Pete Hegseth Assumes Role as US Defense Secretary

Synopsis

On January 25, Pete Hegseth officially became the Secretary of Defense, promising to focus on rebuilding the US military and reinforcing deterrence policies. His confirmation by a closely divided Senate highlights significant political dynamics as he prepares to face global challenges.

Key Takeaways

Pete Hegseth took the oath as Secretary of Defense.
His mission focuses on military rebuilding and deterrence.
Confirmed by a tie-breaking vote from Vice-President Vance.
Collaboration with allies in the Indo-Pacific is a priority.
Hegseth holds degrees from Princeton and Harvard.

Washington, Jan 25 (NationPress) On Saturday, Pete Hegseth took the oath of office as the Secretary of Defense, declaring that his mission is to rebuild the US military and establish deterrence.

Hegseth's confirmation by the Senate occurred on Friday with a tight 50-50 vote, where Vice-President J.D. Vance cast the tie-breaking vote.

During the vote, three Republican senators opposed Hegseth, who received support from all 47 Democrats.

The Republican party maintains control of the 100-member Senate with a 53-47 majority.

With Vance’s decisive vote, Hegseth became the third member of President Donald Trump's Cabinet confirmed, following Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Radcliffe.

Rubio and Hegseth now complete the US delegation for upcoming 2+2 ministerial meetings alongside India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

“We will bring peace through strength,” Hegseth stated post-oath, administered by Vice President Vance.

He further emphasized, “The three principles I discussed will guide our actions at the Pentagon: restore the warrior ethos, rebuild our military, and reestablish deterrence. Our goal is not to engage in wars but to deter them and to conclude them responsibly. However, if conflict arises, we will deploy overwhelming and decisive force to confront and eliminate the enemy,” he elaborated.

During his confirmation, Hegseth expressed that the US will collaborate with allies to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific from the Communist Chinese. He also stated the necessity to end wars responsibly, ensuring resource allocation is focused on larger threats.

During his questioning, Hegseth indicated that the threat from China will be a priority for him.

Mike Waltz, Trump’s National Security Adviser and a known anti-China advocate, introduced Hegseth during his hearing. Waltz is also a co-chair of the India Caucus in the House of Representatives.

A graduate of Princeton University with a Graduate Degree from Harvard University, Hegseth is an army combat veteran who served in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He has been awarded two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge.