00:00It's my first time attending your press conference.
00:02Oh, it is? Who are you with?
00:03West America.
00:04That would be like the third Voice of America question.
00:07Thank you very much.
00:08I'm going to think about it while I answer his question.
00:10Some time ago an agreement was made between the U.S., Denmark and Greenland
00:15regarding Greenland and the Arctic up there.
00:18And for the last couple of weeks the president has been very active on the campaign trail
00:24saying that he was very glad that Denmark gave Greenland to the U.S.
00:28and that is being perceived a little differently in Denmark and in Greenland.
00:33So has the president misunderstood the agreement that was made
00:37or has the people of Denmark and Greenland misunderstood?
00:41Yeah, I'm not sure what comments you're referring to
00:43and I certainly haven't followed how it's been covered in Denmark.
00:46Suffice it to say we have a very good deal, one the president is fully apprised of,
00:49he understands and is very supportive of it.
00:51And it builds on what we've done there for a long time,
00:53but one of the most important things that it does is it ensures that never do we have to work
00:58to worry about irrespective of the decision Greenland makes to,
01:01if they one day go independent or stay, continue to be a part of the Kingdom of Denmark,
01:06it will never have to worry about it being a place where a potential adversary through commercial means
01:10can gain access to things that would be harmful to any of our countries.
01:14I think just from a strategic standpoint and where it is geographically,
01:17which was what the president has always focused on when it comes to Greenland,
01:20is national security.
01:21It has always played a critical role in national security.
01:24It is more pronounced now not just because of defenses against missiles,
01:27but because of the Arctic.
01:29And you now have a place that is not – we now have an agreement in place that will exist
01:33in perpetuity
01:34that ensures not just the equities of North America, meaning the United States and Canada,
01:38but all of our partners in NATO as well.
01:40And so it's very solid in that regard, and we think it's a very positive deal,
01:45and one that I think gave us what the president was most interested in,
01:48and that is protecting not just the national security of the United States,
01:51but the security of our allies in NATO and in North America.
01:56Okay.
01:56I'm going to do your question, and then one more, and then we've got to go.
01:59Yes, sir.
01:59Thank you, Mr. Secretary.
02:02U.S. is deporting dozens of Afghans back to their country.
02:06It's the first time that the U.S. is deporting a large number of Afghans.
02:11How is this plan moving?
02:12Well, I can't comment on – I mean, we don't – the State Department – I'm not avoiding your question.
02:16I'm just telling you, it would not be – you'd have to direct that to the Department of Homeland Security.
02:20Sure.
02:20And regard to the region, Pakistan and the de facto government in Afghanistan are at war.
02:25Now, the Russians stepped in to mediate between two countries.
02:28President Trump has ended many wars in many countries.
02:31How do you see these tensions in the region?
02:33Well, we share – look, Pakistan is concerned about terrorist attacks that are being sponsored from the territory of Afghanistan.
02:38They feel as if the Taliban has not done enough to constrain those attacks, and they've taken action against it.
02:45We obviously have heard those concerns on their part.
02:47We obviously don't want them to be targeted for terrorism.
02:50So if there's a productive role for us to play, we would play it.
02:53We don't necessarily have the closest relationship with the Taliban, as you can imagine.
02:57So – but in the end, I mean, we've heard the concerns that Pakistan has raised, and we've seen some
03:02of those attacks that they point to.
03:04We're against terrorism, no matter where it emanates from and who it targets.
03:07Okay, final question.
03:09Yes, ma'am.
03:12Thank you, Mr. Secretary.
03:13You mentioned the Houthis and Bab el-Mandeb, but there's a perception in the Middle East that the U.S.
03:19has downplayed the Houthi threat.
03:23How do you respond to that?
03:25I – you designated the Houthis as a terrorist organization, but the president himself said they are firing at one
03:33country.
03:34How do you respond to this perception?
03:37And at what point – or is there a red line – the U.S. will join the Saudi strikes
03:46against the Houthis?
03:47Well, I won't comment on that part of – those military objectives are always a decision for the commander-in
03:52-chief and the president.
03:53Suffice it to say that we have defense agreements with Saudi Arabia.
03:56We've lived up to those commitments and will continue to live up to those commitments, particularly those that are defensive
04:01in nature.
04:02Beyond that, those are decisions for the president to make.
04:05We are in regular and continuous contact with our partners in Saudi Arabia, not just here today, but on the
04:11phone and in conversations,
04:12including between the Crown Prince, His Highness, and the president very recently and multiple times over the last month.
04:17So we're tracking all that very closely.
04:19But the statement I would make is we have a defense cooperation agreement.
04:23We have defense understandings with Saudi Arabia.
04:25We intend to continue to live up to those commitments that have been made.
04:28And we're happy to see that other countries have also participated and joined in helping defend the kingdom against these
04:33attacks.
04:34And we remind everybody that at the end of the day, the Houthis certainly and the capabilities they have today
04:39would not exist.
04:40They would not have the capabilities they have today had it not been for the support, direct support, of the
04:45Iranian regime that allowed them to grow in their capabilities and continue to destabilize the region.
04:50Okay. Thank you, guys. Thank you.
04:52How many people are going to the game with you?
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