US Defense Secretary Hegset Calls for War Readiness to Protect Peace

Defense Secretary Hegseth: The United States Must Prepare for War to Defend Peace

In a speech before senior leadership, delivered at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, on September 30, 2025, Pete Hegseth outlined a shift in the United States’ defense strategy: readiness for combat should become the primary mission, with an emphasis on supporting peace through force and deterring potential threats.

“A simple, but profound truth: to be secure in peace, we must prepare for war. Henceforth the sole mission of the rebuilt Department of War is this: to fight, to prepare for war and victory, relentlessly and uncompromisingly. Not because we want war… We seek peace for our people”, – said Hegseth.

According to the defense secretary, the main goal of the United States is to be strong enough to deter war and to uphold peace through strength, as well as to ensure global stability through resolute defense.

“This is peace through strength. History teaches: only those worth peace are willing to fight for it. Therefore pacifism is naive and dangerous. It ignores human nature and history. Either you defend your people and sovereignty, or you submit to someone. We must build an army capable of winning any war”, – explained the defense secretary.

Such statements underscore the United States’ intention to be prepared for any scenario if it serves to preserve peace and security on the international stage. Analysts are watching the potential impact of this rhetoric on relations with partners and adversaries, as well as on decisions regarding modernizing military capabilities and coordinating with allies.

What the new course means for defense policy and global security

The new approach from Hegseth emphasizes the concept of peace through strength – a strategic focus on deterrence through readiness for war and the ability to respond quickly to threats. For the United States, this means boosting joint exercises with allies, modernizing weapons, and strengthening mobilization capabilities to preserve the ability to prevail in conflicts and reduce the likelihood of their deployment.

At the same time, there is a growing need for a balance between power and diplomacy: the country asserts its determination to defend its people and sovereignty while seeking ways to prevent escalation and maintain stability across different regions of the world.