Lots of of U.S. generals and admirals across the globe have been abruptly summoned to Virginia subsequent Tuesday for a gathering with Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth, although the aim stays a thriller.
The order has sparked confusion and concern, notably after the Trump administration fired quite a few senior navy leaders earlier this 12 months.
The assembly is predicted to happen on the navy set up in Quantico, Virginia, in line with the Publish and CNN, which spoke to officers accustomed to the plans. But the generals and flag officers themselves reportedly don’t know the agenda.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed to the Publish that Hegseth will likely be “addressing his senior military leaders early next week.” Past that, particulars are scarce.
Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine speaks at a information convention with Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth on the Pentagon on June 26.
“It’s being referred to as the general squid games,” one official joked to CNN, seemingly referring to Netflix’s “Squid Game” present, which depicts characters risking their lives to win cash.
Hypothesis is rampant. A supply instructed CNN that guesses vary from a bunch health take a look at to a basic briefing on the Protection Division, or perhaps a mass firing. Regardless of the purpose, convening this many senior officers without delay is very uncommon.
It’s unclear whether or not the White Home is concerned or if President Donald Trump plans to attend. A congressional aide instructed CNN that except Hegseth plans to announce “a major new military campaign or a complete overhaul of the military command structure, I can’t imagine a good reason for this.”
There are roughly 800 generals and admirals stationed throughout the U.S. and dozens of different nations. In response to individuals accustomed to the assembly, Hegseth’s order applies to all officers with the rank of brigadier basic or larger—or their Navy equivalents—in command roles, together with their prime enlisted advisers.
The gathering follows a sequence of high-profile firings below Hegseth. Earlier this 12 months, he ordered cuts of a minimum of 20% of four-star generals and admirals, and has focused senior officers over diversity-related points.
Hegseth has additionally devoted appreciable effort to reshaping the navy’s tradition. He has pushed to revive monuments to Accomplice generals and rename bases that after honored Accomplice leaders. Earlier this week, he disbanded the Protection Advisory Committee on Ladies within the Companies.
The protection secretary beforehand criticized what he noticed because the politicization of the navy’s senior management. On a podcast final summer time, Hegseth mentioned a 3rd of prime officers are “actively complicit” in politicizing the navy. On one other, he accused them of “playing by all the wrong rules” to appease “ideologues in Washington, D.C.”
Regardless of the purpose for subsequent week’s gathering, the stakes really feel excessive. Lots of of the navy’s prime leaders—throughout continents and time zones—will likely be in a single place, and nobody appears to know why. The thriller has navy insiders speaking … and holding their breath.
