The Pentagon is considering a significant restructuring of its major military commands, potentially marking one of the most substantial shifts in decades. This proposed reorganization could lead to a reduced American military footprint in the Middle East.
According to sources familiar with the plan, the Department of Defense is exploring the consolidation of its eleven existing command headquarters into eight. This streamlining would also involve a reduction in the number of four-star generals. A key component of the plan involves the creation of two new commands: a ‘U.S. International Command’ encompassing the Central, European, and African Commands, and an ‘Americas Command’ integrating the Northern and Southern Commands.
These changes reflect a broader strategy within the administration to redirect resources away from the Middle East and Europe, focusing instead on the Western Hemisphere. The stated goals of the plan include accelerating decision-making processes and improving overall command and control. A senior Defense Department official noted concerns about a perceived ‘deterioration’ in the current command structure.
The proposed restructuring aligns with the administration’s national security strategy, which emphasizes that the United States will no longer shoulder the sole burden of global security. The plan requires approval from Secretary of War Pete Higseth and President Donald Trump before implementation. Furthermore, detailed information regarding costs and the impact on American alliances must be presented to Congress.
Reorganization Details
Secretary Higseth is reportedly pursuing broader efforts to reduce the number of generals and admirals and to realign the military command structure with the administration’s priorities. This shift reflects a move towards decreasing the U.S. presence in the Middle East and Europe in favor of bolstering operations in the Western Hemisphere. This could potentially create a security vacuum that regional powers like Iran could exploit, increasing Washington’s reliance on local partners to secure its interests.
The proposed consolidation of commands under the ‘U.S. International Command’ umbrella has also raised concerns that it could weaken the regional expertise provided by the existing commands, potentially hindering the ability to effectively address diverse threats in different parts of the world.
