For the first time in many decades, the Pentagon has decided not to release its review of troop deployments abroad. This creates uncertainty for allies and U.S. lawmakers, who typically use this document for budget planning and analysis of U.S. military policy.
According to RBC-Ukraine, citing Politico, instead of releasing the official document known as the “Global Posture Review,” the Pentagon plans to hold only informal discussions. The administration believes it has already provided sufficient information in other strategic documents that indicate a shift in focus toward the Western Hemisphere.
This move is part of the current administration’s tendency to act unilaterally and inform partners and Congress about military operations only after the fact—from strikes on ships 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 U.S. military ambitions.
Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee stated that they were not even officially notified of the decision to withhold the document, which will complicate their work on the defense budget. NATO allies fear that the lack of a clear plan could lead to “unwanted surprises” from an unpredictable administration that is more focused on its own interests.
