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Lloyd Austin: According to the Pentagon, the US Secretary of Defense has “fully resumed his functions and duties”

Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was released from a military hospital on Tuesday afternoon (local time). The Pentagon said Austin had "fully resumed his functions and duties." On the advice of his doctors, he will work from home for the time being and return to the Ministry of Defense later in the week.

The politician, who was suffering from prostate cancer, was admitted to hospital on Sunday with an acute bladder problem and was transferred to the intensive care unit after a series of tests and examinations. He temporarily handed over his official duties to his deputy Kathleen Hicks.

Austin wants to take part in a meeting on Ukraine virtually

Austin also canceled his participation in important meetings on Ukraine and NATO in Brussels on Monday because of the complications. According to the Pentagon, a meeting of the international contact group to coordinate weapons aid for Ukraine on Wednesday will now take place virtually. Austin will attend if he can. At the NATO defense ministers' meeting on Thursday, he would be represented by the US ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith, it was said.

The attending physician at Walter Reed Military Hospital near Washington said on Tuesday that the prognosis for Austin's prostate cancer remains excellent. The recent bladder problems would have no impact on this.

Joe Biden was also not informed for days

The 70-year-old defense minister made his illness public in mid-January, but came under criticism because he initially kept both the diagnosis and a hospital stay as a result of complications from an operation secret. Even US President Joe Biden did not know for several days that his defense minister was in the hospital.

Austin apologized for the lack of transparency. When asked whether the president had concerns that Austin would no longer be able to hold office due to his health problems, White House communications director John Kirby replied on Monday: "Not at all."

hen/dpa/AFP