US defense chief links economic stability to military dominance
What’s new: Pete Hegseth says underinvestment in defense spending is now the biggest threat to US national security.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said his country’s economic stability depends on its ability to maintain military superiority. In an opinion piece published in the New York Post on Tuesday, Hegseth wrote that fiscal restraint would not be enough to keep the US economy healthy if Washington loses its military edge. He argued that the Pentagon has supported US prosperity for decades, from preserving dollar dominance to protecting global trade. According to him, the US military position allows the country to borrow on favorable terms, transact more freely, and set the rules of international trade. Hegseth also said underinvestment in military spending is the biggest threat to US national security.