Pentagon withholds troop deployment plans from NATO and Congress
Pentagon withholds troop deployment plans from NATO and Congress (photo: Getty Images)
The Pentagon has, for the first time in decades, refused to publish a review of its overseas troop deployments. This creates uncertainty for allies and US lawmakers who use this document for budget planning and analysis of US military policy, Politico reports.
According to the publication's sources, instead of publishing an official document known as the Global Posture Review, which is key for budget planning and understanding US policy, the Pentagon plans to hold only informal discussions.
The administration believes it has provided sufficient information in other strategic documents that point to a shift in focus to the Western Hemisphere.
It is noted that this step is part of a trend by the current administration to act independently and inform partners and Congress about military operations after the fact, from strikes on vessels in the Caribbean to the war with Iran.
Such a decision is likely to cause serious concern on Capitol Hill and in European capitals, where officials desperately need a clearer understanding of US military ambitions.
Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee said they were not even formally informed about the cancellation of the document's publication, which will complicate their work on the defense budget.
NATO allies fear that the lack of a clear plan could lead to unwelcome surprises from an unpredictable administration that is more focused on its own military power than on partnership.
"The big ask from our side is predictability. We realize that we need to step up and take much more responsibility for our own security, and we are. But we need predictability," one NATO military official said.
US ground operations in Iran may begin soon
According to media reports, a US ground operation in Iran is being planned and could potentially begin in the near future.
It is expected that this week, a military ship carrying thousands of Marines will come under the control of US Central Command, which is responsible for American forces in the Middle East.
The Pentagon has also begun preparing thousands of rapidly deployable airborne troops who could potentially join the 50,000 service members previously reported in the region as part of a conflict called Operation Epic Fury.
