US President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will address American military top brass in person for an unusual event at a base near Washington DC. Hundreds of military leaders, including generals and admirals stationed around the world, are expected to attend this rare gathering of senior personnel.

No official reason was publicly provided when the leaders were summoned at short notice last week, prompting a flurry of speculation, although Vice-President JD Vance sought to downplay the event.

Security is extremely tight for the summit, which will take place at Marine Corps Base Quantico, a sprawling 55,000-acre facility in Virginia.

Behind the stage where Hegseth and Trump are expected to speak is a large American flag, with banners displaying the words strength, service, America alongside various flags representing the armed services.

Confirming his attendance, Trump described the meeting as an opportunity to discuss how well the military is performing, generating a sense of camaraderie among the troops.

Contrary to Vance's comments about the summit being a non-event, observers have pointed out that such a large in-person assembly of senior military leaders is highly unusual. Italian Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone noted that in his 49 years of service, he had never witnessed such a gathering.

Mark Cancian from the Center for Strategic and International Studies was perplexed by the choice of an in-person meeting over a virtual format, suggesting that Hegseth wanted to deliver his message with more impact.

Hegseth has consistently emphasized the importance of instilling a warrior ethos among American troops, even advocating for a potential rebranding of the Department of Defense to the Department of War.

Details of the summit indicate over 800 expected attendees, with representatives drawn from military installations worldwide, including Europe, South Korea, and the Middle East.

Officials arrived early, seated by branch of service, and many displayed campaign medals from their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the ongoing global war on terror that commenced after the September 11 attacks.

The event underscores a moment of emphasis on military morale and unity, positioned against the backdrop of the changing geopolitical landscape.