:08:22,301 --> 00:08:24,412 It's posted on our NORAD and us North 239 00:08:24,412 --> 00:08:26,523 com websites . Thank you . And I look 240 00:08:26,523 --> 00:08:28,746 forward to your questions . Thank you , 241 00:08:28,746 --> 00:08:30,746 gentlemen . We will now open up for 242 00:08:30,746 --> 00:08:30,540 questions . We'll take the first one 243 00:08:30,540 --> 00:08:33,560 from the booth with Leader Baldur ap 244 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:40,450 much question for both of you . 245 00:08:40,460 --> 00:08:44,180 But First General Dan her Can you bring 246 00:08:44,180 --> 00:08:47,760 us up to date ? Just how many total U . 247 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:49,810 S . Service members are right now 248 00:08:49,810 --> 00:08:52,160 participating in the covid response ? 249 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:56,090 And do you expect that it has leveled 250 00:08:56,090 --> 00:08:58,312 off , or do you expect it to increase ? 251 00:08:58,312 --> 00:09:01,480 Um , as as over the next several weeks 252 00:09:01,490 --> 00:09:03,920 And then for both of you , have either 253 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:06,460 of you received any requests for 254 00:09:06,460 --> 00:09:08,450 additional support from the Biden 255 00:09:08,450 --> 00:09:12,400 administration to help with the 256 00:09:12,410 --> 00:09:14,910 surge of migrants coming across the 257 00:09:14,910 --> 00:09:17,570 border ? Um , either in intel 258 00:09:17,570 --> 00:09:20,010 surveillance or additional troops on 259 00:09:20,010 --> 00:09:22,810 the border . Thank you . So I'll go 260 00:09:22,810 --> 00:09:26,200 first , if you don't mind . Uh , 2488 261 00:09:26,210 --> 00:09:28,960 at this time . Troops total . Providing 262 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:31,980 vaccinations support . I have 3300 263 00:09:32,780 --> 00:09:35,660 on prepared to deploy orders . And if 264 00:09:35,670 --> 00:09:37,448 we receive a mission assignment 265 00:09:37,448 --> 00:09:39,503 approved by the Secretary of Defense 266 00:09:39,503 --> 00:09:41,580 will provide additional teams in 267 00:09:41,580 --> 00:09:43,636 support of the lead federal agency , 268 00:09:43,636 --> 00:09:47,090 FEMA . I do anticipate increase in the 269 00:09:47,090 --> 00:09:49,034 coming weeks to provide additional 270 00:09:49,034 --> 00:09:51,650 support . As the vaccine becomes more 271 00:09:51,650 --> 00:09:53,890 readily available , we will provide 272 00:09:53,890 --> 00:09:57,490 additional capability and support to 273 00:09:57,490 --> 00:09:59,790 get vaccines in arms as quick as 274 00:09:59,790 --> 00:10:01,850 possible . I have not received any 275 00:10:01,850 --> 00:10:04,910 questions or comments or Taskings from 276 00:10:04,910 --> 00:10:07,077 the current administration through the 277 00:10:07,077 --> 00:10:09,132 secretary of defense with regards to 278 00:10:09,132 --> 00:10:11,077 anything on the Southwest border , 279 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:15,090 the violence , the horrific violence 280 00:10:15,090 --> 00:10:17,312 that's contributed to driving this from 281 00:10:17,312 --> 00:10:18,812 the transnational criminal 282 00:10:18,812 --> 00:10:20,868 organizations who have actually used 283 00:10:20,868 --> 00:10:22,868 the pandemic to their advantage and 284 00:10:22,868 --> 00:10:25,034 taken up a black market share of covid 285 00:10:25,034 --> 00:10:27,790 response . On top of those hurricanes , 286 00:10:27,790 --> 00:10:30,390 I mentioned Lita have created this 287 00:10:30,390 --> 00:10:33,230 perfect storm of instability with 288 00:10:33,230 --> 00:10:35,008 conditions that rival the Great 289 00:10:35,008 --> 00:10:37,340 Depression in the a r . And so it's a 290 00:10:37,340 --> 00:10:39,340 significant effort that the nations 291 00:10:39,340 --> 00:10:41,410 there are undertaking . We've stayed 292 00:10:41,410 --> 00:10:43,466 engaged with humanitarian assistance 293 00:10:43,466 --> 00:10:46,540 projects that are appropriately scoped 294 00:10:46,540 --> 00:10:49,310 and rapid in small in size and rapid to 295 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:52,190 help in the USA and other government 296 00:10:52,190 --> 00:10:54,357 agencies are involved to help with the 297 00:10:54,357 --> 00:10:56,523 conditions that are driving this . The 298 00:10:56,523 --> 00:10:59,470 secretary asked my views on the drivers 299 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:02,910 and I've provided those and then as we 300 00:11:02,910 --> 00:11:05,077 go forward , the solutions have got to 301 00:11:05,077 --> 00:11:08,120 be a whole of government , okay , we'll 302 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:10,176 come in here from the floor . Tara . 303 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:13,160 Thank you Both . Um , Admiral Fowler 304 00:11:13,170 --> 00:11:15,940 from the testimony this morning , you 305 00:11:15,940 --> 00:11:19,370 mentioned how China has been having a 306 00:11:19,370 --> 00:11:22,280 heavy handed mask and vaccine diplomacy . 307 00:11:22,290 --> 00:11:24,068 Could you give us some specific 308 00:11:24,068 --> 00:11:26,068 examples of what countries they are 309 00:11:26,068 --> 00:11:28,068 employing this with , You know , in 310 00:11:28,068 --> 00:11:30,360 exchange for five g r i t . And then 311 00:11:30,370 --> 00:11:32,720 how does that spending on masking 312 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:35,020 vaccine diplomacy by China compared to 313 00:11:35,020 --> 00:11:38,580 what the U . S . Is doing to date , the 314 00:11:38,580 --> 00:11:40,770 U . S . Response has been fulsome in , 315 00:11:40,770 --> 00:11:42,860 as I mentioned in my opening of the 316 00:11:42,860 --> 00:11:45,027 largest of all the contributors in the 317 00:11:45,027 --> 00:11:46,804 hemisphere over $230 million of 318 00:11:46,804 --> 00:11:48,840 response , and it's been focused on 319 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:51,990 what our partners need . But but that 320 00:11:51,990 --> 00:11:54,268 doesn't create a gap here in the U . S . 321 00:11:54,268 --> 00:11:56,046 And I think that's what all the 322 00:11:56,046 --> 00:11:58,212 citizens this country would would want 323 00:11:58,212 --> 00:12:00,268 and expect . Where China has stepped 324 00:12:00,268 --> 00:12:03,580 ahead of us is in vaccine delivery and 325 00:12:04,110 --> 00:12:07,380 there using it for global advantage , 326 00:12:07,380 --> 00:12:09,602 and not necessarily for what they would 327 00:12:09,602 --> 00:12:11,769 want to do at home . And that's in the 328 00:12:11,769 --> 00:12:13,547 tens of millions and numbers of 329 00:12:13,547 --> 00:12:15,870 vaccines that they provided . There's 330 00:12:15,870 --> 00:12:18,840 nine of 16 countries that still support 331 00:12:18,850 --> 00:12:21,017 Taiwan or in this hemisphere , and you 332 00:12:21,017 --> 00:12:22,961 can look at the countries that are 333 00:12:22,961 --> 00:12:25,183 receiving support and those that aren't 334 00:12:25,183 --> 00:12:27,406 and you can see that there are China is 335 00:12:27,406 --> 00:12:29,600 using it to further , uh , push 336 00:12:29,610 --> 00:12:31,900 countries away from their lineup with 337 00:12:31,900 --> 00:12:34,220 Taiwan , New York Times said . UH , an 338 00:12:34,220 --> 00:12:36,387 excellent piece on this today , citing 339 00:12:36,387 --> 00:12:38,498 two of the regions countries and what 340 00:12:38,498 --> 00:12:40,609 China is doing . But they're not just 341 00:12:40,609 --> 00:12:42,831 using it for diplomatic . They're using 342 00:12:42,831 --> 00:12:45,200 it to create a favorable economic 343 00:12:45,210 --> 00:12:47,910 conditions for state owned enterprises , 344 00:12:47,910 --> 00:12:50,640 and particularly in five G , where it's 345 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:53,300 well known what a deal with Huawei does 346 00:12:53,300 --> 00:12:55,244 to your sovereignty and provides a 347 00:12:55,244 --> 00:12:58,350 direct path to China . And they're 348 00:12:58,350 --> 00:13:00,560 using this to leverage the playing 349 00:13:00,560 --> 00:13:03,680 field against any sort of deals that 350 00:13:03,680 --> 00:13:06,160 would go against Huawei for one example . 