US President Donald Trump wants to rename the Department of Defense to the "Department of War". Trump is expected to sign a presidential decree to this effect today. The plan, which the US head of state has spoken publicly about before, has been in the works for some time.
It is not clear whether such a decision can be put into effect immediately, writes "The New York Times". As a rule, the US Congress would have to pass a law to legalize the renaming of the department. "I'm sure Congress would agree if we had to do it", Trump said recently on the matter.
The name was changed after the end of World War II
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week commented on the American channel "Fox News" that the United States wants to revive the "war spirit" and thus repel foreign interference in the country. According to Hegseth, the United States is not looking for conflict, but wants to make the country more secure and demonstrate military power.
This would not be the first time that the institution has been called "War Department". The name was used until shortly after the end of World War II, notes the "New York Times". According to sources in the US government, the name of the department was chosen in 1789. "Everybody really likes that we were known for winning when it was called the War Department. Then they renamed it the Defense Department", Trump said in August.
Trump wants the Nobel Peace Prize
The US president actually wants to present himself as a peacemaker who ends wars, writes ARD. It is an open secret that Trump really wants to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Barack Obama received it in 2009, while he was president.
On the one hand, the US participates as a mediator in resolving a number of conflicts around the world, and on the other hand, Washington participated in the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities together with Israel earlier this year. Currently, the US military is involved in the fight against alleged drug traffickers from Venezuela. At the same time, soldiers are also stationed in the capital, Washington - the reason announced by Trump is related to security in the city.
Gradual cessation of programs supporting European security
At the same time, the US is gradually ending programs to support the security of European armies along the border with Russia, as it insists that the continent pay more for its own defense, writes "Financial Times”.
Last week, Pentagon officials informed European diplomats that the US will no longer fund programs to train and equip military forces in Eastern European countries that would be on the front lines of a possible conflict with Russia, the American publication was told by people familiar with the processes. The Baltic states will be affected most of all.