The US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, has summoned hundreds of generals and admirals from around the world to a Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, in an unusual move that has sparked anxiety among top military ranks. The gathering, scheduled for next week, was confirmed by the Pentagon, but details were not provided.
According to Sean Parnell, chief spokesman for the Pentagon, the Secretary of War will address his senior military leaders early next week. President Donald Trump, who recently rebranded the Pentagon as the “Department of War,” described the meeting as a “friendly” get-together, adding that participants will tour equipment sites and discuss new weapons.
However, defense officials expressed surprise and concern over the sudden summons, which has disrupted schedules globally and forced commanders in active theaters to make last-minute travel arrangements. An official questioned the necessity of gathering so many high-ranking officers in one location, suggesting that communication could be achieved through secure emails, phone calls, and video links.
The large-scale gathering comes amidst a significant overhaul of the Pentagon’s leadership under Hegseth. Since taking office, he has dismissed over a dozen senior officers, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the Navy chief, and ordered a 20% reduction in four-star generals and admirals. Hegseth has argued that having more generals and admirals does not necessarily lead to greater success.
The meeting is unusual, as the Joint Chiefs and combatant commanders typically meet twice a year in Washington. The recall of hundreds of officers, including those commanding conflict zones, is virtually unprecedented. The Pentagon has recently completed major policy reviews, including a new National Defense Strategy that prioritizes homeland security and the Western Hemisphere over China.
Some observers expect Hegseth to use the Quantico gathering to outline his “less generals, more GIs” policy and preview the new strategy. Additionally, Trump and Hegseth have tightened information control at the Pentagon, warning reporters that unauthorized disclosures could result in revoked press credentials. The significance of this meeting and its potential implications for the US military and global security will be closely watched in the coming days.
