US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has called hundreds of American generals and admirals to an unprecedented gathering to be held next week at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia.
According to Pentagon sources who spoke to the Washington Post, the order applies to all senior officers above the rank of brigadier general, including their advisors at home and abroad. “People are very concerned. They have no idea what this means,” said one of the representatives.
There are about 800 such high-ranking officers in the United States and dozens of other countries.
Hegseth's decision is widely seen as unprecedented. According to military and government sources, no one can remember a defense secretary ever summoning so many military commanders at once. Some are trying to understand why foreign commanders must also appear in person.
They point to the risk that “in the event of an incident, the chain of command would be restricted,” which is why such meetings are usually held via videoconference.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the meeting but declined to provide details. It is still unclear whether President Donald Trump will also attend, having merely indicated that he would come if he was wanted.
The order is already causing considerable confusion among commanders, especially those operating in conflict zones in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Critics point out that concentrating such a large number of high-ranking officers in one place could pose a security risk and weaken local leadership in the event of a crisis.
These orders come at a time when Hegseth has unilaterally introduced major changes at the Pentagon. For example, he has reduced the number of generals by a fifth by merging the highest military commands, dismissed high-ranking officials without explanation, and initiated the renaming of the Department of Defense to the Department of War.
(max)