BRIGADIER GENERAL PATRICK GEN. RYDER: Good afternoon, all people. I used to be remiss final time in recognizing the truth that we now have returned to full capability right here within the briefing room, so I am glad that we have been lastly ready to try this and welcome everybody again. That mentioned, we do have truthful variety of of us on the telephones at the moment, so I will make sure that to get out to them.
Earlier than I take your questions, just some issues to go alongside. So yesterday, Secretary Austin introduced the appointment of U.S. Navy Rear Admiral John Wade because the commander of the Joint Job Pressure Purple Hill. Upon taking command, Rear Admiral Wade’s sole duty will probably be to make sure the division’s secure and expeditious defueling of the Purple Hill bulk fuse — gas storage facility in Oahu, Hawaii.
The Division of Protection and america Navy stay centered on the well being and security of our navy households and the folks of Hawaii, and the secretary is assured that Rear Admiral Wade will proceed to do the whole lot mandatory to guard the native communities and the setting affected by Purple Hill. Making certain clear, secure ingesting water to our households and communities whereas addressing their continued well being and security issues is amongst DOD’s highest priorities.
As he carries out this essential mission, Rear Admiral Wade will work intently with the Hawaii Division of Well being, the Environmental Safety Company and the area people to defuel the Purple Hill facility whereas making environmentally-protective selections.
Individually, the Division of Protection continues to observe intently our fellow residents in Puerto Rico as they cope with the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona. Division has activated the protection coordinating aspect for FEMA Area Two, and the govern — governor of Puerto Rico has activated greater than 450 members of the Puerto Rico Nationwide Guard to help folks in want after Fiona’s heavy rains, excessive winds prompted excessive — widespread injury, flooding, mudslides and energy outages. Close by, the Virgin Islands Nationwide Guard has activated personnel to observe the state of affairs as a part of their joint operations middle group.
Earlier than the — earlier than the storm hit, the Puerto Rico Nationwide Guard pre-positioned troopers and heavy gear together with autos with excessive floor clearance at 10 strategic factors across the island to permit it to rapidly reply to emergencies akin to rescuing stranded or trapped folks and clearing roads.
Notably, on Monday in Cayey, the Puerto Rico Nationwide Guard sixty fifth infantry Regiment rescued 21 aged and bedridden folks from their care facility as landslides threatened the house construction and residents’ security. Additionally Monday, Puerto Rico’s 296th Infantry Regiment in Mayaguez rescued 59 folks and 13 pets from a flooded neighborhood, whereas Guard — Guard members with the one hundred and twenty fifth Army Police Battalion rescued a person in Ponce who received caught in a flash flood. He was clinging to a concrete beam close to Mercedita Airport in southern Puerto Rica — Puerto Rico, the place floodwaters have been as excessive as six ft. Guard personnel additionally rescued folks in Salinas, Anasco, Toa Baja and different municipalities.
In the meantime, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is making ready mills for emergency energy, and the Civil Air Patrol has been offering post-landfall imagery help and small unmanned aerial system help to FEMA city search and rescue groups. The division continues to remain in shut contact with FEMA, the Nationwide Guard Bureau and U.S. Northern Command as response and restoration efforts unfold.
Later at the moment, Secretary Austin will welcome Norwegian Minister for Protection Bjorn Gran — Gram to the Pentagon. The 2 senior leaders will focus on the power of our U.S.-Norway bilateral protection relationship and ongoing work to help Ukraine, in addition to our shared safety pursuits in Europe, the Arctic and throughout the globe and bilateral and NATO efforts to advance these pursuits.
After which lastly, on a separate notice, we wish to congratulate U.S. Navy hospital ship Mercy, which is docked in Hawaii, on concluding a profitable Pacific Partnership 2022. That is the seventeenth 12 months of this multinational humanitarian help and catastrophe aid preparedness mission, and the most important effort of its type within the Indo-Pacific area. Mission stops throughout this 12 months’s Pacific Partnership included Vietnam, Palau, the Philippines and Solomon Islands, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea. Occasions are coordinated with host nations and deliberate primarily based on the necessities and requests which generally embrace medical care, exchanges, engineering tasks and discussions on humanitarian and catastrophe aid. It is one other nice instance of allies, companions and nongovernmental organizations within the Indo-Pacific area working collectively to enhance our means to successfully reply to pure disasters, whereas additionally offering wanted humanitarian help and help.
