Pentagon chief Austin remains in hospital, won’t travel to Brussels for Ukraine and NATO meetings

WASHINGTON: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has canceled a trip to Brussels to meet with NATO ministers and carry out military aid efforts in Ukraine because he remains in the hospital recovering from complications from prostate cancer, two defense officials said on Monday.

Austin was scheduled to travel to Brussels on Tuesday to attend a regular meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a group of about 50 countries that coordinates military aid to Kiev. Officials said the meeting will now be held virtually.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not been made public.

Austin, 70, was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Sunday afternoon for treatment of bladder problems. After further examination, he was admitted to the intensive care unit for supportive care and close monitoring, and authority has been handed over to Deputy Secretary of Defense Catherine Hicks.

After the Ukraine meeting, he will attend a regular meeting of NATO defense ministers also in Brussels. It’s unclear whether Hicks will attend the meeting.

This is the second time Austin has been hospitalized due to complications following prostate cancer surgery in December.

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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from Yonhap News Agency-The Associated Press)