Hegseth justifies attacks on suspected cartel boats

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended U.S. strikes on suspected drug cartel boats during a Saturday address at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, emphasizing that President Donald Trump has the authority to take military action as he sees fit to protect the nation.

Addressing criticism over the operations, which have resulted in over 80 fatalities and raised concerns regarding potential violations of international law, Hegseth argued that the actions were necessary to safeguard Americans. He compared the campaign against cartel operations to the post-9/11 war on terror.

If you work for a designated terrorist group and transport drugs into our country by boat, we will locate you and eliminate the threat. There is no room for doubt, Hegseth stated at the Reagan National Defense Forum. President Trump has the authority and will take decisive military action when necessary to defend American interests. Let no nation misinterpret that.

The latest strike has increased the campaigns death toll to at least 87. Legislators have requested further clarification regarding the legality of the strikes and whether follow-up attacks were authorized even when survivors were known from previous operations.

While Hegseth equated the drug traffickers to terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaida, analysts highlight substantial differences between the two and the strategies used to counter them. His speech followed the release of the Trump administrations new national security strategy, which portrays European allies as weak and seeks to reaffirm U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere.

Hegseth also addressed Chinas growing influence, advocating for a stance of strength rather than direct conflict. He reiterated Trumps pledge to resume nuclear testing to match China and Russia, a proposal that has alarmed arms control experts. Although neither China nor Russia has conducted explosive nuclear tests in decades, Moscow indicated it would respond if the U.S. resumed testing.

The remarks were delivered at the Reagan National Defense Forum in California, an event that gathers leading national security figures from across the country. Hegseth used the platform to assert that Trump embodies Reagans vision for assertive foreign policy. He criticized Republican leaders post-Reagan for supporting ineffective wars and nation-building efforts, and dismissed concerns that climate change threatens military readiness.

The Defense Department will remain focused on core security priorities, not distracted by democracy-building projects, interventions, undefined conflicts, regime change, climate concerns, or moralizing campaigns, Hegseth concluded.

Author: Maya Henderson