And with that, I’m completely satisfied to take your questions. We’ll go first to AP.
We’ll go proper right here to the room, anyone within the room. Proper. John, we’ll go along with you.
Q: Thanks, sir. With — one — one fast Q: I’ve two questions, however one on the — the — the hospital ship.
GEN. RYDER: Positive.
Q: You mentioned Solomon Islands was one of many stops. Did the Solomon Islands waive their present rule towards navy ships coming in, or do they contemplate the Mercy not a navy ship?
GEN. RYDER: I — I’d refer you — refer you to the Navy when it comes to the timing. My understanding is that they have been permitted to take part, and that they’d been working there earlier than. Solomon Islands had admitted (inaudible).
Q: Thanks. My — my two questions. One is from the — from the rostrum this 12 months, we have heard that when the U.S. gives Ukraine with weapons, it is no strings hooked up, no situations. We do not inform them how you can use them, the place to make use of them, the place to not use them. I am questioning if that is — carries over to the Claymore mines that we supplied. And the response to a query that you just all despatched us some notes saying the Claymore mines we supplied them conform with the Ottawa Treaty. I wished to know if that provision, that we do not inform them how you can use it, applies to the Claymore mines, as nicely.
GEN. RYDER: So sure, I imply, we offer gear to the Ukrainians, they usually decide how they’ll use it, so…
Q: There is no — no, say, you possibly can’t put the journey wires on. It’s a must to make them…
GEN. RYDER: So once more, you understand, simply to make clear, too, I believe typically the — the time period, you understand, as I appeared into this, admittedly, as an Air Pressure man. That is an antipersonnel gadget above floor, so mines in that sense is a bit of little bit of a misnomer, however yeah.
Q: Below the — underneath the Ottawa Treaty, Claymore antipersonnel gadget is — is just not lined if it is detonated with a visit wire. It is lined if it is distant.
GEN. RYDER: OK, yeah. The capabilities that we’re offering are in compliance with the Ottawa Treaty. Thanks, Tom.
Q: (inaudible)…
GEN. RYDER: Let me go to Barb. No, sorry. Thanks. Let me go to Barbara.
Q: Yesterday, Normal Grynkewich, the top of the Air Pressure’s — U.S. Air Pressure’s (inaudible) talking right here in Washington publicly mentioned that Russian forces are getting, in his phrases, “extra aggressive in Syria for the reason that invasion.” And he mentioned that Russian armed plane have been flying over the place U.S. troops are positioned in Syria.
I am questioning in case you can higher describe this aggressive Russian exercise and whether or not the flying of armed Russian plane over U.S. troops is a matter of concern?
GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, Barb. Actually I might — I might defer to Normal Grynkewich to supply a extra detailed description of what he is seeing because the Air Pressure’s central commander.
From a DOD perspective, as you understand, we preserve common military-to-military contact with the Russian navy, because it pertains to Syria, to de-conflict. , if you take a look at that space of the world, that airspace is especially dynamic and crowded, as there are operations performed there. We haven’t any data to point any particular unsafe or unprofessional conduct at this stage, however definitely one thing that bears keeping track of.
Thanks.
Sure, sir?
Q: Yeah, so briefly — or simply earlier than the briefing, the Second Fleet introduced that there was a Taiwan Strait transit with a Canadian frigate. I am first curious, simply to make clear, that is the second Taiwan Strait transit since Speaker of the Home Pelosi went to Taiwan.
After which, additionally, has the DOD noticed any unsafe or unprofessional conduct by Chinese language navy air forces?
After which I’ve a follow-on query about Ukraine.
GEN. RYDER: Positive, to reply the final a part of your query first, I am not conscious at the moment of any incidents or unsafe conduct within the neighborhood of the Taiwan Strait.
By way of the transit, what I can let you know is that the guided missile destroyer, USS Higgins, in cooperation with Royal Canadian Navy Halifax Class Frigate HMCS Vancouver, did conduct a routine Taiwan Strait transit on September 20, via waters the place excessive seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with worldwide legislation.
