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The Donald Trump administration plans to halve the number of US troops in Afghanistan by January 15, 2021, a US official quoted by the Associated Press (AP) said on Monday.
The order falls short of the goal of President Donald Trump, who is expected to resign on January 20 after the recent presidential elections, when he previously admitted a total withdrawal of troops by the end of 2020, a position that faced opposition from military advisers and diplomats. .
The Pentagon also plans to reduce the number of US troops in Iraq to 2,500, a reduction of more than 500 troops. The decisions came as no surprise, following Trump’s changes in Pentagon leadership over the past week, when he promoted trusted individuals who share his frustration with the continued military presence in war zones..
These cuts are a success for Trump in his final weeks in power, despite continuing to refuse to acknowledge his defeat in the November presidential election against Democrat Joe Biden.
The official said the military chiefs were briefed on the planning of the withdrawals over the weekend and an executive order is being drafted that has not yet been delivered to the commandos.
The responsible official requested anonymity due to internal deliberations. Currently, the United States maintains between 4,500 and 5,000 troops in Afghanistan and more than 3,000 in Iraq.
According to this order, the reduction of troops will be completed just five before Biden assumes the presidency, a ceremony scheduled for January 20, and transmitting a small military presence in two decisive war zones.
