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U.S. Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin delivers remarks throughout a gathering with Kenyan Protection Secretary Aden Duale on the Pentagon on Feb. 7, 2024, in Arlington, Virginia.
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Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin this week canceled a visit to Brussels, the place he was as a consequence of attend conferences associated to Ukrainian protection and NATO, following his emergency admission to hospital this weekend.
The assembly on Ukraine will as a substitute happen just about. The Pentagon declined to verify the standing of the NATO assembly.
The change in plans is available in per week when Congress is making an attempt to cross a invoice for support to Ukraine and days after former President Donald Trump made controversial feedback about doubtlessly abandoning NATO allies ought to he safe a second time period .
Austin was taken Walter Reed Nationwide Navy Medical Middle Sunday afternoon as a consequence of ‘rising bladder issues’. The protection minister has been battling prostate most cancers in latest months and has recovered from surgical procedure.
President Joe Biden is “under no circumstances” involved about Austin’s capability to proceed serving as protection secretary, Nationwide Safety Council spokesman John Kirby stated Monday. Kirby famous that Biden had not but spoken to Austin since he was hospitalized on Sunday.
Medical doctors stated late Sunday night time that after present process assessments and evaluations, Austin was admitted to the intensive care unit.
Austin initially deliberate to retain all of his positions and tasks. The Pentagon stated Sunday afternoon that he had taken “unclassified and categorised communications methods essential to carry out his duties” to the hospital.
Austin handed over his duties to Deputy Protection Secretary Kathleen Hicks later Sunday night.
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The Pentagon stated it is going to proceed to offer common updates on Austin’s situation, in an effort to not repeat a latest mistake when the Protection Division didn’t notify the White Home when Austin was initially hospitalized as a consequence of most cancers surgical procedure and subsequent problems.
In January, Austin and his employees confronted main backlash for failing to inform prime officers that the protection secretary had been admitted to intensive look after causes unknown on the time. Medical doctors later introduced Austin’s most cancers analysis and particulars of his hospital visits.
Austin and the Pentagon apologized for the communications error. This time, the Protection Division has adopted reporting protocol to a T, a White Home official instructed NBC Information on Monday.
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Austin cancels journey to Ukraine and NATO conferences after hospitalization
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