The meeting with the military leaders is to take place at a marine corps base in Quantico, Virginia, next week but no reason for the urgent gathering has been stated.
Defense Minister Pete Hegseth issued the order earlier in the week, at the same time as the USA risks a budget shutdown of the government apparatus and after the Trump administration has already dismissed several high military leaders.
The highly unusual directive means that over 1,000 people may need to travel, including commanders from Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Several sources say that they do not remember a defense minister previously calling so many high-ranking officers to a joint meeting.
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have downplayed the importance of the meeting, but the background raises speculation about new strategic messages, more dismissals or attempts to increase control over military promotions. Many officers fear that Hegseth plans to further politicize the defense department and weaken the USA's global readiness.
Are we now removing every general and flag officer from the Pacific? All of this is strange, says an American official according to the newspaper.
