Pentagon weighs reducing Gulf troop presence as Iran war cost hits USD 37.5 bn: Report

WASHINGTON: After the scale of destruction inflicted on American installations during the conflict with Iran, the Pentagon is evaluating options to scale down the United States' long-standing military presence throughout the Persian Gulf, according to a report by The Washington Post.

Key points

• Typically, the US deploys approximately 40, 000 personnel throughout almost 20 installations extending from Jordan to Oman, with a number of of its primary permanent complexes situated within the Persian Gulf.
• While major American Army and Air Force assets are stationed throughout Kuwait, Qatar, and neighbouring Gulf nations, bahrain hosts the US Fifth Fleet headquarters.
• The deliberations remain in an initial phase and do not constitute a formal review mandated by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
• Any definitive shift in America's Middle Eastern military footprint remains tentative and would necessitate formal authorisation from senior administration leadership.
• A separate recommendation envisions relocating extra US military capabilities to Israel's Ovda Airbase.

Meanwhile, the extensive damage has compelled Washington to re-evaluate its decades-old regional security posture.

Notably, the deliberations remain in an initial phase and do not constitute a formal review mandated by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Rather, the Pentagon's policy wing, alongside the Joint Staff and US Central Command, is examining potential configurations for America's military footprint once hostilities cease, including whether severely compromised bases ought to be reconstructed in their existing formats.

Nevertheless, the war exposed the acute vulnerability of these facilities to incoming Iranian missile and drone strikes. Over 200 US installations have suffered damage or destruction throughout the fighting, The Washington Post documented, with six American service members killed during a March attack on a military site in Kuwait.

Pentagon notes 'no time frame' for ending Iran war, seeks $200 billion more in funding Additionally, the Pentagon has expended over 1, 000 advanced air-defence interceptors to safeguard its troops, creating severe strains on stockpiles of Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems.

Meanwhile, the extent of the devastation has presented what authorities view as an occasion to reconsider the deployment and positioning of US assets. A portion of the internal Pentagon discussions has centred on repositioning personnel and hardware further westward, potentially towards Jordan, Israel, or Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast, to minimise exposure to Iranian strikes originating from throughout the Gulf.

In practice, a source familiar with the US deployment adjustments informed The Washington Post that certain shifts away from major Gulf facilities might persist beyond the conclusion of the war. "Iran thinks we are in the traditional places, " the person remarked. "And we are not."

For context, the ongoing debate underscores a deeper ideological split within the Trump administration regarding overseas military engagements. While one faction of authorities advocates curbing Middle Eastern security guarantees to prioritise homeland defence and deter China, more hawkish figures are campaigning to expand the US footprint elsewhere in the region, including Israel.

While transferring forces from the UAE, Jordan, and Bahrain to safer zones, one specific plan outlines the closure of facilities located well within the reach of Iranian missiles and drones, such as bases in Kuwait. A separate recommendation envisions relocating extra US military capabilities to Israel's Ovda Airbase.

Pentagon chief spars with Democratic lawmakers on Iran war Nevertheless, that proposal has encountered internal pushback within the administration over fears that an expanded American presence in Israel could expose US forces to counterintelligence risks, particularly given heightened Pentagon worries regarding Israeli espionage.

For Washington's Gulf partners, a substantial American drawdown would carry far-reaching ramifications. These nations have depended on US forces for regional stability over a number of decades, and replacing American security guarantees through domestic defence upgrades or alternative global alliances would require years to realise.

Even so, a reduction in troop strength would not automatically end the broader strategic partnership. Gulf nations could maintain ties with Washington through arms purchases, intelligence sharing, and secondary defence agreements, even with a diminished US troop presence on the ground.

For context, the Pentagon projects that the Iran war will tally approximately USD 37.5 billion by late September, a figure that excludes the immense financial requirements needed to rebuild destroyed infrastructure. With reconstruction intends pending, the conflict presents Washington with a fundamental choice extending beyond repair costs: deciding whether numerous of these facilities should be restored at all.

Any definitive shift in America's Middle Eastern military footprint remains tentative and would necessitate formal authorisation from senior administration leadership. Nevertheless, the Pentagon's internal assessments indicate the conflict has created a clear opening for Washington to overhaul a cornerstone of its strategic military framework in the region.

Taken together, the developments around pentagon weighs reducing Gulf troop presence as Iran war cost hits USD point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.