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| US Defence Secretary Austin cancels Nato meetings amid return to hospital | US Defence Secretary Austin cancels Nato meetings amid return to hospital |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Secretary Austin's duties have currently been transferred to his deputy | Secretary Austin's duties have currently been transferred to his deputy |
| US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has cancelled an overseas trip to Nato headquarters after being admitted to hospital for the third time in as many months. | US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has cancelled an overseas trip to Nato headquarters after being admitted to hospital for the third time in as many months. |
| Mr Austin, 70, is in a critical care unit in a Washington DC area hospital. The Pentagon has said he is facing an "emergent bladder issue". | Mr Austin, 70, is in a critical care unit in a Washington DC area hospital. The Pentagon has said he is facing an "emergent bladder issue". |
| The cabinet member's duties have been transferred to his deputy. | The cabinet member's duties have been transferred to his deputy. |
| He has faced scrutiny over the secrecy of his previous hospital admissions. | He has faced scrutiny over the secrecy of his previous hospital admissions. |
| Mr Austin failed to disclose his prostate cancer diagnosis in December or his return to hospital in January, either publicly or to key figures in the US chain of command. | Mr Austin failed to disclose his prostate cancer diagnosis in December or his return to hospital in January, either publicly or to key figures in the US chain of command. |
| On Wednesday, he had been due to lead a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) in Brussels, Belgium. It would have been his first overseas trip since his initial hospital admission. | |
| He was also set to attend a meeting of the Nato Defense Ministerial chaired by Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday. | He was also set to attend a meeting of the Nato Defense Ministerial chaired by Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday. |
| Mr Austin attended the last meeting of the UCDG virtually from his home on 23 January. | Mr Austin attended the last meeting of the UCDG virtually from his home on 23 January. |
| On Sunday afternoon, the Pentagon released a statement saying that Mr Austin had been taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for treatment, adding that the White House and senior defence officials had been notified. | On Sunday afternoon, the Pentagon released a statement saying that Mr Austin had been taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for treatment, adding that the White House and senior defence officials had been notified. |
| Later that afternoon, the Pentagon released a second statement saying Mr Austin has "transferred the functions and duties of the office" to Deputy Defence Secretary Kathleen Hicks. | Later that afternoon, the Pentagon released a second statement saying Mr Austin has "transferred the functions and duties of the office" to Deputy Defence Secretary Kathleen Hicks. |
| Later on Sunday, the hospital provided an update saying that the secretary had been admitted into the critical care unit "for supportive care and close monitoring". | |
| The bladder issue was not expected to change Mr Austin's "anticipated full recovery" from cancer, his doctors said. | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Nato | Nato |
| United States | United States |