351 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:09,062 And so those would be a couple examples 352 00:13:09,062 --> 00:13:12,090 of using the pandemic to China's 353 00:13:12,090 --> 00:13:15,520 advantage . Name specific countries 354 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:18,940 where this mask for in exchange for 355 00:13:18,950 --> 00:13:22,870 Huawei , the New York Times cited 356 00:13:22,870 --> 00:13:26,250 one . And I it keep the others 357 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:28,530 private in the interest of the 358 00:13:28,530 --> 00:13:30,697 intelligence and things that we have . 359 00:13:31,340 --> 00:13:34,060 And then , um , you also mentioned that 360 00:13:34,070 --> 00:13:36,590 in a trip you made in September to 361 00:13:36,590 --> 00:13:38,770 Central America , El Salvador , 362 00:13:38,770 --> 00:13:41,370 Honduras , Costa Rica . Um , some of 363 00:13:41,370 --> 00:13:44,260 the military partners you met with had 364 00:13:44,260 --> 00:13:48,200 a hollow eyed look and it was 365 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:50,256 kind of shocking . Here you use that 366 00:13:50,256 --> 00:13:52,320 term , how worried are you that the 367 00:13:52,330 --> 00:13:54,360 pandemic transnational crime will 368 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:57,280 actually add demands on south , um , to 369 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:00,520 bring military presence there to help 370 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:03,560 out go back to 2019 ? There was a lot 371 00:14:03,560 --> 00:14:06,010 of instability in the region in places 372 00:14:06,010 --> 00:14:08,066 that we would normally expect . Take 373 00:14:08,066 --> 00:14:10,400 Chile . There was instability in 374 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:14,020 Ecuador , Peru , Colombia , which did a 375 00:14:14,020 --> 00:14:17,560 very good job of handling in a very 376 00:14:17,560 --> 00:14:19,650 professional , human rights oriented 377 00:14:19,650 --> 00:14:22,320 way up into Central America . Venezuela 378 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:25,380 continues to be just obsessed pool for 379 00:14:25,380 --> 00:14:28,250 all things bad . And that was 2019 now . 380 00:14:28,250 --> 00:14:30,361 We had a pandemic on top of that in a 381 00:14:30,361 --> 00:14:33,630 negative 7.4% on average . GDP hit that 382 00:14:33,630 --> 00:14:36,370 the countries have taken the impacts of 383 00:14:36,370 --> 00:14:39,280 major storms and we're very concerned 384 00:14:39,290 --> 00:14:41,457 of the fragility of these states . And 385 00:14:41,457 --> 00:14:44,310 we're watching it extremely closely and 386 00:14:44,310 --> 00:14:46,310 to what impact that has on security 387 00:14:46,310 --> 00:14:48,110 forces ability to maintain that 388 00:14:48,110 --> 00:14:49,888 security because I have to have 389 00:14:49,888 --> 00:14:52,180 security in order to have economics and 390 00:14:52,180 --> 00:14:54,410 prosperity and freedom . And there are 391 00:14:54,410 --> 00:14:56,688 a number of important elections coming . 392 00:14:56,688 --> 00:15:00,620 Our best way to inform this is as 393 00:15:00,620 --> 00:15:02,970 a supporting member and diplomacy led 394 00:15:02,970 --> 00:15:05,137 initiative and and learn as much as we 395 00:15:05,137 --> 00:15:06,803 can about the environment and 396 00:15:06,803 --> 00:15:08,970 information world intelligence world . 397 00:15:08,970 --> 00:15:11,081 And then share that with our partners 398 00:15:11,081 --> 00:15:13,026 in the U . S . Interagency and our 399 00:15:13,026 --> 00:15:16,190 partner nations . Right ? I heard how 400 00:15:16,190 --> 00:15:18,246 many service members are deployed to 401 00:15:18,246 --> 00:15:20,412 the border right now . And what is the 402 00:15:20,412 --> 00:15:22,960 mix of reserve component versus active 403 00:15:22,970 --> 00:15:25,300 duty ? And what is their mission in 404 00:15:25,300 --> 00:15:27,630 light of the president rescinding the 405 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:29,960 national emergency on the border ? 406 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:32,127 Whose decision is it to send them home 407 00:15:32,127 --> 00:15:34,360 eventually ? Okay , thanks . That's a 408 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:36,527 great question . So 100% of the forces 409 00:15:36,527 --> 00:15:38,527 are currently National Guard forces 410 00:15:38,527 --> 00:15:41,080 from 22 states under title 10 status . 411 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:43,807 Right now , the mission is through the 412 00:15:43,807 --> 00:15:45,862 end of this fiscal year . It will be 413 00:15:45,862 --> 00:15:48,140 the secretary's decision going forward . 414 00:15:48,140 --> 00:15:50,307 There's a request on the street to ask 415 00:15:50,307 --> 00:15:52,418 for additional support . Ultimately , 416 00:15:52,418 --> 00:15:54,473 the secretary of defense will make a 417 00:15:54,473 --> 00:15:56,307 risk assessment , supporting and 418 00:15:56,307 --> 00:15:58,473 continuing the mission on the border . 419 00:15:58,473 --> 00:16:00,473 Does that answer your question ? So 420 00:16:00,473 --> 00:16:03,730 there is a total of 3500 change that 421 00:16:03,730 --> 00:16:07,030 are on the R F a for 21 . There's an 422 00:16:07,030 --> 00:16:10,860 additional 500 50 or so 423 00:16:10,870 --> 00:16:13,150 that were provided for a covid uplift 424 00:16:13,740 --> 00:16:15,907 that were mobilized through the end of 425 00:16:15,907 --> 00:16:19,180 March . So 4000 slightly over 4012 . 426 00:16:19,330 --> 00:16:21,552 The request on the street that you just 427 00:16:21,552 --> 00:16:23,441 message conventions that Homeland 428 00:16:23,441 --> 00:16:25,441 Security CBP Well , I would like to 429 00:16:25,441 --> 00:16:27,690 continue diode support our mission 430 00:16:27,690 --> 00:16:29,912 specifically to answer your other piece 431 00:16:29,912 --> 00:16:32,023 of your question is providing support 432 00:16:32,023 --> 00:16:34,357 to the lead federal agency in this case , 433 00:16:34,357 --> 00:16:36,412 Homeland Security . We provide three 434 00:16:36,412 --> 00:16:38,523 types of support . First is detection 435 00:16:38,523 --> 00:16:40,746 and monitoring . So we man sites , uh , 436 00:16:40,746 --> 00:16:43,270 and we provide information when we see 437 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:45,780 migrants or others crossing the border 438 00:16:45,860 --> 00:16:48,570 to CBP so they can conduct our law 439 00:16:48,570 --> 00:16:50,681 enforcement mission . We also provide 440 00:16:50,681 --> 00:16:53,760 aviation support with the use of 24 441 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:57,330 helicopters euh 72 that provided 442 00:16:57,330 --> 00:16:59,163 detection and monitoring from an 443 00:16:59,163 --> 00:17:01,386 aviation perspective . And again , they 444 00:17:01,386 --> 00:17:03,386 pass that off to customs and border 445 00:17:03,386 --> 00:17:05,441 protection . On the final thing , we 446 00:17:05,441 --> 00:17:07,552 provide ground support ground support 447 00:17:07,552 --> 00:17:09,719 in the maintenance of vehicles so that 448 00:17:09,719 --> 00:17:11,774 we can free up the law enforcement , 449 00:17:11,774 --> 00:17:13,886 capable customs and border protection 450 00:17:13,886 --> 00:17:15,997 Homeland security folks to do the law 451 00:17:15,997 --> 00:17:18,052 enforcement mission while we provide 452 00:17:18,052 --> 00:17:20,274 support . Okay , we're gonna go back to 453 00:17:20,274 --> 00:17:22,441 the phones . Aaron Meta Defense news . 