Defense Secretary Mark Esper has announced he still wants to shift the focus of our military to China and Russia. This comes in spite of the recent concerns that led over 14,000 troops to be sent to the Persian Gulf. Syria has also become a region requiring more concern after Turkish forces have moved into northern Syria after U.S. troops withdrew from the area. These issues have occurred in the same time frame as the bloody protests in Iran and the shooting at the Navy base at Pensacola, Florida by a Saudi Air Force officer.
Source: https://apnews.com