US CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper aboard the aircraft carrier Nimitz [Reuters=Yonhap News]

An unexpected appearance by a four-star U.S. Army general in a naval uniform drew attention among the civilian-clad negotiation delegations of the United States and Iran during talks held in Muscat, Oman, on the 6th (local time).

The general was Commander Brad Cooper, head of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), who commands a large joint force, including the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, and is capable of launching an attack on Iran at any moment if ordered by President Trump.

Additionally, U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll participated in the Russia-Ukraine peace talks held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on April 4-5. He plays a crucial role in maintaining close dialogue with the Ukrainian side even during breaks in the negotiations.

The Associated Press reported on the 7th that U.S. President Donald Trump is breaking from traditional Republican administration diplomatic practices by deploying a large number of military leaders in high-level diplomacy.

Commander Cooper's appearance at the negotiation site, a figure symbolizing the U.S. military's show of force against Iran, is widely seen as a strategic move to exert pressure and elicit concessions from Iran.

The AP reported, "Navy Admiral Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander, attended the U.S.-Iran talks in Oman for the first time. He appeared in uniform, serving to remind parties of the U.S. military buildup in the region."

Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group [U.S. 7th Fleet Facebook Account]

Michael O'Hanlon, a defense and foreign policy analyst at the Brookings Institution, commented, "The inclusion of the CENTCOM commander is highly unusual. It's a signal to show resolve and pressure Iran."

The U.S.-Iran negotiations focused on specialized military matters such as the nuclear and missile programs. It is interpreted that Commander Cooper also played a role in technically assisting Steve Wicoff, the White House Special Envoy for Middle East Negotiations, and Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law, who are leading the talks.

Eliot Cohen, a former State Department counselor under the George W. Bush administration, stated, "Commander Cooper provides knowledge [related to military matters] to the negotiation delegation while also implicitly threatening Iran with force. This is part of the negotiation."

Driscoll, a former armored officer who served in Iraq, has been involved in the Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations since November last year, playing a significant role.

Individuals familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press that Secretary Driscoll has positioned himself as a communication channel linking the Ukrainian side with Trump administration officials such as Envoy Wicoff and Kushner.

Experts have mixed opinions on President Trump's approach of deploying high-ranking military officials to the forefront of diplomatic negotiations.

US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll [AP=Yonhap News]

Elissa Yuers, who worked in national security during the George W. Bush and Obama administrations, assessed that the deployment of active military commanders like Commander Cooper to the diplomatic front indicates that the Trump administration undervalues experienced diplomats and relies excessively on the military to resolve foreign policy challenges.

Conversely, Cohen pointed to historical precedents where U.S. generals engaged in arms control negotiations with the Soviet Union during the Cold War, stating, "There is a long tradition of U.S. presidents utilizing unconventional figures as envoys when they believe they can be trusted and convey a message."