454 00:17:24,540 --> 00:17:26,484 Yeah , thanks very much . Um , for 455 00:17:26,484 --> 00:17:28,651 Admiral Fowler , I wanted to follow up 456 00:17:28,651 --> 00:17:30,484 on something that came up in the 457 00:17:30,484 --> 00:17:32,540 hearing a few times specifically the 458 00:17:32,540 --> 00:17:34,762 question What ? I s are assets . You've 459 00:17:34,762 --> 00:17:36,929 been banging that drum for a couple of 460 00:17:36,929 --> 00:17:39,096 years now , in testimony in interviews 461 00:17:39,096 --> 00:17:38,670 that there's just not enough . I s are 462 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:40,958 We know that the Pentagon wide problem , 463 00:17:40,958 --> 00:17:42,902 but I'm wondering two things . One 464 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:45,207 having talked about it for a couple of 465 00:17:45,207 --> 00:17:47,429 years . Has that situation improved for 466 00:17:47,429 --> 00:17:49,429 South calm at all ? Have you gotten 467 00:17:49,429 --> 00:17:52,290 more assets in the region and to given 468 00:17:52,290 --> 00:17:54,346 that the budgets are expected coming 469 00:17:54,346 --> 00:17:56,560 down or at least flat going forward , 470 00:17:57,240 --> 00:17:59,240 Do you see any cause for optimism ? 471 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:01,018 That stuff you might be able to 472 00:18:01,018 --> 00:18:03,073 actually get some ice , our assets , 473 00:18:03,073 --> 00:18:05,296 given the requirements around the globe 474 00:18:05,296 --> 00:18:05,060 and again during the budget situation . 475 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:08,040 Erin . Thanks . It's a It's a great 476 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:10,151 question . The , uh First , I'll just 477 00:18:10,151 --> 00:18:12,040 say that , uh , prioritization is 478 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:13,929 important and it's hard . And the 479 00:18:13,929 --> 00:18:16,151 Pentagon has a solid process for that , 480 00:18:16,151 --> 00:18:18,262 and no one has ever satisfied . Given 481 00:18:18,262 --> 00:18:20,520 the global threats and demands on the 482 00:18:20,530 --> 00:18:23,350 on the level of resources to do our job , 483 00:18:23,540 --> 00:18:26,180 we get a fair shake . Having said that , 484 00:18:26,190 --> 00:18:29,190 about less than 1% of the I s our 485 00:18:29,190 --> 00:18:31,270 assets are allocated to south calm , 486 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:33,310 and , uh , and their threats are 487 00:18:33,310 --> 00:18:36,300 growing and and significant . An area 488 00:18:36,300 --> 00:18:39,810 that we're hopeful in is what we call 489 00:18:39,810 --> 00:18:42,370 21st century tradecraft or non 490 00:18:42,370 --> 00:18:44,770 traditional . I S R . And so we think 491 00:18:44,770 --> 00:18:47,070 about is are we think about big wing 492 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:50,360 stuff , opiates and and 493 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:54,790 big MQ nine drones . That's important , 494 00:18:54,790 --> 00:18:56,910 but also important that we leverage 495 00:18:56,920 --> 00:18:58,920 artificial intelligence and machine 496 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:01,142 learning For all the data that's that's 497 00:19:01,142 --> 00:19:03,309 out there that's available in the open 498 00:19:03,309 --> 00:19:05,364 source . We've got a couple of pilot 499 00:19:05,364 --> 00:19:07,253 programs in the past year that if 500 00:19:07,253 --> 00:19:09,142 converted to programs a record or 501 00:19:09,142 --> 00:19:09,140 embrace more broadly , show great 502 00:19:09,140 --> 00:19:12,690 promise . And as we think about data 503 00:19:12,690 --> 00:19:15,110 and information to build the kind of 504 00:19:15,110 --> 00:19:17,277 all domain awareness that we need that 505 00:19:17,277 --> 00:19:19,054 General Van Herck talks about , 506 00:19:19,054 --> 00:19:21,166 ultimately this is a global problem , 507 00:19:21,166 --> 00:19:23,221 said all these challenges are global 508 00:19:23,221 --> 00:19:25,443 and we've got to work together as North 509 00:19:25,443 --> 00:19:27,610 South Commons . One com , with all the 510 00:19:27,610 --> 00:19:29,666 other co . Comes to , uh , to really 511 00:19:29,666 --> 00:19:31,888 get after this . Thank you . This quick 512 00:19:31,888 --> 00:19:34,054 follow up It sounds like you're asking 513 00:19:34,054 --> 00:19:36,221 less at this point for , uh , physical 514 00:19:36,221 --> 00:19:38,280 drone systems or as our systems and 515 00:19:38,290 --> 00:19:40,510 more interested in looking forward to 516 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:43,180 kind of AI and the kind of hybrid 517 00:19:43,180 --> 00:19:44,902 fusion stuff that's going on . 518 00:19:44,902 --> 00:19:46,624 Certainly a balance I wouldn't 519 00:19:46,624 --> 00:19:48,847 characterize as less . But we've got to 520 00:19:48,847 --> 00:19:51,013 have the right balance going forward . 521 00:19:51,013 --> 00:19:52,736 And there is a role for manned 522 00:19:52,736 --> 00:19:54,847 platforms and unmanned platforms . In 523 00:19:54,847 --> 00:19:56,810 addition to using data and the 524 00:19:56,810 --> 00:19:59,450 information space . We did get a slight 525 00:19:59,460 --> 00:20:01,670 increase last year in response to the 526 00:20:01,670 --> 00:20:03,670 transnational criminal organization 527 00:20:03,670 --> 00:20:06,070 threat . We think that modest increases 528 00:20:06,070 --> 00:20:08,126 important to sustain going forward . 529 00:20:09,340 --> 00:20:11,451 Okay , we'll come back to the floor , 530 00:20:11,451 --> 00:20:13,618 Abraham . Thank you , Admiral Fallon . 