Acting Defense Secretary makes first visit to Somalia amid reports of major downsizing

The Pentagon has yet to officially announce the downsizing in Somalia, but defense officials told CNN significant cuts are expected to take place in the coming days.

“Despite many years of sustained counterterrorism pressure from Somalia, the United States and the international community, the terrorist threat in East Africa is not degraded: Al-Shabaab retains freedom of movement in many regions of southern Somalia and has demonstrated its ability and intention to attack outside the country, including targeting US interests, ”the report said.

“Somali security forces are unable to contain the threat of Al-Shabaab and IS-Somalia, which poses a smaller but still powerful threat, without significant international support,” he added.

Miller said one of his main goals for the Defense Department was to end the fight against al-Qaeda, a mission made more difficult by the continued presence of Al-Shabaab, the terrorist group’s largest affiliate, especially with a reduced US military effort.

The Trump administration pledged to train the Danab Army in 2017 at an international conference in London.

Although al-Shabaab has been driven from the main towns and villages in Somalia, the group still has a lot of influence in southern Somalia, carries out terrorist attacks in Mogadishu and commands between 5,000 and 10,000 fighters.

Miller also visited Djibouti, Bahrain and Qatar

Prior to traveling to Somalia, Miller made unannounced visits to U.S. military installations in neighboring Djibouti, as well as Bahrain and Qatar.

Defense officials tell CNN that Miller’s visit to the region focuses on visiting US troops deployed overseas during the Thanksgiving holiday, not on new political initiatives.

“Miller will meet with service members to express his gratitude for their selfless service and that of their families to the Nation and to wish them a happy and healthy Thanksgiving,” the Pentagon said in a statement announcing its trip to the region without identify none. specific locations due to security concerns.

Djibouti is home to the largest US military installation in Africa and some 3,500 US troops are based there.

Some of the forces in Djibouti are helping to support the counterterrorism campaign in neighboring Somalia, and while there Miller met with the commander of the U.S. Africa Command, General Stephen Townsend, who oversees all U.S. forces on the continent.

Bahrain is home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet and the Naval Forces Central Command, which oversees naval operations in the Middle East and includes some 20 ships and more than 7,000 US troops.

Qatar is home to some 8,500 US troops at al Udeid Air Base, home to the US Air Force Central Command which oversees US air operations in the region.

At all three locations, Miller, a former Army Special Forces officer, met with American troops and helped serve traditional Thanksgiving food at the facility’s restaurants.

He also visited Navy ships and spoke at length with soldiers, sailors and air force personnel, asking questions and telling jokes, appearing to adopt a more irreverent and pleasant style than some of the its predecessors.

Miller said the purpose of the visit was to “go out and show them some love, show them some respect – thank them – because with this Covid-19, they can’t go home. really important for me in this position to come out and go around. “

And although his first overseas trip was during a presidential transition, during the trip Miller provided a written statement saying that despite his absence from Washington, he will ensure the transition is effective.

“I will ensure that there is an effective transition process because that is what the American people expect of national security professionals,” the statement said.