Military operations against Mexican cartels are on the table, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly informed his former Fox & Friends colleagues.
Hegseth was questioned by Brian Kilmeade of Fox News if the military would be prepared to attack a cartel group operating inside Mexico that targets Americans at the southern border.
In response, the recently appointed defense secretary said that “all options” are “on the table.”
President Donald Trump would ultimately decide whether to launch any strikes within Mexico’s borders, Hegseth added, adding that the Pentagon is reorienting its focus toward an understanding of homeland defense along the southern border.
“If we find that they continue to fire at Border Control and they continue to put fentanyl into our country, as a secretary of defense, are you permitted now to go after them in Mexico or where they are?” Kilmeade said.
“Brian, I don’t want to get ahead of the president and I won’t. That’s ultimately going to be his decision. But let me be clear. All options will be on the table if we’re dealing with what are designated to be foreign terrorist organizations who are specifically targeting Americans on our border. And we’re finally securing our border. ” Hegseth said.
“We’ve been securing other people’s border for a very long time. The military is orienting, shifting toward an understanding of homeland defense on our sovereign territorial border. That is something we will do and do robustly. So we’re already doing it.” he added.
“Should there be other options necessary to prevent the cartels from continuing to pour people gangs and drugs and violence into our country — we will take that on. So the president will make that call. I’ll work with him in that decision making process. Ultimately, we will hold nothing back to secure the American people.” Hegseth concluded.
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