531 00:20:13,618 --> 00:20:15,507 Good to see you again . Could you 532 00:20:15,507 --> 00:20:17,673 assess in your time as Commander South 533 00:20:17,673 --> 00:20:19,562 Com where the Venezuelan military 534 00:20:19,562 --> 00:20:21,729 stands in its support for the regime , 535 00:20:21,729 --> 00:20:23,896 has it weekend has it strengthened and 536 00:20:23,896 --> 00:20:25,896 and what we need to happen for mill 537 00:20:25,896 --> 00:20:28,220 mill ties to be renewed , what benefits 538 00:20:28,220 --> 00:20:30,990 could happen , and in general , can you 539 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:33,150 give a quick update on the status of 540 00:20:33,150 --> 00:20:35,310 the radar and missile defense of 541 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:37,620 projects are underway in Alaska ? And 542 00:20:37,630 --> 00:20:40,080 are they on pace to meet our national 543 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:42,150 security needs ? Thank you . The 544 00:20:42,150 --> 00:20:44,320 Venezuelan tragedy continues and 545 00:20:44,330 --> 00:20:46,490 migration has increased over five 546 00:20:46,490 --> 00:20:48,950 million . Now , in the worst , worst 547 00:20:48,950 --> 00:20:51,810 migration crisis is hemisphere Maduro , 548 00:20:51,820 --> 00:20:53,820 Elgin . That Maduro regime is fully 549 00:20:53,820 --> 00:20:57,120 entrenched and Cuba security 550 00:20:57,120 --> 00:21:01,080 forces , Russia , Iranian and China 551 00:21:01,090 --> 00:21:03,950 all are supporting his 552 00:21:04,740 --> 00:21:07,680 entrenched reign of power . His 553 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:09,960 security forces at the at the upper 554 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:13,190 level are all completely corrupted and , 555 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:16,700 um , all in to to save themselves 556 00:21:16,710 --> 00:21:18,820 over their country , which is really 557 00:21:18,820 --> 00:21:21,630 unfortunate . And , uh , the right 558 00:21:21,630 --> 00:21:23,686 diplomatic and economic pressure has 559 00:21:23,686 --> 00:21:25,741 been applied . It hasn't resulted in 560 00:21:25,741 --> 00:21:27,908 the desired outcome . And part of that 561 00:21:27,908 --> 00:21:30,590 is that just challenge of associated 562 00:21:30,590 --> 00:21:32,960 with finding , uh , people that will do 563 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:35,182 the right thing within a country that's 564 00:21:35,182 --> 00:21:37,510 corrupted and and has become a a haven 565 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:39,050 for transnational criminal 566 00:21:39,050 --> 00:21:41,161 organizations . Narco terrorists , if 567 00:21:41,161 --> 00:21:43,272 you will , uh , going forward . We've 568 00:21:43,272 --> 00:21:45,106 done a lot of planning . We have 569 00:21:45,106 --> 00:21:48,390 multinational planning effort with many 570 00:21:48,390 --> 00:21:50,446 nations in the region to look at the 571 00:21:50,446 --> 00:21:52,723 day after . So , to your very question , 572 00:21:52,723 --> 00:21:54,279 what would it take to build 573 00:21:54,279 --> 00:21:56,112 professional security forces and 574 00:21:56,112 --> 00:21:58,140 provide support to a whole of world 575 00:21:58,140 --> 00:22:01,260 effort keeping the military role 576 00:22:01,270 --> 00:22:03,860 appropriate and small and it would be a 577 00:22:03,860 --> 00:22:06,027 significant in scale , but it's got to 578 00:22:06,027 --> 00:22:08,200 be multi national and internationally 579 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:11,590 led . Mhm . Great . I'll 580 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:13,730 address the missile defense person in 581 00:22:13,730 --> 00:22:16,050 the radar . So currently , what I would 582 00:22:16,050 --> 00:22:18,106 tell you is I have the capability to 583 00:22:18,106 --> 00:22:20,360 defend the homeland against a limited 584 00:22:20,360 --> 00:22:23,210 number of , uh missiles from a rogue 585 00:22:23,210 --> 00:22:25,530 actor . DPRK s were primarily focused , 586 00:22:25,530 --> 00:22:27,697 okay , And not only the homeland , but 587 00:22:27,697 --> 00:22:30,330 Hawaii . Today , capacity is the 588 00:22:30,330 --> 00:22:32,274 biggest challenge going forward To 589 00:22:32,274 --> 00:22:34,274 ensure that we maintain the ability 590 00:22:34,274 --> 00:22:36,052 with the number of ground based 591 00:22:36,052 --> 00:22:38,108 interceptors , we have to combat the 592 00:22:38,108 --> 00:22:40,219 additional capability that we've seen 593 00:22:40,219 --> 00:22:42,274 since the 10 October parade in North 594 00:22:42,274 --> 00:22:44,880 Korea to get after our future 595 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:46,880 capability , we have a service life 596 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:48,824 extension program that's ongoing . 597 00:22:48,824 --> 00:22:51,047 Missile Defense Agency is in the middle 598 00:22:51,047 --> 00:22:53,158 of that . That service life extension 599 00:22:53,158 --> 00:22:54,936 actually pulls the ground based 600 00:22:54,936 --> 00:22:57,047 interceptors out of the ground , goes 601 00:22:57,047 --> 00:22:56,670 through with a fine tooth comb , and 602 00:22:56,670 --> 00:22:58,392 we're able to detect pieces of 603 00:22:58,392 --> 00:23:01,650 equipment parts that we need to replace . 604 00:23:01,650 --> 00:23:03,872 We are updating some of the boosters to 605 00:23:03,872 --> 00:23:06,094 give us additional capability as well . 606 00:23:06,094 --> 00:23:08,317 But the big thing we get out of that is 607 00:23:08,317 --> 00:23:10,261 reliability . To look at parts and 608 00:23:10,261 --> 00:23:12,317 history of those parts and pieces on 609 00:23:12,317 --> 00:23:14,483 the missiles themselves that will give 610 00:23:14,483 --> 00:23:16,261 us a better indicator of future 611 00:23:16,261 --> 00:23:18,372 reliability and capability . The next 612 00:23:18,372 --> 00:23:20,150 step would be a next generation 613 00:23:20,150 --> 00:23:22,372 capability . Uh , that decision has not 614 00:23:22,372 --> 00:23:24,094 been made by the department is 615 00:23:24,094 --> 00:23:26,261 currently with the deputy Secretary of 616 00:23:26,261 --> 00:23:28,317 Defense , uh , to bridge between the 617 00:23:28,317 --> 00:23:30,150 current capability and adding an 618 00:23:30,150 --> 00:23:32,317 additional 20 interceptors , Uh , with 619 00:23:32,317 --> 00:23:34,539 regards to radar . In Alaska , the long 620 00:23:34,539 --> 00:23:36,761 range , uh , discrimination radar is on 621 00:23:36,761 --> 00:23:38,900 track . Next month , they'll begin 622 00:23:38,900 --> 00:23:41,860 initial testing capability with power 623 00:23:41,860 --> 00:23:44,027 up . And I look forward to the initial 624 00:23:44,027 --> 00:23:46,027 operational capability in September 625 00:23:46,027 --> 00:23:48,138 where I plan to go to clear Alaska to 626 00:23:48,138 --> 00:23:51,320 see the radar in action . So on track 627 00:23:51,330 --> 00:23:53,497 to meet your national security needs , 628 00:23:53,497 --> 00:23:55,386 or do things need to step up ? My 629 00:23:55,386 --> 00:23:57,663 assessment is we're on track right now . 630 00:23:57,663 --> 00:23:59,830 My number one requirement with Missile 631 00:23:59,830 --> 00:24:01,941 Defense Agency as I've talked to John 632 00:24:01,941 --> 00:24:04,310 Hill is timing to not have any slips in 633 00:24:04,310 --> 00:24:07,810 the delivery of that capability . Thank 634 00:24:07,810 --> 00:24:11,590 you , Pierre . Thank you . Annual . How 635 00:24:11,590 --> 00:24:14,750 concerned are you that countries in the 636 00:24:14,750 --> 00:24:17,260 South are vulnerable to infiltration by 637 00:24:17,260 --> 00:24:19,760 terrorist organizations like isis and 638 00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:21,982 others ? And what is your assessment to 639 00:24:21,982 --> 00:24:23,816 the activities of Hezbollah as a 640 00:24:23,816 --> 00:24:25,760 terrorist organization also on the 641 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:29,220 south ? Certainly we never take our eye 642 00:24:29,220 --> 00:24:32,850 off the terrorism ball and the 643 00:24:32,860 --> 00:24:35,700 Isis has been a global threat . And 644 00:24:35,710 --> 00:24:38,560 we've , I think , done an adequate job 645 00:24:38,570 --> 00:24:40,940 with our international defeat Isis 646 00:24:40,940 --> 00:24:43,650 Coalition to push that back . But there 647 00:24:43,650 --> 00:24:45,640 is an ISIS connection into the 648 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:48,090 hemisphere , and we've disrupted a few 649 00:24:48,090 --> 00:24:51,000 Isis plots . We also see Al Qaeda 650 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:53,310 connections into the hemisphere . It's 651 00:24:53,310 --> 00:24:56,520 a geography matters the narrowest point , 652 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:59,550 Atlantic says across from Africa to 653 00:24:59,550 --> 00:25:01,661 Brazil . We track that very closely , 654 00:25:01,661 --> 00:25:03,772 working with FBI and other agencies . 