They transited via a hall within the strait that is past the territorial sea of any coastal state. And as all the time, we’ll proceed to fly and sail and function the place worldwide legislation permits.
Q: And this was the second since Pelosi’s go to? Is that appropriate?
GEN. RYDER: I’d test with the Navy, however I imagine that is appropriate.
Q: After which, on Ukraine, there have been stories that Russia is now beginning to use the drones that Iran had supplied it. Are you able to verify that?
And have their — or how has DOD noticed the usage of these drones on the battlefield?
GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so I do not — I haven’t got any particular data to supply to you on how Russia is working these explicit drones. Once more, as we have talked about earlier than, we do know that Russia has requested and has obtained Iranian drones. We do know that they intend to make use of these within the Ukraine battle. However past that, I haven’t got any further data to supply.
Let me do a fast query from the cellphone right here, after which I will come again to the room.
Now let’s go to Sylvie from AFP.
Q: Thanks. I’ve two questions. Are you able to verify that (inaudible) launched an inner investigation about the usage of Twitter and Fb by some navy models to launch an operation of disinformation?
And likewise, the president mentioned that he would troops to Taiwan if China invaded the island. Does it imply that the Pentagon has to vary its posture within the area?
GEN. RYDER: Sure, thanks, Sylvie. By way of your first query, what I’d let you know is that our DOD coverage group has requested a overview of Division of Protection navy data help actions, which is just meant to be a possibility for us to evaluate the present work that is being completed on this enviornment, and actually should not be interpreted as something past that.
By way of the — your second query, I am not going to talk for the president. As he mentioned, our coverage — our One China Coverage stays, so past that I might refer you again to the White Home.
OK, let me go to the room right here.
Fadi?
Q: Thanks, Normal.
So it appears a lot of referendums are being ready for territories inside Ukraine which can be being managed by Russia or separatists which can be supported by Russia. And at the moment Mr. Medvedev Nationwide Safety Deputy Chairman in Russia mainly warned that concentrating on these areas sooner or later will probably be against the law and that Russia will use daring forces of self-defense.
So I am simply questioning if these referendums truly ended up leading to Russia formally controlling these areas? Will that change in any manner the kind of help the Pentagon is providing the Ukrainians? And can these territories be off restrict for Ukrainians in the case of utilizing U.S. and allies supplied weapons?
GEN. RYDER: Sure, thanks, Fadi.
Properly, you understand, we have definitely been speaking concerning the potential for these sham referenda for some time, and Russia’s efforts to put the groundwork to basically annex Ukrainian territory. It is a part of their playbook, we noticed them do that in 2014, and it goes a bit of one thing like this.
First you are going to have proxy officers as what you are seeing reported within the press proper now declare that they’ll conduct a referenda after which they’ll use that as the idea to attempt to declare legitimacy when it comes to annexation of sovereign Ukrainian territory.
From my perspective that is merely an data operation that is meant to distract from the troublesome state that the Russian navy presently finds itself in proper now. However nobody will view such sham referenda with any credibility, and the U.S. definitely is not going to acknowledge the result of any sham elections.
And so, when it comes to how that can have an effect on U.S. and worldwide help – it is not going to. We’ll proceed to work with Ukraine and our worldwide companions to supply them with the help they should defend their territory.
Thanks.
Let’s return out to the cellphone.
Heather with USNI?
Q: Thanks a lot.
Earlier at the moment the British put out an announcement about submarines being moved away from their space within the Black Sea, and I used to be questioning in case you can touch upon that? I can — in case you give me a second, I’ll let you know precisely the place. They moved in direction of Krasnodar Krai in Southern Russia, away from Crimea?
GEN. RYDER: Sure, thanks Heather.
I’ve seen the press stories on that, however I am afraid I haven’t got something to supply from right here.
Thanks.
Let me go to Phil Stewart from Reuters.
Q: Hey, thanks. Actual fast, there’s a – a – a report out saying {that a} Ku Klux Klan plaque is on the entrance of the West Level – at a – on the – on the entrance to the West Level’s Science Heart. This report got here out a while in the past, I believe two – two weeks in the past or so. I am simply questioning, has the DOD appeared into these stories a couple of Ku Klux Klan plaque on the entrance of – of the Science Heart there? And is it taking any – any place on it? Thanks.
GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks, Phil. So what – what you are referring to is the second report from the Naming Fee, which talked a couple of – a portray, as I perceive it, that’s at – at West Level that is – that is – has a – a – there’s a side in there that features some Ku Klux Klan imagery, that’s – I – once more, as I perceive it, is a part of a – a broader portray that was supposed to point that these have been one of many adversaries or foes that troopers had fought beforehand.
All that is to say the – the Naming Fee report did spotlight that as one thing for West Level to deal with. So when it comes to what Army management is doing to deal with that exact portray, I’d refer you to the Army.
We’re assured that – that they are working via that course of, because it – as are all of the companies, in the case of the Naming Fee findings, to deal with these appropriately. And so they are able to offer you a extra detailed replace on the place that stands. Thanks.
GEN. RYDER: Let me return to the room… any questions right here. Sir?
Q: Sir, with President Biden’s relatively express remark that the pandemic is over, does that imply the Pentagon, DOD goes to amend its vaccination coverage or its inoculation coverage concerning COVID-19?
GEN. RYDER: So definitely, from a Division of Protection standpoint, we nonetheless have a requirement to vaccinate in the case of COVID. And so we’ll proceed to implement our measures. And once more, you understand, on the finish of the day, for us, that is about readiness – about warfighting readiness.
Q: So was the President improper when he mentioned …
GEN. RYDER: I’d refer you to the White Home to – for any questions on the President. Thanks.
Sure, ma’am?
Q: (Inaudible) Particular Coordinator in Lebanon introduced at the moment that the – the United Nation is finalizing a plan to supply the U.S.-funded salaries to the Lebanese Armed Pressure – Forces. Is that this a part of a earlier DOD-authorized funding tool-up? Are you able to verify something? Do you’ve got something on this?
GEN. RYDER: I am afraid I haven’t got any updates instantly however we are able to definitely take that query and get again to you, OK?
Let me return out to the cellphone right here actual fast. Carla Babb, VoA?
Q: Hello, Normal Ryder. Thanks for taking my query, thanks for doing this. Can I comply with up actually rapidly on what Sylvie had requested? So that you mentioned that the DOD coverage group has requested a overview of the navy’s data help actions however is the U.S. navy liable for – in command of some or all the greater than 150 faux accounts that have been deleted by Twitter and Meta/Fb?
GEN. RYDER: So what I’d let you know is that Fb – neither Fb nor Twitter have supplied us with that data. So I – I am unable to reply that query, we do not know, however as – as talked about, we’re – we’re taking this chance to exit to our organizations that do conduct navy data help operations to do a overview.
Q: Thanks. Can I comply with up…
(CROSSTALK)
Q: What is that this overview about? Is it the truth is a 30 day overview? What are you asking these organizations to supply? And who’re these organizations? If it is data, is that this common public affairs those that work together with you – U.S. and the worldwide media or are these individuals who don’t try this? Do they interact in deception? May we get some particulars?
GEN. RYDER: Positive. So I am not going to place a timeline on the overview. The overview is, you understand, a part of a regular administration course of to make it possible for – that our coverage group has a – you understand, the chance to try what it’s we’re doing, once more, as we see this press protection, out of due diligence, simply to make it possible for we are able to have a look and bear in mind from a coverage standpoint.
By way of your query on, you understand, what the DOD does, let’s take a step apart. By way of navy data help operations, which was once generally known as psychological operations, that could be a functionality that the Division of Protection does preserve. It is a side of warfare as outdated as warfare itself. And we conduct these operations in help of nationwide safety priorities.
What I’d spotlight is that they should be undertaken in compliance with U.S. legislation and DOD coverage, and we now have safeguards in place and are dedicated to observing these safeguards. These usually are not public affairs operations, these are navy data help operations.
And so once more, a functionality that we preserve, a functionality that we make use of in operations abroad and in help of contingencies.
Q: And it should – these operations and the knowledge they impart, should they be truthful?
