Secretary of War Hegseth Unveils New 'Peace Through Strength' Defense Strategy at Reagan Forum

Hegseth Outlines Strategic Vision at Reagan National Defense Forum

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivered a pivotal keynote address at the Reagan National Defense Forum (RNDF) on December 6, 2025, held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. His speech unveiled a new national defense strategy for the United States, emphasizing 'peace through strength' and an 'America First' approach to global security. This address served as a preview of the War Department's forthcoming National Defense Strategy (NDS) and builds upon the recently released National Security Strategy (NSS).

Four Pillars of the New Defense Strategy

Secretary Hegseth outlined four distinct lines of effort that will guide the War Department's operations, aiming to guarantee peace and security for the U.S. and its allies. These pillars underscore a shift towards a more focused and assertive defense posture:

• Defending the U.S. Homeland and Hemisphere: A primary focus will be on strengthening security at the southern border and actively combating narco-terrorism throughout the Western Hemisphere. Hegseth explicitly stated a reassertion of the Monroe Doctrine, aiming to restore U.S. military dominance in the region and deny adversaries the ability to position threatening capabilities.
• Deterring China Through Strength: The strategy emphasizes deterring China in the Indo-Pacific region through robust strength rather than direct confrontation. This approach seeks a balance of power and aims to ensure that U.S. allies are not vulnerable to sustained military aggression.
• Increased Burden-Sharing with Allies: Hegseth stressed the importance of allies contributing more significantly to their own defense. He indicated that 'model allies' who prioritize their defense, such as Israel, South Korea, Poland, and the Baltic states, would receive 'special favor' from the U.S., while those who fail to meet expectations would face consequences.
• Supercharging the Defense Industrial Base: A critical component of the strategy involves revitalizing America's defense industrial base. This includes reforming acquisition processes, passing financial audits, and rapidly fielding emerging technologies to maintain the U.S. as the strongest and most lethal military force globally.

Restoring 'Warrior Ethos' and Strategic Focus

During his address, Secretary Hegseth reiterated the administration's commitment to restoring the 'warrior ethos' within the military, alongside prioritizing readiness, accountability, standards, discipline, and lethality. He explicitly stated that the War Department 'will not be distracted by democracy building, interventionism, undefined wars, regime change, climate change, woke moralizing and feckless nation building,' instead focusing on 'practical, concrete interests' to deter war and advance national security.

Historical Parallels and Future Outlook

Hegseth drew parallels between the military strategies and policies of President Reagan and current President Donald J. Trump, highlighting a shared commitment to strengthening the U.S. military and projecting power globally. He affirmed that the Trump administration is 'hellbent on maintaining and accelerating the most powerful military the world has ever seen.'