The Pentagon's new strategy, which is to be presented today, September 30, by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, implies the reduction of American troops in Europe. This is of concern to US allies, especially against the backdrop of Russia's war with Ukraine and "Russia's recent repeated incursions into NATO airspace," The Washington Post is experiencing.
US President Donald Trump is expected to attend today's meeting of generals and admirals at the Quantico Marine Corps Base, where Hegseth will deliver a speech on military standards and "military spirit." However, the strategy, for the presentation of which hundreds of generals from all over the world are convened, is of concern to "a lot of the American military," WP claims. It revises the priorities of the US armed forces, focusing the Pentagon's attention on the alleged threats to the States themselves, limits competition with China and downplays its role in Europe and Africa.
For years, the Pentagon's strategy has been based on the idea that the best defense of the country is to create and maintain strong military alliances abroad. But u Trump believes that this only draws the United States into costly wars on foreign territory instead of protecting domestic interests.
"Disagreements during the drafting process are normal, but the number of officials concerned about the document and the depth of their criticism are unusual," several sources told the publication.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell declined to comment on the contents of the secret document and to report on whether any concerns were expressed in the process of working on it.
"Secretary of Defense Hegseth instructed to develop a National Defense Strategy that will focus on advancing President Trump's current 'America First, Peace through Strength,' program," Parnell said. "This process is still ongoing."
The draft strategy was developed by Trump's appointees in the Pentagon's political department, including some officials who had previously criticized the long-standing US commitments to Europe and the Middle East. According to three sources familiar with the situation, the draft plan was widely sent to military leaders — from global combat commands to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Some of them wondered how his priorities would affect the forces designed to respond to crises around the world. According to two sources familiar with the situation, in recent weeks, the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Kane, has shared his concerns with the Pentagon's top leadership. The head of the Pentagon's political department, Elbridge Colby, also participated in the discussion.
Another interlocutor noted that Kane tried to focus on preparing the armed forces to deter and, if necessary, to defeat China in the conflict. But Hegseth and his politicians have made it clear that the Pentagon will withdraw some of its forces from Europe. This is of concern to some US allies, especially against the backdrop of Russia's war with Ukraine and Russia's "recent repeated incursions" into NATO airspace.
Although Trump has conducted bombing raids on Yemen and Iran, his main focus has been on missions close to American territory. Under his leadership, the Pentagon this year launched strikes against alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean, deployed American troops to the southern border, and also sent the National Guard and Marines to American cities, where they assisted in deportations and sought to curb what the president called "out-of-control" urban crime (in WP drug dealers and bandits are considered, of course, fighters for democracy. — Approx. EADaily ).
Over the weekend, Trump on social media ordered the deployment of troops in Portland, Oregon, said it was allowing them to use "full force" to protect the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents whose actions sparked the protests.
But the main part of the criticism of the new strategy is related to the document's emphasis on threats to US territory, despite the fact that China continues to rapidly build up military power, which, according to the military, reduces US superiority in In the Pacific Ocean, WP writes, citing "several sources familiar with the situation." The document still has significant sections devoted to China, but they focus on the threat of an attack on Taiwan, and not on global competition "with the largest adversary of the United States."
The tone of the document is also much more biased than previous strategies: it says that the Joe Biden administration has undermined the American armed forces. Meanwhile, Hegseth promises to reduce approximately 800 generals and admirals by 20% and revise the structure of US combat commands. The minister has already dismissed senior officers, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles K. Brown, Jr., and the chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Lisa Franchetti (yes, he blew it up - he fired the admiral's wife, the scoundrel. — Approx. EADaily). During the layoffs, "a disproportionately large number of women were released," WP complains.