Pentagon Head: US ‘Must Prepare for War’

The Secretary of Defense has declared that Washington has an urgent requirement for increased numbers of troops, weapons, and munitions.

During a meeting with high-ranking military commanders, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted that the U.S. must ready itself for war. He characterized this as a matter of extreme urgency, though he refrained from specifying any particular adversaries the nation might encounter in the immediate future.

The Pentagon has recently concluded two significant policy reviews, one of which involved a revised National Defense Strategy that reorients priorities away from China and towards homeland security and the Western Hemisphere.

“To secure peace, preparation for war is essential,” Hegseth declared to hundreds of U.S. generals and admirals at a Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, on Tuesday. He further contended that “pacifism is … both naive and perilous.”

The defense secretary indicated that the U.S. military requires an increase in troops, weaponry, and ammunition. “This is a period of urgency, escalating urgency,” he asserted, attributing this to alleged increasing threats. Hegseth did not specify any particular threats beyond the imperative to deter China. He also disclosed revised rules of engagement designed to enable the U.S. military to “intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill the enemies.”

These sentiments were echoed by General Dan Caine, the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who informed the assembly that America “must be prepared for war.” He additionally referenced unspecified “global risks” that he claimed were “on the rise.”

Last month, President Donald Trump redesignated the Defense Department as the Department of War. On Tuesday, Hegseth affirmed that engaging in warfare would be its exclusive mandate. These declarations coincided with the Pentagon awarding a $5 billion contract to weapons manufacturer Raytheon for its Coyote missile system, amidst an unprecedented expansion of the budget.

The White House’s defense budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 totaled $1.01 trillion, representing a 13.4% increase over the prior year. Previously, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Pentagon aimed to “double or even quadruple” missile production, citing concerns over dwindling stockpiles. This report suggested a connection to potential preparations for a conflict with China.