WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is reducing its counterterrorism forces in Africa and studying whether to make similar moves elsewhere in the world as part of a broad effort to shift American military focus toward what it calls threats from Russia and China. The planned 10 per cent cut from U.S. Africa Command’s total force of 7,200 troops will be carried out over several years, the Pentagon said in a brief statement. Africa Command is the first U.S. regional military command to begin implementing reductions in counterterrorism forces, but others in Europe, the Pacific and elsewhere will be weighing the possibility of cuts. This was spelled out in a revised national defence strategy published in January. The strategy document described China as a strategic competitor using “predatory economics” to intimidate its neighbours while militarizing areas in the South China Sea.

Source: National Post November 15, 2018 21:33 UTC