FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Unusual Pentagon meeting: Is a 'purge' in the military ranks being prepared?
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will gather hundreds of generals, admirals and senior officers from all branches of the US military and missions abroad at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, next week. The meeting was ordered by official directive but without any explanation for the reasons, causing concern and confusion in the military and security structures.
This is a completely unusual move. Even the top commanders and their staffs have not been informed of the purpose of this gathering, which includes the leaders of all US commands in Europe, the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific and other key regions. The inclusion of such important figures in a single meeting, far from the crisis zones, has raised concerns about security and the temporary nature of the gaps that could be created on the ground.
The Pentagon spokesman confirmed the meeting took place, but did not provide any details on its content, topics, or goals.
The development comes amid internal tensions at the Defense Department, where Hegseth has launched a sweeping structural overhaul. In May, he announced plans to cut at least 20% of the corps of generals and admirals, about 100 of the 800 serving in the U.S. and abroad. At the same time, the U.S. administration has warned of drastic cuts to federal personnel in the event of a budget shutdown by Congress on Oct. 1.
Meanwhile, a new national defense and security strategy is also in the works, where the Defense Department could be reimagined as a “War Department,” with an increased focus on homeland security. The priority is expected to be deploying troops to address domestic issues, such as immigration and border protection, a shift from the strategy of the last decade that emphasized competition with China and operations abroad.
Some analysts believe that the meeting in Quantico may be precisely to introduce this strategic turn, but many voices within the Pentagon fear that the meeting will be accompanied by another wave of drastic dismissals or reappointments.
These concerns are not unfounded. Just last month, Hegseth fired without explanation several key figures in the security apparatus: General Jeffrey Kruse, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency; Vice Admiral Nancy Lacore; and several other commanders.
Shortly after taking office, he also fired a number of senior officials appointed by the previous administration, including the US Army Chief of Staff, General Charles Q. Brown Jr.; the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Lisa Franchetti; the Commander of the Coast Guard, Admiral Linda Fagan; and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force. The list was notably large, with many women, prompting further criticism of the selective and ideological nature of the reform.
While the meeting in Quantico is expected to take place in the coming days, the total lack of transparency has increased tension and uncertainty in American military circles. In the absence of clear communication, what remains is the fear of a profound reorganization, which could radically change the way the US manages its national and international security. /Adapted from “Corriere Della Sera”
Lini një Përgjigje