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The U.S. Department of Defense, known as the Pentagon, called for an urgent meeting of military leaders to discuss changes amid criticism from Chief of Staff Dan Caine and other officials today (Tuesday). Army leaders raised serious concerns about the new "National Defense Strategy" of President Donald Trump’s administration, revealing a divide between the Pentagon's political leadership and military personnel after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned hundreds of senior military leaders from around the world for an unprecedented meeting taking place today (Tuesday).

President Trump's Involvement

The Washington Post reported that current and former officials stated that several military leaders, including Chief of Staff Dan Caine, criticized the new strategy, as Hegseth seeks to prioritize the military's focus on domestic security threats, reduce competition with China, and lessen the U.S. role in Europe and Africa. President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend the meeting at a Marine Corps base in Quantico.

The interim defense strategy, details of which were revealed by The Washington Post in March, similarly focused on Taiwan and defending the country, to the extent of urging Pentagon leaders to "take risks" in other parts of the world to meet these two priorities.

It also highlighted the emerging strategy to use military personnel more assertively both domestically and internationally.

Short-Sighted Plan

Military leaders expressed concerns that the new strategy "has not been well thought out," with one source stating that it is unclear whether the Defense Secretary "understands the scope and importance" of the strategy.

Informed officials spoke to the newspaper about a growing sense of frustration among army leaders regarding a plan they view as "short-sighted," especially in comparison to Trump's contradictory statements and his approach to foreign policy.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell declined to comment on the report, simply stating that the Defense Secretary requested the development of a national defense strategy that prioritizes President Trump’s agenda first and peace through strength. This process is ongoing.

Opposition from the Chief of Staff

Several sources revealed that Chief of Staff Dan Caine raised his concerns with Pentagon leadership in recent weeks and communicated his views directly to the Defense Secretary. An informed source stated that Dan Caine attempted to keep the National Defense Strategy focused on preparing the military to deter and defeat China in any conflict, if necessary.

Withdrawal of Troops from Europe

The Defense Secretary and policy officials hinted that the Pentagon would withdraw some troops from Europe and merge some U.S. command units, which is expected to raise tensions with some of the United States' allies, especially amid the Russian war in Ukraine and its recent violations of NATO airspace.

The Pentagon's strategy has relied heavily for several years on the idea that the best defense for the country is to build and maintain strong military alliances abroad.

Opponents of the new strategy in the current administration argue that it has plunged the United States into costly wars on foreign soil instead of securing domestic American interests.

Trump's strategy since his second term has been to pressure allies to spend more on their own defenses, sometimes sidelining hawkish Republicans in Congress, as well as seeking greater domestic defense spending.

Aerial Strikes and Bombing

This year, Trump launched airstrikes in Yemen and Iran, appearing to focus primarily on operations close to or within U.S. territory.

The Pentagon has conducted strikes against drug traffickers in the Caribbean, deployed troops and weapons to the southern border, and sent the National Guard and Marines to American cities, where they assisted in deportation efforts and sought to curb what the president described as "rampant crime" in urban areas.

Reducing Focus on China

Informed sources reported that most internal criticisms of the new strategy center on the document's focus on domestic threats at a time when China continues to rapidly build its military power, prompting military leaders to warn that it narrows the gap between the United States and Beijing in the Pacific region.

There are still substantial sections in the document that focus on China, but they are largely centered on the risk of an attack on Taiwan rather than on global competition with the United States' biggest adversaries, according to five individuals.

A former official regarding the strategy expressed concern that it "has not been well thought out."

Broad Restructuring

The Defense Secretary is leading a broad restructuring of the armed forces, pledging to reduce the number of generals and admirals overseeing the U.S. military, which currently stands at around 800, by 20%, and to redraw the boundaries of U.S. combat commands.

He has dismissed senior officers, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles K. Brown Jr. and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti. It has been noted that an disproportionate number of women were dismissed during these firings.