Trump Can Use Force ‘As He Sees Fit’, Hegseth Says On Alleged Cartel Boat Strikes | World News

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Saturday defended recent military strikes on boats allegedly linked to drug cartels and said President Donald Trump had the authority to take action “as he deems appropriate” to protect the country.

Speaking at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Hegseth rejected criticism of strikes that reportedly resulted in more than 80 deaths and raised questions about possible violations of international law.

He argued that the operations were justified to protect American citizens and likened the effort to the response following the September 11, 2001 attacks.

“If you work for a designated terrorist organization and you bring drugs into this country on a boat, we will find you and we will sink you. Make no mistake about it,” Hegseth said in his opening remarks at the Reagan National Defense Forum.

“President Trump can and will take decisive military action as he deems appropriate to defend our nation’s interests. Let no country in the world doubt that for a moment.”

The reported death toll in the latest strike has risen to at least 87.

Lawmakers demanded more clarity on the legal basis for the attacks and whether U.S. personnel were instructed to carry out a second attack after an operation in September when it became known that survivors were found.

Hegseth also likened suspected drug traffickers to Al Qaeda, but analysts noted key differences between the two and the strategies needed to combat them.

His remarks came shortly after the administration unveiled its national security strategy, which casts European partners as weak and aims to reassert U.S. power in the Western Hemisphere.

During his speech, Hegseth also emphasized the necessity of countering China’s rise by using force rather than opposing it.

He reiterated Trump’s promise to maintain nuclear testing at the same level as China and Russia, a stance that surprised many nuclear policy experts.

The event, held at the Reagan National Defense Forum at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute in California, was attended by senior national security figures from across the country.
Hegseth used his platform to argue that Trump is Reagan’s “true and rightful heir” in pursuing a sound foreign policy.

He compared this approach to that of Republican leaders after Reagan, criticizing support for conflicts in the Middle East and failed democracy-building efforts.

He also took aim at those who argue that climate change poses serious risks to military readiness.

“The war ministry will not be distracted by democracy building, interventionism, undefined wars, regime change, climate change, woke moralism and incompetent nation-building,” he said.