DefenceTalkDefenceTalkNewly appointed Pentagon chief Christopher Miller signaled Saturday that he could accelerate the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and the Middle East, saying, “It’s time to come home.” “All wars must end,” Miller, named acting defense secretary by President Donald Trump on Monday, said in his first message to the US armed services. He […]https://www.defencetalk.com/new-us-defense-chief-tells-troops-time-to-come-home-76547/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkPresident Donald Trump said Wednesday he wants all US troops to leave Afghanistan by Christmas, speeding up the timeline for ending America’s longest war. “We should have the small remaining number of our BRAVE Men and Women serving in Afghanistan home by Christmas!” Trump wrote on Twitter. In a February 29 agreement reached in Qatar […]https://www.defencetalk.com/trump-says-wants-us-troops-out-of-afghanistan-by-christmas-76450/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkUS President Donald Trump was expected to announce further troop withdrawals Wednesday from Afghanistan and from Iraq, where several thousand US troops hunting down jihadist sleeper cells have faced increasing attacks blamed on pro-Iran factions. The deadly bomb and rocket attacks have put additional pressure on Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi, who has pledged to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/trump-to-announce-us-troop-withdrawals-from-iraq-afghanistan-76290/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkRussian military vehicles and attack helicopters surrounded two US armored cars in a tense confrontation in northeastern Syria Wednesday, leaving US troops injured, according to the White House. Videos of the confrontation that were shared on Twitter, apparently taken by bystanders and the Russians themselves, appear to show the Russian troop carriers and helicopters trying […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-troops-injured-in-tense-confrontation-with-russians-in-syria-76211/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkThe United States is counting on further military withdrawal from Afghanistan to potentially fewer than 5,000 troops as inter-Afghan peace talks progress, the Pentagon said Monday. “Over the next four months, the United States will continue to drawdown its force levels in Afghanistan based on conditions in-country,” the Department of Defense said in a statement. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-aims-5000-us-troops-in-afghanistan-76154/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkWashington will deploy at least 1,000 soldiers in Poland and oversee forces on NATO’s eastern flank, Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said Friday after the US announced a massive troop pullout from Germany. US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said on Wednesday the Pentagon will be sending home about 6,400 military personnel from Germany, and move nearly […]https://www.defencetalk.com/poland-says-us-to-deploy-troops-on-eastern-border-76105/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkWashington is getting ready to unveil its plans for repositioning of US forces in Europe in the coming days, including a reduction in troop levels in Germany, sources in both countries say. US President Donald Trump approved plans in late June to withdraw 9,500 American troops from Germany, and was to present them first to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-to-unveil-plans-soon-for-repositioning-forces-in-europe-76074/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkGerman Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has suggested that a threat by Washington last month to pull out some 9,500 troops from the country will not damage ties between the two nations, however, the withdrawal plan will trigger a debate among NATO countries. “If they [the troops] stay in Europe, then this remains a commitment towards […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-troop-withdrawal-a-cause-for-nato-concern-german-minister-75990/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkThe United States will send 600 soldiers to take part in a training exercise in Germany in the coming weeks, even as Washington considers reducing the number of troops stationed in the country, AFP learnt Thursday. The US defence ministry has informed representatives of the German parliament’s defence committee of the plans to push ahead […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-to-send-600-troops-to-germany-for-war-games-75737/

DefenceTalkThe US military withdrawal from Afghanistan is considerably ahead of schedule, an official told AFP on Wednesday, as President Donald Trump reiterated calls for the Pentagon to bring troops home. The developments came as questions loomed over the next phase of Afghanistan’s long war following a historic, three-day ceasefire that led to a major drop […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-troop-pullout-from-afghanistan-ahead-of-schedule-75682/