The U.S. will increase the number of servicemen in 2018. This will happen for the first time in seven years, said the U.S. President Donald Trump at the ceremony of signing the country's defense budget.

The text of his speech is published on the website of the White House, Lenta reports. The exact number is not specified.

Trump also noted that the U.S. servicemen will receive the largest increase in wages for eight years.

The president added that in the last eight months the fight against Islamic State is more successful than “under the previous administration.” Trump said, that as everyone knows, they won in Syria and they won in Iraq.

Previously, Trump signed the U.S. defense budget, which provides for the allocation of 4.6 billion dollars to counter Russian aggression in Europe.