US President Joe Biden has instructed the Pentagon to begin withdrawing some of the US forces and weapons from the Persian Gulf zone, and plans are underway to reduce Washington's military presence in the Middle East. This was reported on April 1 by The Wall Street Journal.
According to the sources of the publication, the United States has already relocated at least three batteries of Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems. In recent years, one of these batteries has been deployed to an air base in Saudi Arabia to protect American forces. It was also proposed to withdraw the complex of the American missile defense system in the theater of operations THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), but it was decided that it would remain for the time being.
According to the newspaper, it is also planned to move a number of "intelligence systems"from the Middle East. The US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which is heading to the region, is expected to stay there for less than the usual period. According to the publication, " this means that several thousand military personnel may eventually be withdrawn from the region." It is noted that at the end of 2020, there were almost 50 thousand American military personnel in it.
"Some technical assets, in particular surveillance drones and anti-missile batteries, may be moved to focus on states that officials consider to be the main rivals on the international stage, including China and Russia," The Wall Street Journal said.
Sources of the newspaper said that the Pentagon is going to take measures in order to " shift the burden of protecting the territory of Saudi Arabia from Washington to Riyadh to a greater extent." The possibility of additional training of the Saudi military and providing them with new weapons is being considered. The Biden administration has repeatedly stated its intention to "reconfigure relations" with the kingdom.
Former US President Donald Trump announced plans to reduce the US military presence in the Middle East in the fall of 2020. In particular, it was said about the withdrawal of almost 2 thousand soldiers from Iraq.
Reducing the contingent was also one of Biden's campaign promises. At the same time, in January, the Pentagon announced that it would not withdraw the aircraft carrier Nimitz from the Persian Gulf due to threats from Iran.
