WASHINGTON, United States – US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plan to speak to hundreds of US military officials on Tuesday.
This was at the request of the US Department of War.
Things are “unusual” at all
The War Department surprisingly asked senior US commanders from around the world to meet at a military base in Virginia.
But without revealing the reason publicly.
The meeting scheduled at Marine Corps Base Quantico, near Washington, sparked widespread speculation about the purpose and value of summoning so many generals and admirals to one location.
Especially since many of them are based in more than ten countries, including conflict zones in the Middle East and elsewhere.
Although meetings between senior military and civilian leaders are nothing new, experts pointed out that the size of the meeting, the speed with which it was called, and the ambiguity surrounding it are completely unusual.
Personal attendance.. Why?!
In turn, Mark Cancian, a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a retired Marine colonel, said: “The idea that the minister will talk to the generals and present to them his vision for managing the ministry, and perhaps also his strategy and organization, makes perfect sense”.
He added: “What is puzzling is why the meeting was announced so soon before it was held, why it was held in person (face-to-face), and what that might entail”.
“Government shutdown”
This ambiguity comes as the country faces the possibility of a government shutdown this week.
It also came at a time when Higseth, who strongly emphasized combat effectiveness and what he calls the “warrior spirit”, took several unusual measures that have no explanation.
These measures include reducing the number of officers with the rank of general and dismissing other prominent military leaders.
