Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended recent military strikes on boats allegedly linked to drug cartels, stating that President Donald Trump has the authority to take decisive action to protect the country. Speaking at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Hegseth dismissed criticism over the legality of the strikes, which have resulted in at least 87 deaths, and compared the fight against drug smugglers to the war on terror. He also emphasized a shift in national security strategy, focusing on countering China and reasserting American dominance, while rejecting previous approaches such as democracy-building and addressing climate change. Hegseth positioned Trump as the true successor to Ronald Reagan's assertive foreign policy.