US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was hospitalized on Sunday due to symptoms indicating an “emerging bladder problem”. The Pentagon reported this saying that Austin was transported by his security escort to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at approximately 2:20 p.m. From what we found out, he is in the ICU. He “maintains the functions and duties of his position,” according to Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks has been briefed and is prepared to take over Austin’s duties “if requested.” The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the White House and some members of Congress were also briefed.
Austin was due to leave for Brussels on Tuesday to hold a meeting of the Ukrainian contact group, which he created in 2022 to coordinate military support for Kiev after the Russian invasion. He would later attend a regular meeting of NATO defense ministers. It was not immediately clear whether this hospitalization would change those plans. Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December and underwent a procedure called a prostatectomy on December 22 to treat it. The following week, he developed complications and on January 1, in severe pain, he was taken by ambulance to Walter Reed, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit. Austin remained at Walter Reed until January 15. He then continued to recover and work from home, and returned to the Pentagon on January 29.
Source: IL Tempo
John Cameron is a journalist at The Nation View specializing in world news and current events, particularly in international politics and diplomacy. With expertise in international relations, he covers a range of topics including conflicts, politics and economic trends.