655 00:25:03,772 --> 00:25:06,060 And the hemisphere has a significant 656 00:25:06,540 --> 00:25:09,680 Lebanese diaspora population , and 657 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:12,960 there are absolute connections to those 658 00:25:13,340 --> 00:25:15,451 that population in Lebanese Hezbollah 659 00:25:15,650 --> 00:25:17,650 that go right back to Iran . And so 660 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:20,551 it's important that we never take our 661 00:25:20,551 --> 00:25:22,496 eye off the terrorism ball . But I 662 00:25:22,496 --> 00:25:24,218 don't want to leave a sense of 663 00:25:24,218 --> 00:25:26,162 overconfidence . We have a limited 664 00:25:26,162 --> 00:25:28,329 amount of intelligence assets to which 665 00:25:28,329 --> 00:25:30,218 to do that , and , uh , and we're 666 00:25:30,218 --> 00:25:32,600 constantly looking and challenging our 667 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:34,767 own assumptions about what we know and 668 00:25:34,767 --> 00:25:37,690 what we don't know . Back to the phone 669 00:25:37,690 --> 00:25:39,760 lines . Jeff Selden , Viola 670 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:44,729 Thanks very much for doing this . 671 00:25:44,729 --> 00:25:47,070 Really appreciate it , Um , for General 672 00:25:47,070 --> 00:25:49,292 Van Hook , you spoke a little bit about 673 00:25:49,292 --> 00:25:51,403 your concerns during the hearing this 674 00:25:51,403 --> 00:25:53,390 morning . about the border and how 675 00:25:53,390 --> 00:25:55,557 border security is national security . 676 00:25:55,740 --> 00:25:57,750 Have you seen any evidence that 677 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:00,170 terrorists are actually trying to cross 678 00:26:00,180 --> 00:26:02,402 the southern U . S border ? And if so , 679 00:26:02,402 --> 00:26:04,560 are they Sunni terrorists ? Isis Al 680 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:06,560 Qaeda ? Or are they Shia terrorists 681 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:08,630 linked to Hezbollah or terrorists 682 00:26:08,630 --> 00:26:11,360 linked to other global organizations ? 683 00:26:11,370 --> 00:26:13,610 Uh , perhaps supremacist organizations 684 00:26:13,610 --> 00:26:16,270 like those that we see fighting in 685 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:19,350 Ukraine and Russia into Admiral Fowler , 686 00:26:19,740 --> 00:26:21,910 Uh , to what degree are China and 687 00:26:21,910 --> 00:26:24,460 Russia working together or building on 688 00:26:24,460 --> 00:26:27,100 each other's efforts to kind of muscle 689 00:26:27,100 --> 00:26:28,950 out the U . S in the Southern 690 00:26:28,950 --> 00:26:32,690 Hemisphere ? Okay , so I'll go 691 00:26:32,690 --> 00:26:34,412 first . So I can't go into the 692 00:26:34,412 --> 00:26:36,634 intelligence that I see with regards to 693 00:26:36,634 --> 00:26:38,857 what nations ? What's coming across the 694 00:26:38,857 --> 00:26:40,857 border . But I will tell you that I 695 00:26:40,857 --> 00:26:43,110 have seen intelligence that gives me 696 00:26:43,110 --> 00:26:45,332 reason to be concerned about what comes 697 00:26:45,332 --> 00:26:47,610 across the border . So you are correct . 698 00:26:47,610 --> 00:26:49,777 Border security is national security , 699 00:26:49,777 --> 00:26:51,721 and we need to know exactly who is 700 00:26:51,721 --> 00:26:53,666 coming across that border and what 701 00:26:53,666 --> 00:26:55,888 their intent is and how we get there is 702 00:26:55,888 --> 00:26:58,110 a policy decision . But it has homeland 703 00:26:58,110 --> 00:26:59,780 defense and national security 704 00:26:59,900 --> 00:27:01,060 implications 705 00:27:04,340 --> 00:27:06,500 in terms of Russia and China that 706 00:27:06,570 --> 00:27:10,530 Russia continues to try to spoil 707 00:27:10,540 --> 00:27:13,790 and undermine US interests globally . A 708 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:17,610 real good example in 2020 is the heavy 709 00:27:17,610 --> 00:27:20,010 volume , heavy increase in their 710 00:27:20,010 --> 00:27:22,520 activity in social media outside 711 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:24,687 Russian language . Spanish language is 712 00:27:24,687 --> 00:27:26,631 their number one volume , so think 713 00:27:26,631 --> 00:27:29,300 three million to 17 million increase in 714 00:27:29,300 --> 00:27:32,150 the amount of viewers . And a lot of 715 00:27:32,150 --> 00:27:33,983 that was disinformation aimed at 716 00:27:33,983 --> 00:27:36,261 discrediting the United States . China , 717 00:27:36,261 --> 00:27:38,860 too , is globally engaged and engaged 718 00:27:38,860 --> 00:27:41,450 in this hemisphere , too , to further 719 00:27:41,450 --> 00:27:43,672 their interests in economic dominance . 720 00:27:43,672 --> 00:27:46,670 We see and are looking with our fellow 721 00:27:46,670 --> 00:27:48,670 combatant commanders at areas where 722 00:27:48,670 --> 00:27:50,837 China and Russia maybe collaborating . 723 00:27:50,837 --> 00:27:53,003 That's a that is a particular focus of 724 00:27:53,003 --> 00:27:55,450 ours and is a concern where when we see 725 00:27:55,450 --> 00:27:57,780 it in Venezuela is the most notable 726 00:27:57,780 --> 00:28:00,310 example where at the diplomatic level 727 00:28:00,310 --> 00:28:02,088 there's they were certainly and 728 00:28:02,088 --> 00:28:05,570 continue to be , uh , engaged to block 729 00:28:05,570 --> 00:28:08,960 any effort at UN solutions or global 730 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:12,680 solutions . Okay , we'll come back to 731 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:16,330 the floor . Lucas , would you call 732 00:28:16,330 --> 00:28:18,497 what's going on on the southern border 733 00:28:18,497 --> 00:28:22,100 of crisis ? Looks good to see you . Uh , 734 00:28:22,110 --> 00:28:25,550 I look at my area of responsibility and 735 00:28:25,550 --> 00:28:27,580 I look at the violence and the 736 00:28:27,580 --> 00:28:30,360 insecurity in Central America , and I 737 00:28:30,360 --> 00:28:32,610 would say there is a crisis in in 738 00:28:32,610 --> 00:28:34,790 Central America in terms of their 739 00:28:34,790 --> 00:28:37,700 ability to , uh maintain their 740 00:28:37,700 --> 00:28:40,120 democracies and move forward in a way 741 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:43,000 that sustains their personnel on the 742 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:46,370 border , I would say , And I think I 743 00:28:46,370 --> 00:28:48,470 echo my shipmate here , that all 744 00:28:48,470 --> 00:28:50,760 nations deserve secure borders . Uh , 745 00:28:50,770 --> 00:28:52,826 and that's part of what's gonna be a 746 00:28:52,826 --> 00:28:55,350 layered defense . Central America , but 747 00:28:55,350 --> 00:28:58,180 not at the border . I'm not going to 748 00:28:58,180 --> 00:29:00,402 comment on some . It's out of my area . 