It would be the first phase of a review of global deployments that could reshuffle thousands of troops. About 200,000 U.S. forces are stationed abroad, about the same number as when President Trump took office with a vow to end America’s “endless wars.”

The details: The discussions of a pullback in Africa include abandoning a new $110 million drone base in Niger and ending assistance to France, which is fighting militants in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

Go deeper: The initiative under Mr. Esper, which is also said to include an overhaul of Latin America deployments, reflects a shift from 18 years of counterterrorism efforts to focus on confronting powers including China and Russia.

A new leader to temper Boeing’s crisis

David Calhoun, who was named on Monday as the chief executive of the troubled airplane manufacturer, has been described as a “turnaround specialist.” Colleagues called him an experienced and decisive operator.