Top US military leaders criticize Hegseth's national defense strategy

Senior U.S. military officials, including Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, have expressed significant concerns regarding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth"s proposed national defense strategy. This strategy emphasizes homeland security and defense of the Western Hemisphere while minimizing the perceived threats from China and reducing overseas military engagements, according to sources cited by The Washington Post.

Critics of the plan argue that it is politically motivated and risks undermining deterrence in light of China"s military expansion and Russia"s aggressive actions. They warn that the strategy could lead to extensive restructuring of military commands. These disagreements come ahead of an unusual summit involving hundreds of generals and admirals scheduled for next week at Quantico, Virginia. The purpose of the summit has not been disclosed, raising speculation about potential internal conflicts within the military leadership.

For more context on related political developments, see recent developments regarding U.S. foreign policy in Latin America.