749 00:29:00,402 --> 00:29:02,513 There's a crisis in Central America . 750 00:29:04,140 --> 00:29:06,251 Pleasure characterize what's going on 751 00:29:06,251 --> 00:29:09,130 the Southern border . I would say that 752 00:29:09,140 --> 00:29:11,910 it's a symptom of a broader problem 753 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:14,560 that kind of manifested itself over the 754 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:16,740 last year or so . I'm not going to go 755 00:29:16,740 --> 00:29:18,907 into the politics whether we name in a 756 00:29:18,907 --> 00:29:21,018 crisis or not . Lucas . Uh , the fact 757 00:29:21,018 --> 00:29:23,129 of the matter is , we need a safe and 758 00:29:23,129 --> 00:29:25,073 secure border and understand who's 759 00:29:25,073 --> 00:29:27,184 coming across the border . But let me 760 00:29:27,184 --> 00:29:29,184 expand this more broadly , uh , two 761 00:29:29,184 --> 00:29:30,851 major hurricanes covid , uh , 762 00:29:30,851 --> 00:29:32,940 instability created by transnational 763 00:29:32,940 --> 00:29:35,051 criminal organizations . All of these 764 00:29:35,051 --> 00:29:37,162 are indicators and reasons why people 765 00:29:37,162 --> 00:29:39,320 want to leave Central America , South 766 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:41,280 America and Mexico to come to our 767 00:29:41,280 --> 00:29:43,750 nation . So the broader problem when I 768 00:29:43,750 --> 00:29:45,910 say symptom , counternarcotics 769 00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:49,170 migration , Human trafficking are all 770 00:29:49,170 --> 00:29:51,114 symptoms of transnational criminal 771 00:29:51,114 --> 00:29:52,892 organizations who are operating 772 00:29:52,892 --> 00:29:55,780 oftentimes in ungoverned areas , 30 to 773 00:29:55,780 --> 00:29:59,100 35% of Mexico that is creating some of 774 00:29:59,100 --> 00:30:01,156 the things we're dealing with at the 775 00:30:01,156 --> 00:30:03,378 border . And so we need to take a whole 776 00:30:03,378 --> 00:30:05,544 of government . Look at that problem . 777 00:30:05,544 --> 00:30:05,130 I think it's a national security 778 00:30:05,130 --> 00:30:07,463 imperative that we must look at and why . 779 00:30:07,463 --> 00:30:09,519 I look at it from a homeland defense 780 00:30:09,519 --> 00:30:11,519 perspective . Lucas , as it creates 781 00:30:11,519 --> 00:30:13,186 potential vulnerabilities and 782 00:30:13,186 --> 00:30:15,186 opportunities for actors around the 783 00:30:15,186 --> 00:30:17,241 globe . And so you've heard , um , a 784 00:30:17,241 --> 00:30:19,463 faller talk about China influence . The 785 00:30:19,463 --> 00:30:18,770 same thing happens when there's 786 00:30:18,770 --> 00:30:20,826 ungoverned areas and instability and 787 00:30:20,826 --> 00:30:22,770 potential government failures that 788 00:30:22,770 --> 00:30:24,992 China and Russia and other nations will 789 00:30:24,992 --> 00:30:26,937 attempt to exploit that . And it's 790 00:30:26,937 --> 00:30:29,159 right here in our own neighborhood , in 791 00:30:29,159 --> 00:30:31,326 our own hemisphere . And so that's why 792 00:30:31,326 --> 00:30:31,010 I think that's a significant thing that 793 00:30:31,010 --> 00:30:33,740 we must look at . FEMA is being sent to 794 00:30:33,740 --> 00:30:35,907 the border , and there's a request for 795 00:30:35,907 --> 00:30:37,796 the National Guard to stay on the 796 00:30:37,796 --> 00:30:39,740 border . What would you call ? How 797 00:30:39,740 --> 00:30:42,018 would you characterize what's going on ? 798 00:30:42,018 --> 00:30:43,962 I need to go back . I was there in 799 00:30:43,962 --> 00:30:46,129 December before what ? What you see is 800 00:30:46,129 --> 00:30:47,907 ongoing . I would go back to my 801 00:30:47,907 --> 00:30:50,129 comments that I just made . What we see 802 00:30:50,129 --> 00:30:52,184 on going on the southern border is a 803 00:30:52,184 --> 00:30:54,296 compilation of multiple things . It's 804 00:30:54,296 --> 00:30:56,296 not a single thing that have driven 805 00:30:56,296 --> 00:30:58,407 what we're seeing as far as migration 806 00:30:58,407 --> 00:31:00,573 into this country . Are you seeing any 807 00:31:00,573 --> 00:31:02,796 signs that North Korea could be reading 808 00:31:02,796 --> 00:31:04,684 some kind of missile tests in the 809 00:31:04,684 --> 00:31:06,851 coming days ? I'm not going to go into 810 00:31:06,851 --> 00:31:09,018 specific intelligence . We always plan 811 00:31:09,018 --> 00:31:11,240 to defend the homeland . We always keep 812 00:31:11,240 --> 00:31:13,450 a look at our ability to deter as well 813 00:31:13,450 --> 00:31:17,290 as respond if needed . Okay , 814 00:31:17,300 --> 00:31:20,860 um , I have one question 815 00:31:20,860 --> 00:31:24,250 about North Korea . How worried are you 816 00:31:24,250 --> 00:31:26,260 about the latest report that North 817 00:31:26,260 --> 00:31:29,190 Korea might be testing and your 818 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:31,860 generation ? Maybe it's , uh , 819 00:31:31,870 --> 00:31:35,740 intercontinental missiles . So in the 820 00:31:35,750 --> 00:31:37,806 parade , the public parade we saw in 821 00:31:37,806 --> 00:31:40,028 the 10th of October , we saw additional 822 00:31:40,028 --> 00:31:42,139 capabilities and additional missile . 823 00:31:42,139 --> 00:31:43,972 Now they're up to three missiles 824 00:31:43,972 --> 00:31:46,028 missiles that we assess could strike 825 00:31:46,028 --> 00:31:48,139 our homeland . I'll go back to what I 826 00:31:48,139 --> 00:31:47,950 told Lucas . We always maintain the 827 00:31:47,950 --> 00:31:49,894 ability to defend our homeland and 828 00:31:49,894 --> 00:31:51,783 obviously the right to defend the 829 00:31:51,783 --> 00:31:53,783 homelands . We're postured each and 830 00:31:53,783 --> 00:31:55,506 every day through ground based 831 00:31:55,506 --> 00:31:57,672 interceptors , which create deterrence 832 00:31:57,672 --> 00:31:59,339 by denial I'll go back to the 833 00:31:59,339 --> 00:32:01,617 foundation of our defense and homeland . 834 00:32:01,617 --> 00:32:03,672 Defense is our nuclear triad and our 835 00:32:03,672 --> 00:32:05,839 nuclear deterrence capabilities . Take 836 00:32:05,839 --> 00:32:07,950 the nuclear deterrence capabilities . 837 00:32:07,950 --> 00:32:07,530 Combine that with our ground based 838 00:32:07,530 --> 00:32:09,474 interceptors and ballistic missile 839 00:32:09,474 --> 00:32:11,530 capabilities . And I think we have a 840 00:32:11,530 --> 00:32:15,460 good posture for deterrence . First up , 841 00:32:15,470 --> 00:32:17,026 Peter Lowy , size shimbun . 842 00:32:23,740 --> 00:32:26,110 Okay , we'll move to , um , Jeff shovel 843 00:32:26,120 --> 00:32:29,630 task and purpose . I can you hear me ? 844 00:32:29,630 --> 00:32:30,770 All right . 