NEW DELHI, India — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke to Chinese and Indian officials at the ASEAN defense summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday, vowing to continue strong American engagement in the region. In a post on X, he said he met with the Chinese National Defense Minister Adm. Dong Jun.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reiterated the claim that those being targeted by the United States in military strikes are "the al Qaeda of the Western Hemisphere."

Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) on Friday called on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to give them copies of the orders issued to strike boats in the Caribbean that the Trump administration says were trafficking drugs.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the military to provide dozens of lawyers to the Justice Department for temporary assignments in Memphis and near the U.S.

Pete Hegseth claimed Friday that it was "very responsible" for the United States to resume nuclear testing as President Donald Trump has ordered.

The secretary recently told military leaders that those who disagree with him “should do the honorable thing and resign.” The words resonate for a reason.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an unusual speech last month to top brass — ordering nearly 800 admirals and generals to Quantico, Virginia — in which he railed against “woke” ideology and hyped the recently rebranded Department of War.

Related: 17 MAGA Voters Who Are Getting EXACTLY What They Voted For, And The Stories Are A Looooooot “As you know, it is typical for senior leaders to visit the troops when they

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth characterizes "narco-terrorists" as "the al Qaeda of the Western Hemisphere" as the Trump administration carries out policy of striking suspect drug smuggling vessels.

The move expands the Trump administration’s efforts to use military personnel in support of its immigration crackdown.