WASHINGTON – (AP) – The Pentagon on Monday met with NATO ministers to address military aid to Ukraine as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin remains hospitalized while dealing with additional health issues after prostate cancer surgery. announced that he had canceled his visit to Brussels for the
Austin, 70, was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Sunday afternoon to deal with bladder issues and was admitted to the intensive care unit. Following surgery in December, this was his second admission to Walter Reed's ICU this year.
Doctors said in a statement released by the Pentagon that he underwent a non-surgical procedure under general anesthesia on Monday to address a bladder issue.
Mr. Austin was scheduled to travel to Brussels on Tuesday to attend a regular meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which brings together about 50 countries to coordinate military aid to Kiev. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the meeting will now be held virtually.
“We are hopeful for a smooth recovery and will be monitoring the situation closely overnight,” the statement said. “Long-term hospitalization is not expected.”
Austin is scheduled to attend the virtual meeting, but if he is too ill to attend, Celeste Wallander, the assistant secretary of defense for international security, will represent him on his behalf.
White House national security press secretary John Kirby said Monday that he did not know whether President Joe Biden had spoken directly to Austin after his hospitalization, but said he remained confident in the president's ability to perform his job. .
The Pentagon's response to Austin's latest hospitalization stands in sharp contrast to its initial diagnosis and treatment response in December, which Austin and a few select staff members kept secret from nearly everyone, including Biden. Austin later apologized.
The decision not to share that information with the president and the public is still being reviewed by the Pentagon inspector general. A separate internal review by the Pentagon has been completed but has not yet been made public.
It wasn't immediately clear whether the bladder problem was a result of prostate cancer treatment or a new health concern. Austin's doctors said in a statement that there is no change in his expected full recovery and that Austin's “cancer prognosis remains favorable.”
Austin transferred his authority to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks on Sunday.
After the Ukraine talks, he was scheduled to attend the regular NATO defense ministers' meeting, which will also be held in Brussels. Ryder said Austin will be represented by U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julie Smith at Thursday's meeting.
Austin spent two weeks at Walter Reed Hospital in January after being rushed to the hospital in extreme pain due to complications from prostate cancer surgery he underwent in December.
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Zeke Miller contributed to this article.