845 00:32:33,740 --> 00:32:35,851 Alright . If , um , Peter , if you're 846 00:32:35,851 --> 00:32:39,550 on you go ahead . Thanks very much , 847 00:32:39,560 --> 00:32:41,782 General , you mentioned this morning it 848 00:32:41,782 --> 00:32:43,893 would be helpful for you if the U . S 849 00:32:43,893 --> 00:32:45,949 joined the U . N . Convention on the 850 00:32:45,949 --> 00:32:48,171 laws of the Seas . Um , are there other 851 00:32:48,171 --> 00:32:50,393 treaties or declarations that you think 852 00:32:50,393 --> 00:32:52,560 the U . S should ratify to help you do 853 00:32:52,560 --> 00:32:52,350 your job ? And that question also goes 854 00:32:52,350 --> 00:32:54,461 to the admiral as well working in the 855 00:32:54,461 --> 00:32:56,780 Southern Hemisphere ? Yeah . So I don't 856 00:32:56,780 --> 00:32:59,200 have any specific other treaties that 857 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:02,040 we should ratify going forward . We're 858 00:33:02,040 --> 00:33:04,151 in a different era of competition now 859 00:33:04,151 --> 00:33:06,373 with two peer competitors that are both 860 00:33:06,373 --> 00:33:09,010 nuclear armed . My recommendation would 861 00:33:09,010 --> 00:33:11,232 be , as we look to future treaties that 862 00:33:11,232 --> 00:33:13,400 we not put ourselves in a disadvantage 863 00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:16,300 to one nation China or Russia as we 864 00:33:16,300 --> 00:33:18,300 think about treaties that we should 865 00:33:18,300 --> 00:33:20,356 consider all options and the factors 866 00:33:20,356 --> 00:33:22,411 and impacts of treaties would have , 867 00:33:22,411 --> 00:33:24,522 with regards to both of those nations 868 00:33:25,040 --> 00:33:27,260 with respect to the law of the Sea 869 00:33:27,260 --> 00:33:29,940 Treaty , completely concur with General 870 00:33:29,940 --> 00:33:32,107 Van Herck that we should ratify that . 871 00:33:32,107 --> 00:33:34,180 I think that number of Navy leaders 872 00:33:34,180 --> 00:33:36,350 over time have had that opinion were 873 00:33:36,350 --> 00:33:38,880 nation of laws , and we see excessive 874 00:33:38,880 --> 00:33:42,170 maritime claims at sea . All right , 875 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:45,710 very problematic for the rules and 876 00:33:45,710 --> 00:33:48,000 norms of international behavior . Look 877 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:50,000 at the South China Sea look in this 878 00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:52,056 hemisphere and Venezuela's excessive 879 00:33:52,056 --> 00:33:54,350 claims and so ratifying that would be 880 00:33:54,350 --> 00:33:57,540 important , important legitimacy 881 00:33:57,540 --> 00:34:00,390 statement for us . As to others , I I 882 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:02,567 have no comment on that , and it would 883 00:34:02,567 --> 00:34:06,170 leave that to policy on on 884 00:34:06,180 --> 00:34:08,347 on the legitimacy aspect that you just 885 00:34:08,347 --> 00:34:10,300 mentioned . Would ratifying , for 886 00:34:10,300 --> 00:34:12,467 example , the Universal Declaration of 887 00:34:12,467 --> 00:34:14,411 Human Rights add any weight to our 888 00:34:14,411 --> 00:34:16,522 criticism of other countries that are 889 00:34:16,522 --> 00:34:19,070 perpetuating human rights abuses ? I 890 00:34:19,070 --> 00:34:21,700 don't have an assessment of that . I 891 00:34:21,710 --> 00:34:24,310 would say that we focus and have the 892 00:34:24,310 --> 00:34:26,950 only Quebec in command embedded human 893 00:34:26,950 --> 00:34:28,728 rights training program . We've 894 00:34:28,728 --> 00:34:30,894 increased its capacity , and last year 895 00:34:30,894 --> 00:34:32,970 it's a game changer for us because 896 00:34:32,970 --> 00:34:34,970 we've we've really shown that we've 897 00:34:34,970 --> 00:34:37,137 been able to to work inside ministries 898 00:34:37,137 --> 00:34:39,430 of defence and inside partners military 899 00:34:39,430 --> 00:34:41,470 structures to ensure that their 900 00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:43,702 training programs or education programs 901 00:34:43,702 --> 00:34:46,250 mirror our own , and that we have an 902 00:34:46,250 --> 00:34:49,560 assessment methodology to look at their 903 00:34:49,560 --> 00:34:51,616 use of force in their involvement to 904 00:34:51,616 --> 00:34:53,338 ensure that it's appropriate , 905 00:34:53,338 --> 00:34:55,610 responsible and professional . And so 906 00:34:55,610 --> 00:34:57,610 the importance of human rights is a 907 00:34:57,610 --> 00:35:00,560 statement of our values and values are 908 00:35:00,570 --> 00:35:03,360 the most important thing to be a 909 00:35:03,360 --> 00:35:05,840 trusted partner in this hemisphere . 28 910 00:35:05,840 --> 00:35:07,970 democracies that we work with . They 911 00:35:07,970 --> 00:35:09,970 have values that mirror our own and 912 00:35:09,970 --> 00:35:12,081 constitutions that mirror our own and 913 00:35:12,081 --> 00:35:14,303 oaths that mirror our own . It's a glue 914 00:35:14,303 --> 00:35:16,940 that holds us together . Okay , we'll 915 00:35:16,940 --> 00:35:19,162 go to Jeff and then we'll take one from 916 00:35:19,162 --> 00:35:22,910 the floor . Here . Um , 917 00:35:22,920 --> 00:35:26,120 would you describe the groups in the 918 00:35:26,120 --> 00:35:28,398 United States such as the oath keepers , 919 00:35:28,398 --> 00:35:31,640 uh , as insurgent groups and , uh , 920 00:35:31,650 --> 00:35:33,950 General and Admiral Faller is it ? 921 00:35:33,950 --> 00:35:36,240 Coton is concerned that if China makes 922 00:35:36,250 --> 00:35:38,760 inroads in Venezuela that the other 923 00:35:38,760 --> 00:35:40,760 South American countries could fall 924 00:35:40,760 --> 00:35:43,760 like dominoes . So I think that first 925 00:35:43,760 --> 00:35:45,816 question is for me , and , uh , it's 926 00:35:45,816 --> 00:35:47,880 irrelevant what we call them , uh , 927 00:35:47,890 --> 00:35:50,640 extremists you name it , that's 928 00:35:50,640 --> 00:35:52,807 something that's unacceptable . And we 929 00:35:52,807 --> 00:35:54,973 need to , uh , to continue to work . I 930 00:35:54,973 --> 00:35:57,307 would tell you that that's not directly , 931 00:35:57,307 --> 00:35:59,418 uh , as part of my mission , but it's 932 00:35:59,418 --> 00:36:01,584 something that we keep an eye on . I'd 933 00:36:01,584 --> 00:36:03,751 work with law enforcement with regards 934 00:36:03,751 --> 00:36:06,910 to extremist activities . I just 935 00:36:06,910 --> 00:36:09,650 comment on extremism at . There's a 936 00:36:09,650 --> 00:36:11,370 range of behaviors that are 937 00:36:11,370 --> 00:36:13,648 unacceptable , and this is one of them . 938 00:36:13,648 --> 00:36:15,426 They just eroded good order and 939 00:36:15,426 --> 00:36:17,648 discipline and trust and and the health 940 00:36:17,648 --> 00:36:19,814 of our commands , and are . And , uh , 941 00:36:19,814 --> 00:36:22,010 we're working hard to address that 942 00:36:22,020 --> 00:36:25,580 rooted out and get to a position , uh , 943 00:36:25,590 --> 00:36:27,840 where it gets to zero With respect to 944 00:36:27,840 --> 00:36:30,710 China . The China is involved in 945 00:36:30,710 --> 00:36:34,110 Venezuela and has held sway because of 946 00:36:34,110 --> 00:36:36,332 the large debt that Venezuela's China . 947 00:36:36,332 --> 00:36:38,388 We look at debt diplomacy globally , 948 00:36:38,388 --> 00:36:40,443 and it's , uh , it's working in this 949 00:36:40,443 --> 00:36:42,820 hemisphere as well . That's not the 950 00:36:42,820 --> 00:36:45,500 only source of leverage that China has 951 00:36:45,500 --> 00:36:49,010 and uses in their growing economic 952 00:36:49,310 --> 00:36:51,840 course of clout . It includes it 953 00:36:51,850 --> 00:36:55,390 leverage . It includes resource 954 00:36:55,400 --> 00:36:57,970 leverage . A big focus on this 955 00:36:57,970 --> 00:37:00,137 hemisphere is the hemisphere is a very 956 00:37:00,137 --> 00:37:02,470 has a very positive water resource and 957 00:37:02,470 --> 00:37:05,010 food production . China's focused on 958 00:37:05,010 --> 00:37:07,066 gaining the right leverage on that . 