Hegseth defends strikes on alleged cartel boats, says Trump can order use of force ‘as he sees fit’

WASHINGTON AP Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended strikes on alleged drug cartel boats during remarks Saturday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library saying President Donald Trump has the power to take military action as he sees fit to defend the nation Hegseth dismissed criticism of the strikes which have killed more than people and now face intense scrutiny over concerns that they violated international law Saying the strikes are justified to protect Americans Hegseth likened the fight to the war on terror following the Sept 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 announced 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 The bulk new strike brings the death toll of the campaign to at least people Lawmakers have sought more answers about the attacks and their legal justification and whether U S forces were ordered to launch a follow-up strike following a September attack even after the Pentagon knew of survivors Though Hegseth compared the alleged drug intermediaries to Al-Qaida terrorists experts have noted considerable differences between the two foes and the efforts to combat them During his remarks Hegseth also discussed the need to check China s rise through strength instead of conflict He repeated Trump s vow to resume nuclear testing on an equal basis as China and Russia a goal that has perplexed numerous nuclear arms experts The speech was delivered at the Reagan National Defense Forum at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute in California an event which brings together top national precaution experts from around the country Hegseth used the visit to argue that Trump is Reagan s true and rightful heir when it comes to muscular foreign approach By contrast Hegseth criticized Republican leaders in the years since Reagan for supporting wars in the Middle East and democracy-building efforts that didn t work He also blasted those who have argued that conditions change poses serious challenges to military readiness The war department will not be distracted by democracy building interventionism undefined wars regime change weather change woke moralizing and feckless nation building he disclosed Source