According to the Pentagon, US Defense Secretary Austin, who is suffering from cancer, will be represented by his deputy Kathleen Hicks.
What: AFP
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is back in the hospital, according to the Pentagon. He was taken to Walter Reed Military Hospital near Washington by his security detail at 2:20 p.m. (local time) with symptoms of an acute bladder problem, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said on Sunday afternoon.
US Secretary of Defense Austin is suffering from prostate cancer. There was uncertainty about Austin’s condition for almost a month.10.01.2024 | 0:21 minutes
US President Joe Biden, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the White House and Congress have already been informed about the hospital stay. Austin’s deputy Kathleen Hicks took over his duties.
In the afternoon it was said that Austin had the necessary means of communication with him to carry out his duties from the hospital. In the evening it was said that Austin was still in the hospital and had handed over the official duties to the deputy defense minister at around 4:55 p.m. (local time).
Criticism of Austin for secret hospital stay
Austin came under fire earlier this year for keeping a secret about prostate cancer and a hospital stay following complications from a procedure. The 70-year-old was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December. After a minor operation on December 22nd, he initially returned home.
He was then admitted to Walter Reed Hospital on January 1st due to complications. However, the White House was not informed of this until January 4th and Congress a day later.
Biden only learned of his cancer diagnosis on January 9th
Even the US President did not know for several days that his minister was in the hospital – but later confirmed that he wanted to stick with him. Austin was released from the hospital on January 15 and initially did not work from the Pentagon.
Because of Austin’s secrecy, the opposition demanded that the minister leave office. The White House and the Pentagon launched internal investigations into the case.
Biden acknowledged a lack of communication in Austin because of the silence about his health problems, but at the same time expressed his trust in him.
Donald Trump’s influence on political Washington is already evident: In the USA, the Democrats’ attempt to launch a billion-dollar aid package for Ukraine and Israel has failed again. February 11, 2024
Ukraine Contact Group meeting on Tuesday
Austin was supposed to travel to Brussels this Tuesday, where he was supposed to take part in a meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group. He launched this after the start of the Ukraine War in 2022 to coordinate military support for the country attacked by Russia. Austin was then expected to take part in a regular meeting of NATO defense ministers. It was initially unclear whether his hospitalization would disrupt plans.
Elmar Theveßen (head of the ZDF studio in Washington) with an introduction to the visit of Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Washington on February 9th, 24th, February 10th, 2024
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men in the United States after nonmelanoma skin cancer. In the early stages, the chances of recovery are generally good. The prostate (prostate gland) is an organ the size of a walnut that surrounds the base of the urethra in men.
Source: dpa, AFP, Reuters