U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday (June 10) that Washington was “taking back our hemisphere” as part of a renewed strategic focus on the Americas, in remarks to troops at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay.

Speaking in exercise attire to service members, Hegseth invoked the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine — which declared the Western Hemisphere within Washington’s sphere of influence — and said the United States was reasserting its role in the region after years of neglect.

The Pentagon chief pointed to a U.S. military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and strikes targeting drug trafficking, warning cartels that American forces were applying tactics similar to those used against militant groups in the Middle East.

Hegseth’s remarks underscore a sharpened U.S. focus on regional security as the Trump administration steps up efforts against drug cartels and foreign influence in Latin America.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA (JUNE 10, 2026) (U.S. NETWORK POOL - No use USA)

1. U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, PETE HEGSETH, TALKING TO MILITARY PERSONNEL

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, PETE HEGSETH, SAYING:

“So yeah, we're closer to the (United) States. But from this War Department's view and the National Defense Strategy we have right now, that makes it even more important because we are defending the homeland and we are taking back our hemisphere. There is something called the Monroe Doctrine that was ignored for far too long by presidents that wanted to pretend like our backyard didn't matter. And then a president showed up and added the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. And that president was Teddy Roosevelt because he understood the importance of the hemisphere. And then foolish politicians over time (inaudible), they got distracted by other things all around the world, many of which are important. Americans did great things. This president came in and said, 'not only is the Monroe Doctrine on, not only does the Roosevelt (inaudible), but now we have the Donroe Doctrine, the Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, that the territory terrain in our hemisphere is key terrain.”

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, PETE HEGSETH, SAYING:

“Look at Venezuela and Nicolas Maduro who thought he could (unintelligible) the United States of America. And he found out in about 45 minutes in the middle of the night. The most heavily fortified compound inside, the most heavily fortified base inside their capital city. And, you know, Russian air defenses and Cuban guards, Cuban guards, were no match for them. Our operators are rangers, those that do incredible things. In fact, there was a medal of honor as you all saw that came out of that occasion. What a pilot did and keeping his men safe while landing that aircraft. And assure it landed back safely. Things of the history books. History still happens today. History still happens in the eyes and the mind of all of you.”

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, PETE HEGSETH, SAYING:

“Take what we're doing, taking on designated terrorist organizations, criminal cartels and drug boats. I would not get in a drug boat in the Caribbean or the Eastern Pacific right now, because we are hunting you like we hunted al-Qaeda and ISIS in the Middle East. With the same networks and the same intelligence and the same capabilities. And that's why we've seen drug flows in the water drop dramatically. They're trying to find new roads. Doesn’t mean they're going to stop. But that's why we formed the America's Counter Cartel Coalition. And now we're working with friendly countries in their countries to find where these designated terrorists operate, where they create their drugs, and we're partnering with them."

8. WHITE FLASH

9. HEGSETH WRAPPING UP SPEECH