Prior to Border V, Defense Secretary Talks About Security at Home and abroad.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed security at the southern border and how the Defense Department is responding to the risk of a possible future conflict with China in a media interview now. &nbsp,

Before departing from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, to Laredo, Texas, for the secretary’s next trip to the southern border since taking the oath of office, the minister exchanged some comments on those subjects. &nbsp,

Since the new administration has taken office, the secretary has observed a roughly 97 % decrease in illegal border crossings.” The deterrent effect is there,” she said. &nbsp,

” President ] Donald J. Trump gave us the command to have complete functional control over the southern boundary. Borders protection is also known as “national security,” Hegseth said. &nbsp,

He continued,” Our ] previous open border policy resulted in ] recklessness, death, and drugs for our communities.” ” We’re sending those [criminal illegal immigrants ] home, and we’re not letting more in,” he said.

Hegseth praised the present level of cooperation between the Mexican and American institutions in terms of frontier control. &nbsp,

” We have historically close military-to-military teamwork right now. But he claimed that Mexico is letting it take the lead. &nbsp,

We want them to direct that battle because it is their country, not their fight. And they have stepped up thus far, he continued, which is a good indicator. &nbsp,

On February 20, 2025, the State Department designated eight global organizations as foreign terrorist businesses. According to Hegseth,” all options are on the desk” regarding how the United States handles the fugitive cartels, but Army and the current administration may choose that the Mexican government deal with the problem themselves. &nbsp,

Hegseth said,” We will not accept them controlling that border [and ] poisoning our people with fentanyl,” before claiming that there isn’t enough fentanyl-related fatalities in the U.S. to be reported. &nbsp,

Hegseth said the Defense Department is prepared in response to the Chinese government’s new affirmation that it is “ready to fight to the end” in “any type” of war with the United States. &nbsp,

We are rebuilding our army because “people who long for peace must prepare for war,” according to the saying. That’s why we’re establishing deterrence, he said. &nbsp,

The president has a good relationship with the Chinese Communist Party leader, and he is aware that harmony can only be achieved through power. The minister continued, noting that the United States is not actively attempting to conflict with that nation. &nbsp,

Hegseth said,” We don’t get that war.” However, my work as security minister is to ensure readiness. We need the Indo-Pacific position, capabilities, weapons, and defense spending, which are all things we’re really focused on.