U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has called an unusual meeting of hundreds of generals and admirals stationed around the world for early next week, with the reason for the order not yet known, The Washington Post reported Thursday.
The directive, issued earlier in the week, reportedly sowed confusion among senior U.S. military commanders, according to the Post, which quotes statements from more than a dozen people familiar with the announcement. “People are very concerned. They have no idea what it means,” one source said.
Key meeting at Quantico confirmed
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed in a statement Thursday that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth will address the military leadership early next week, without adding further details.
The meeting will be held at a Marine base in Quantico, Virginia, next Tuesday.
This is days before the federal government faces a possible partial shutdown on October 1 if Democratic and Republican lawmakers fail to reconcile a stopgap budget.
U.S.-Venezuela Tension Marks Meeting
This appointment also coincides with an escalation of tension between Venezuela and the US, which accuses Caracas of leading a drug trafficking operation into its territory.
And it has already bombed four alleged narco-boats in Caribbean waters, three of Venezuelan origin, according to Washington.
The South American country denies the accusations.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s highly unusual and unannounced call-up applies to all senior officers at the rank of brigadier general or above, or the Navy equivalent.
As well as his top advisors, the sources assured the Post.
Generals in conflict zones under call
This would include prominent leaders in conflict zones and other areas of interest such as the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Europe.
But it does not refer to senior military officers holding staff positions, the report specifies.
Currently, the U.S. has some 800 generals and admirals stationed in the country and dozens of other nations.
Pentagon changes the rules
This meeting will come on the heels of recent changes at the Pentagon, which changed its official name from Department of Defense to War Department under the administration of President Donald Trump.
Last week, the Pentagon announced that it will only allow journalists access to its facilities if they agree not to publish certain information.
An unprecedented measure that gives the Department broad control over the content disseminated.
With information from EFE
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