GEN. RYDER: So once more, not – to not get right into a – a chronic dialog about, you understand, doctrine, however in the case of MISO, or psychological operations, typically talking, if you speak to MISO operators, fact is all the time the popular choice, however if you begin speaking about navy deception operations, I imply, to not go too far again, if you consider World Battle II and also you consider the invasion of D-Day and – and airplanes that have been out on a runway that have been meant to deceive the adversary, you understand, that could be a functionality in your toolkit that you’ll hold with a view to allow your operations.
So to – to reply your query, there are alternatives in conducting operations towards adversaries the place you might wish to use data in a manner that’s going to assist them assume a sure manner.
Q: So, not truthful?
GEN. RYDER: Not truthful data.
Q: Can I comply with up on this?
GEN. RYDER: Positive.
Q: So Normal, how does this differ from the conduct of Russia and – and China and all of the accusations from the U.S. that they use such operations?
GEN. RYDER: OK, nicely, once more, let’s take a step again since you’re – you understand, once more, with – there is no such thing as a – to my data, we now have not reviewed this data, so we will not make the idea that that is DOD. Once more, we now have safeguards in place, when it comes to how we handle our operations. And – and so I will depart it at that, OK?
Luis?
Q: Sir, the – almost about this, was there a earlier overview that had been completed previous to this new overview that Secretary Kahl has referred to as for? As a result of if you learn the Washington Submit article, it talks a couple of draft of MISO operations that resulted in August. A month later now, right here comes a brand new report that he ordered this overview final week. Are you able to present some steering as to what’s truly occurring right here when it comes to you understand…?
GEN. RYDER: Yeah, definitely. So what I’d say is, once more, you understand, a part of utilizing this as a possibility to return, as a result of once more, we now have not seen this data that is been reported on by Fb and Twitter, to return and check out our personal operations. And once more, once we conduct all these operations they’re — they’ll be completed throughout the insurance policies and the safeguards that we have put into place.
So you understand, when it comes to previous and former opinions, I haven’t got any data on that apart from to say, you understand, like several administration operate, you are going to consistently, you understand, be asking these sorts of inquiries to just be sure you have a full image of who’s doing what and when to proceed to make sure that issues are being completed inside coverage and the — the rules that we now have in place.
(CROSSTALK)
Q: (inaudible) issues that you will have in the event that they — if these actions don’t comply with a coverage.
GEN. RYDER: I do not wish to get into hypotheticals. I imply, once more, we now have clear coverage and steering that is communicated to all of our navy models on this, and — and yeah, simply depart it at that.
Q: Can I’ve a clarification sir? You mentioned — I received this half, no, not public affairs operations, however navy help operations. Does that imply it is performed by parts of the Division of Protection, and never contracted out?
GEN. RYDER: I imply, throughout the DOD, clearly, we make use of contractors for quite a lot of issues, to incorporate within the areas of navy data help operations, proper, to supply quite a lot of help, from administrative to material experience. I haven’t got any specifics to supply you, however I — yeah.
Q: I respect that response, and any — something that may be contracted out when it comes to this difficulty, with out going into specifics, wouldn’t it be a part of the overview of DOD personnel earlier than it goes out in some unspecified time in the future?
GEN. RYDER: Once more, I…
Q: (inaudible) my query.
GEN. RYDER: Yeah, I — I — I believe, once more, we’re going to try organizations that conduct MISO, and you understand, all points of it.
Sure, Barbara?
Q: So…
Q: Thanks.
Q: Let’s simply circle again once more for these of us who’re nonetheless confused. What’s — are you able to assist us perceive, are you able to outline what’s MISO? What’s navy data help operation? For most of the people, what’s it?
GEN. RYDER: Positive. I imply, it may be quite a lot of issues, proper? So for instance, you understand, usually, MISO goes to focus on adversary populations, adversary leaders when it comes to, what’s the data that must be communicated to them utilizing, once more, usually truthful data to attempt to push again on disinformation or misinformation? And it’s, you understand — it may also be issues like if there are dangerous actors which can be pushing out data that’s, you understand, that’s incorrect or is concentrating on U.S. forces it assist — it helps to make sure that these adversaries or goal populations get correct details about what’s taking place. However I am not going to enter any particular TTPs or present operations from right here for apparent causes.
