Hegseth defends cartel boat strikes, says Trump can act ‘as he sees fit’ to defend nation

WASHINGTON, DC: Peter Hegseth addressed the audience at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Saturday, December 7. He voiced his approval of the recent attacks on boats linked to drug cartels.

During his remarks, Hegseth said President Donald Trump had the authority to take military action whenever a situation demanded it. He emphasized that this power was tied to protecting the nation. Hegseth also dismissed objections, despite the operation leaving many dead and raising serious questions about potential breaches of international law.

Pete Hegseth says Donald Trump has authority to use military force

The speech took place at the Reagan National Defense Forum at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute in California. The event gathers national security leaders from across the country.

Hegseth said the recent strikes were necessary to protect the nation. He compared the fight against drug traffickers to the war on terror after the September 11, 2001, attacks.

"If you're working for a designated terrorist organization and you bring drugs to this country in a boat, we will find you and we will sink you. Let there be no doubt about it," Hegseth said during his keynote address at the Reagan National Defense Forum.

"President Trump can and will take decisive military action as he sees fit to defend our nation's interests. Let no country on earth doubt that for a moment," Hegseth added.

Hegseth used his appearance to argue that President Donald Trump is Ronald Reagan’s “true and rightful heir” on strong foreign policy. "The War Department will not be distracted by democracy building, interventionism, undefined wars, regime change, climate change, woke moralizing, or feckless nation building," he said.

New strike sparks political turmoil and legal scrutiny

The latest strike has pushed the campaign’s death toll to at least 87 people, according to AP News. Lawmakers now seek answers about why the attacks occurred, the legal authority used, and whether US forces conducted a second strike in September, even though the Pentagon reportedly knew some people had survived the first one.

Hegseth compared the alleged drug smugglers to Al-Qaida terrorists. His comments followed the Trump administration’s release of a new national security strategy that criticized Europe and emphasized US power in the Western Hemisphere.