The Pentagon plans to withdraw support for most CIA counterterrorism operations

A former senior administration official told CNN that the Biden administration was planning to reverse the move.

“The Department of Defense routinely provides logistical and other support to U.S. government departments and agencies around the world. This support is provided in accordance with the Economy Act and other applicable law. As a responsible actor, the Department sees better 2018 National Defense Strategy Equalize its resource allocation as it becomes a great power competition.” Department Representative Lt. Col. Uria L. Orland said in a statement later Thursday.

“Much has changed in the first two decades of this century, and both the DOD and the CIA are working closely with the CIA to ensure that they can jointly meet the national security challenges facing the United States,” he said in line with the national defense strategy. .

CIA spokesman Nicole de Hay also told CNN that “there is no strong relationship or good partnership between the CIA and the DoD.”

“That partnership has led to significant improvements in US national security, and we are confident that the DOD and CII will continue this close cooperation in the years to come,” she said.

In a letter to the CIA, Miller told CNN that the Department of Defense was considering how to update the department’s memorandum of understanding with the CIA for the first time since 2005.

The letter asked the CII to respond to its response by Jan. 5, which the official said was linked to the Pentagon’s focus on a national defense strategy focusing on Russia and China, Esper argued.

Esper is already in the midst of major reviews of all Pentagon components, set out to make sure they are integrated with the National Defense Strategy.

The officer’s identity was not disclosed but the source said the officer was a former Navy SEAL.

Last week the administration confirmed plans to withdraw almost all troops from the country in early 2021.

U.S. Special Operations Forces have been deployed with the Somali National Army to assist in the fight against the terrorist organization al-Shabab. In addition to advising on airstrikes and ground strikes, the primary task of the Navy SEAL-led team is to train and build Somalia its own Elite Light Infantry Force.

U.S. military advisers in Somalia usually try to advance Somali forces during operations, but there have been incidents where U.S. forces have found themselves in war situations.

In September, a US service member was wounded in al-Shabab attacks on U.S. and Somali forces in the country. In August, U.S. forces launched an air strike targeting al-Shabab fighters in the vicinity of Salam, Dar, after local U.S.-backed forces opened fire from the building.

The Pentagon inspector general’s report released this year said the conflict in Somalia was “at a standstill” as US-backed Somali government forces continued to fight al-Shabab, while a rebel group continued to target Somali and international forces in the south of the country. Provinces.

The African Command and the Defense Intelligence Agency estimate that al-Shabab will command between 5,000 and 10,000 fighters.

Although US military advisers have been in Somalia since at least 2013, the effort has received a large boost during the Trump administration, which has expanded drone strikes and volunteered to launch the Danab Advisory Mission in 2017.