According to Politico, Austin canceled his visit to the Belgian capital and, therefore, the meeting of representatives of the countries providing military assistance to kyiv, scheduled for February 14, was in danger. According to the publication, kyiv insisted on a “virtual” format so as not to interrupt the consultations. It’s worth noting that the group’s last meeting in January was also held remotely, as Austin was also unable to attend for health reasons.
As Politico emphasizes, the cancellation of Austin’s trip to Brussels comes at a “difficult time” for Washington’s continued military support for kyiv. In fact, military supplies have been blocked since the end of December 2023, since the funds allocated for this by Congress have been completely spent. President Joe Biden’s proposal to allocate $60 billion in additional aid to kyiv is so far blocked by Congress.
Austin is expected to testify before the House Armed Services Committee before the end of February. During the hearings he must inform the congressmen about his health and his ability to serve as Secretary of Defense.
Lloyd Austin was hospitalized with a “bladder emergency” and turned over all duties to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. The Pentagon said Austin “traveled to the hospital with classified and unclassified communications systems necessary to perform his duties.”
