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The Pentagon has canceled plans for U.S. Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin to journey to Brussels for key conferences on Ukraine and for talks with NATO allies, only a day after he was hospitalized once more for problems after prostate most cancers surgical procedure.
A U.S. protection official tells VOA that the conferences on Ukraine by the Ukraine Protection Contact Group, set for Wednesday, will now be held just about.
There is no such thing as a phrase but on whether or not Austin will take part in that assembly, or on how the Protection Division will deal with a NATO protection ministers assembly scheduled for Thursday.
Monday’s resolution to cancel the journey comes lower than 24 hours after protection officers introduced Austin was again within the hospital with what the Pentagon described as “an emergent bladder subject.”
Officers at Walter Reed Army Medical Middle stated Sunday that Austin was admitted to the hospital’s crucial care unit “for supportive care and shut monitoring” after present process assessments.
“Presently, it isn’t clear how lengthy Secretary Austin will stay hospitalized,” the officers stated in an announcement. “The present bladder subject isn’t anticipated to vary his anticipated full restoration. His most cancers prognosis stays wonderful.”
As a result of most up-to-date hospitalization, Austin transferred management of the division to Deputy Secretary of Protection Kathleen Hicks.
Pentagon press secretary Main Basic Pat Ryder stated the White Home, Congress and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers had been notified of the developments.
Austin was recognized with prostate most cancers late final yr and has been criticized for holding secret his prognosis, surgical procedure and subsequent hospitalization on account of problems from the process.
Following his return to the Pentagon, the 70-year-old Austin apologized for his dealing with of the scenario.
“The information shook me. … Frankly, my first intuition was to maintain it non-public,” he advised reporters. “I apologize to my teammates and to the American folks.”
“We didn’t deal with this proper. And I didn’t deal with this proper. I ought to have advised the president about my most cancers prognosis. I ought to have additionally advised my workforce and the American public, and I take full accountability,” he added.
Upon being recognized with prostate most cancers earlier in December, he went to a hospital for a surgical process on December 22.
Austin was readmitted January 1, and spent two extra weeks within the hospital after experiencing excessive ache and being admitted to the intensive care unit.
President Joe Biden and different key leaders have been solely knowledgeable of Austin’s prognosis greater than every week after he’d been readmitted to the hospital.
Austin’s lack of disclosure prompted modifications in federal tips and triggered an inner Pentagon assessment and an inspector common assessment into his division’s notification procedures.
Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb contributed to this report.
