[Goose]

Just a guess: pivoting away from the Middle East. If Turkey wants to go after the Kurds or the Saudis want to go after the Houthi, we’re sad, but we don’t have the resources or will to help. Turkey and SA are too important for other strategic reasons and they can balance Iran with their newfound political muscle.

I think you are correct that we intend to reduce our presence in the Middle East. Whether that will be possible is unclear. Personnel wise, we have already done so to a large extent. As you might recall, previous attempts at that did not go well. The 5th fleet is probably the exception in that we aren't withdrawing it, at least so far. However, that is also the Indian Ocean, where many say we need increased presence to counter China. Unfortunately, best case, we are short several Army divisions of what we will need just to maintain our new European commitments. At present, we are already sending troops on (obviously unaccompanied) deployments to Eastern Europe. This is wearing out the force. The Army is having trouble meeting it's recruiting goals (as are the other services). Plenty of problems to solve. We just need to solve them and not paper over them. We have been doing far too much of that for a long while.

[Goose]

Just a guess: pivoting away from the Middle East. If Turkey wants to go after the Kurds or the Saudis want to go after the Houthi, we’re sad, but we don’t have the resources or will to help. Turkey and SA are too important for other strategic reasons and they can balance Iran with their newfound political muscle.

I think you are correct that we intend to reduce our presence in the Middle East. Whether that will be possible is unclear. Personnel wise, we have already done so to a large extent. As you might recall, previous attempts at that did not go well. The 5th fleet is probably the exception in that we aren't withdrawing it, at least so far. However, that is also the Indian Ocean, where many say we need increased presence to counter China. Unfortunately, best case, we are short several Army divisions of what we will need just to maintain our new European commitments. At present, we are already sending troops on (obviously unaccompanied) deployments to Eastern Europe. This is wearing out the force. The Army is having trouble meeting it's recruiting goals (as are the other services). Plenty of problems to solve. We just need to solve them and not paper over them. We have been doing far too much of that for a long while.