DID Press: US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth defended the deadly operations carried out by US forces against boats suspected of drug trafficking, saying President Donald Trump “can authorize military action whenever he deems necessary” to protect the country.
Hegseth made the remarks on Saturday, December 6, during a speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California, rejecting criticism of the operations that have reportedly resulted in over 80 deaths. He emphasized that the attacks were conducted to safeguard U.S. citizens and are fully justifiable.
Associated Press reported that the operations are under close scrutiny due to potential violations of international law.
Comparing these actions to the post-September 11 war on terrorism, Hegseth said, “If you work for a terrorist organization and attempt to smuggle drugs into the United States by boat, we will find you and sink you.”
However, the White House clarified that Hegseth himself had authorized the strikes on September 2, delegating the operations to Admiral Frank Bradley. White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt said Bradley “acted within the scope of authority and law” to neutralize the threat.
While Hegseth likened the suspected traffickers to members of al-Qaeda, experts caution that there are significant differences between the groups and how they should be countered.
These remarks come as the Trump administration recently unveiled its new National Security Strategy, emphasizing perceived weaknesses among European allies and the aim of “reasserting U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere.”