Pentagon has kept troop deployment details secret from NATO and Congress

Instead of releasing the official document known as the Global Posture Review - which is key to budget planning and understanding U.S. policy- the Pentagon plans to hold only informal discussions, according to Politico.

The administration believes it has provided sufficient information in other strategic documents that indicate a shift in focus toward the Western Hemisphere.

This move is part of the current administration’s tendency to act unilaterally and inform partners and Congress about military operations only after the fact-- from strikes on ships in the Caribbean to the war with Iran.

This decision will cause serious concern on Capitol Hill and in European capitals, where officials desperately need a clearer understanding of U.S. military ambitions. Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee said they were not even officially notified of the decision to withhold the document, which will complicate their work on the defense budget.

NATO allies fear that the lack of a clear plan could lead to unwanted surprises from an unpredictable administration that is more focused on its own military might than on partnership.

“The main thing we’re asking for is predictability. We understand that we need to step up and take on much more responsibility for our own security, and we’re doing that. But we need predictability,” said one NATO official.

Photo: David B. Gleason.