959 00:37:07,066 --> 00:37:09,010 And then they use that leverage in 960 00:37:09,010 --> 00:37:11,390 international forums , uh , to to push 961 00:37:11,400 --> 00:37:14,260 towards China's view of a rules based 962 00:37:14,260 --> 00:37:17,140 world order . Uh , I don't know , Don't 963 00:37:17,140 --> 00:37:19,320 really know or understand the part of 964 00:37:19,320 --> 00:37:21,153 your question , Jeff . On domino 965 00:37:21,153 --> 00:37:23,264 analogy . What I see is that partners 966 00:37:23,264 --> 00:37:26,360 want so partner with the United States , 967 00:37:26,370 --> 00:37:28,537 and that goes right back to values and 968 00:37:28,537 --> 00:37:30,759 from a mil to mil standpoint , which is 969 00:37:30,759 --> 00:37:33,480 what I can comment on . They want to 970 00:37:33,490 --> 00:37:35,712 our partner nations want to emulate the 971 00:37:35,712 --> 00:37:37,820 professionalism and the expertise of 972 00:37:37,820 --> 00:37:39,931 the United States military . We don't 973 00:37:39,931 --> 00:37:42,153 take that for granted . It's a position 974 00:37:42,153 --> 00:37:44,042 that we got to work hard at , and 975 00:37:44,042 --> 00:37:46,264 that's where we focus . And if we focus 976 00:37:46,264 --> 00:37:48,376 on that with the right foot print and 977 00:37:48,376 --> 00:37:50,542 the right amount of resources , and in 978 00:37:50,542 --> 00:37:52,764 this hemisphere very modest amount goes 979 00:37:52,764 --> 00:37:54,820 a long way , we're going to stay the 980 00:37:54,820 --> 00:37:56,764 trusted partner and we'll stay the 981 00:37:56,764 --> 00:38:00,730 course . Could you tell us , how 982 00:38:00,730 --> 00:38:03,910 do you deal with the Iranian ships that 983 00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:06,840 coming to Venezuela ? Um , do you have 984 00:38:06,840 --> 00:38:09,420 any concerns about that ships ? Have 985 00:38:09,420 --> 00:38:11,830 you searched these ships before ? Have 986 00:38:11,830 --> 00:38:14,470 you stopped them ? Could you make many 987 00:38:14,470 --> 00:38:16,359 more explained for that ? issue , 988 00:38:16,359 --> 00:38:18,790 please . It's a travesty that Venezuela 989 00:38:18,790 --> 00:38:22,470 was one of the largest oil reserves has , 990 00:38:22,480 --> 00:38:24,880 uh , only used that reserve to benefit 991 00:38:24,880 --> 00:38:27,220 the illegitimate Maduro regime . And so 992 00:38:27,220 --> 00:38:29,331 there are international sanctions and 993 00:38:29,331 --> 00:38:31,553 international pressure . And then there 994 00:38:31,553 --> 00:38:34,690 are nation states that have assisted 995 00:38:34,700 --> 00:38:36,867 Venezuela , and skirting those in Iran 996 00:38:36,867 --> 00:38:39,190 is at the top of that list . So our 997 00:38:39,190 --> 00:38:41,670 role in support of our diplomats and 998 00:38:41,670 --> 00:38:43,670 our policy here in Washington is to 999 00:38:43,920 --> 00:38:46,890 understand the environment , call that 1000 00:38:46,890 --> 00:38:48,557 domain awareness intelligence 1001 00:38:48,557 --> 00:38:50,390 collection and then process that 1002 00:38:50,390 --> 00:38:52,279 information and share it with our 1003 00:38:52,279 --> 00:38:54,446 partners . And so that's been our role 1004 00:38:54,446 --> 00:38:56,501 in this just to understand and share 1005 00:38:56,501 --> 00:38:58,612 and then provide that information and 1006 00:38:58,612 --> 00:39:00,668 allow our diplomats to call it out . 1007 00:39:00,668 --> 00:39:02,890 Caller on out on that . And to use that 1008 00:39:03,020 --> 00:39:06,840 for further leverage in the what 1009 00:39:06,840 --> 00:39:09,220 must be a diplomatic solution to the 1010 00:39:09,220 --> 00:39:11,850 Venezuelan crisis , you've got time for 1011 00:39:11,850 --> 00:39:14,880 one more . Thank you a little . You you 1012 00:39:14,880 --> 00:39:17,102 talked about Chinese economic expansion 1013 00:39:17,102 --> 00:39:19,890 in South America , and especially on 1014 00:39:19,890 --> 00:39:23,160 the issue with building ports projects 1015 00:39:23,170 --> 00:39:26,930 over 40 of those . Do you assess that 1016 00:39:26,940 --> 00:39:28,718 at a certain point , China will 1017 00:39:28,718 --> 00:39:31,240 leverage this economic expansion to 1018 00:39:31,240 --> 00:39:34,760 have permanent military presence or 1019 00:39:34,770 --> 00:39:37,670 installation to service its Navy 1020 00:39:37,680 --> 00:39:40,013 because the threat you're talking about , 1021 00:39:40,013 --> 00:39:42,236 it seems in a civilian domain , and the 1022 00:39:42,236 --> 00:39:44,180 way to deal with it is to increase 1023 00:39:44,180 --> 00:39:46,236 American investments and to bring in 1024 00:39:46,236 --> 00:39:48,402 different model of economic activity . 1025 00:39:48,402 --> 00:39:51,160 However , when it comes to security , 1026 00:39:51,250 --> 00:39:53,430 in addition to the issue of five G 1027 00:39:53,440 --> 00:39:56,160 networks , there is this military 1028 00:39:56,170 --> 00:39:58,420 aspect . Have you have you seen any 1029 00:39:58,420 --> 00:40:00,950 development on that front ? The 1030 00:40:00,960 --> 00:40:03,300 secretary defenses guidance to us , 1031 00:40:03,300 --> 00:40:06,520 very clear that China is the is the 1032 00:40:06,530 --> 00:40:08,363 pacing threatened the number one 1033 00:40:08,363 --> 00:40:10,586 challenge that we have to to work , and 1034 00:40:10,586 --> 00:40:12,697 we have to work globally as a team on 1035 00:40:12,697 --> 00:40:14,919 that . So my assessment of look at what 1036 00:40:14,919 --> 00:40:17,050 China has done throughout Asia and 1037 00:40:17,050 --> 00:40:19,790 about Africa . It's a very insidious 1038 00:40:20,490 --> 00:40:23,510 sidious . Move forward for economic , 1039 00:40:23,520 --> 00:40:25,464 global economic dominance and what 1040 00:40:25,464 --> 00:40:28,020 starts as a purely commercial interest 1041 00:40:28,510 --> 00:40:31,240 time recognizing it's all in some way 1042 00:40:31,240 --> 00:40:34,970 state owned ends up with significant 1043 00:40:34,970 --> 00:40:37,081 military application and connection . 1044 00:40:37,510 --> 00:40:41,260 We look with growing alarm and concern 1045 00:40:41,260 --> 00:40:44,580 at the expansive , massive blue water 1046 00:40:44,580 --> 00:40:48,270 navy that China is using and question 1047 00:40:48,270 --> 00:40:50,159 the intent use of that navy going 1048 00:40:50,159 --> 00:40:52,910 forward . So I absolutely think that 1049 00:40:52,910 --> 00:40:55,132 they're on a march to do what they need 1050 00:40:55,132 --> 00:40:57,830 to ensure that the Communist party 1051 00:40:57,840 --> 00:41:01,370 stays intact . And , uh , and I asked 1052 00:41:01,380 --> 00:41:03,213 the question , Why would they be 1053 00:41:03,213 --> 00:41:05,269 looking at so many ports , including 1054 00:41:05,269 --> 00:41:07,491 deep water ports ? In this hemisphere ? 1055 00:41:08,110 --> 00:41:10,221 It's all we've got time for today . I 1056 00:41:10,221 --> 00:41:12,388 want to thank you all for joining us . 1057 00:41:12,388 --> 00:41:14,554 Thank you , gentlemen , for joining us 1058 00:41:14,554 --> 00:41:13,830 here in the PBR . Thanks .