Q: Properly, only one — two issues. Is it all the time reactive to push again, or can one in every of these operations be enacted by itself since you’ve — have a requirement to do it, or is it all the time in response to one thing else?
GEN. RYDER: Like all navy operations, it may be a part of the navy planning cycle, proper? So if you end up what a — what the targets are for any explicit marketing campaign or operation, if there’s a requirement, that’s one thing that may be taken under consideration. However once more, I do not wish to say that that is all the time the case. It should be depending on the mission. It should be depending on the world of the world that we’re working in, however…
Q: (inaudible)…
GEN. RYDER: And that is the final query, Barb. I would like to maneuver on to another of us.
Q: So that you goal adversary inhabitants and management, so…
GEN. RYDER: And you understand, the opposite factor I’d let you know, in case you get on-line and also you check out the joint publications, there’s doctrine on there that goes into navy data help operations that can offer you the doctrinal definitions and a few further data.
Q: (inaudible).
GEN. RYDER: Yup, OK. All proper, let me go to Kasim, Anadolu.
Q: Normal, thanks very a lot for taking my query. Final week, america authorities lifted the embargo on South Cyprus administration. Is not there concern this transfer might trigger an arm race on the island? And — and what would you do to make sure — to — to make sure that this transfer would not find yourself in a escalatory arm race on the island?
GEN. RYDER: I am sorry, Kasim. I missed the primary a part of your query. Which — which island?
Q: Really — Cyprus, like South — South Cyprus administration.
GEN. RYDER: Yeah, I am — I am afraid I haven’t got something on that. I might — I might refer you to the State Division on that one. Thanks.
GEN. RYDER: OK, let’s go to John Ismay, New York Instances.
Q: Sure, hello, Normal. A query about cash. I imagine the final time we received a touch upon the sum of money obtainable for PDAs was again in July twenty second, when a senior protection official mentioned about $6 billion remained underneath present authorizations. I used to be questioning in case you can say how a lot stays now. After which individually, I used to be — I used to be — wish to ask if it will be doable to get one thing hung up on the DOD’s web site that is a — a working breakdown of all the person bulletins that make up the greenback figures the Pentagon makes use of when it says issues like, “The U.S. has supplied ‘X’ quantity billion {dollars} in safety help to Ukraine both starting for the reason that invasion or for the reason that starting of the Biden administration or since 2014. I have been making an attempt to make sense — you understand, get my math to match DOD’s math and there is some gaps, and it will be actually useful if no matter greenback figures OSD makes use of, that we might simply get a — a point-by-point, you understand, this date, this date, for PDAs, USAI, FMF and such in order that we are able to all be on the identical web page — you understand, perceive the place these figures come from.
GEN. RYDER: OK, thanks, John. So we’ll return and have a look and to ensure it — it addresses your query, however we do have a truth sheet posted to our web site that lays out all the — the issues that we have introduced when it comes to gear with the greenback figures, not essentially subsequent to the items of apparatus, clearly. However we’ll — we’ll check out that. So I imagine that data is on the market.
By way of how a lot cash is left, what I’d let you know proper now could be that $2.275 billion stays in PDA till September thirtieth, 2022, and for USAI, we have got $1.505 billion obtainable via September thirtieth of 2023. OK?
All proper. Every other questions within the room right here?
Q: Good, take a look at these numbers, sir. Good and sluggish, thanks.
(Laughter.)
GEN. RYDER: Thanks.
(CROSSTALK)
GEN. RYDER: I can go to you, after which I’ve received yet another on the cellphone.
Q: Yeah, only a fast query on the assembly at the moment with the Norwegian minister of protection. Will there be any dialogue on the deserted Osprey that’s nonetheless on the market within the Norwegian wilderness?
GEN. RYDER: So we’ll difficulty a readout following the assembly. I do not wish to speculate on the specifics of the dialog. As I discussed in my opening remarks, Secretary Austin is definitely excited and glad to have the ability to welcome the minister to the constructing at the moment. However past that, I haven’t got any additional information.
OK? And the final query will go to Laura Seligman at Politico…
OK. Thanks very a lot, all people. I respect it. Have an incredible day.
