Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the Pentagon’s commitment to preserving the United States’ strategic edge in modern warfare as emerging technologies such as drones and artificial intelligence reshape the global battlefield.
In a sit-down interview with “The Will Cain Show” at the Pentagon on Monday, Hegseth—formerly a co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend”—outlined the Trump administration’s defense posture, particularly regarding China’s expanding military capabilities, as well as the broader threats posed by Russia and Iran.
“We are conceding nothing to the Chinese Communist Party. Our goal is to present them with strategic dilemmas at every level,” Hegseth stated.
While reaffirming U.S. support for ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, Hegseth noted a strategic pivot toward the Indo-Pacific region, underscored by his first official overseas visit to Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines, and Japan. This shift reflects the administration’s prioritization of countering Chinese influence in the region.
China’s growing investment in drone technology is raising alarms among defense analysts. The country is reportedly preparing to launch a drone-carrying mothership capable of deploying up to 100 drones simultaneously, marking a significant leap in unmanned warfare capabilities.
Chinese firm DJI, headquartered in Shenzhen, has emerged as the dominant force in the global drone market, controlling over 70% of the worldwide share, according to Craig Singleton, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “This poses not only a market concern but a serious national security risk,” Singleton warned, citing the company’s potential to gather sensitive data across both U.S. and international infrastructure.
Hegseth stressed that the Pentagon is keenly aware of Beijing’s strategic ambitions and is taking steps to ensure that the U.S. military remains a credible deterrent against future conflict. “We don’t seek confrontation,” he said, referencing a graphic comparison of U.S. and Chinese military capabilities. “But peace is best preserved through strength.”
He added that former President Trump’s personal relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping has contributed to diplomatic stability, while efforts to rebalance trade and military influence remain essential. “We always prefer peaceful solutions, but we are preparing to meet any challenge head-on,” Hegseth said.
In response to the rapid evolution of drone warfare, the United States Marine Corps recently established a specialized Attack Drone Team at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. This unit will leverage first-person view (FPV) drone systems, capable of delivering lethal precision at ranges up to 20 kilometers (approximately 12.5 miles) for under $5,000—a fraction of the cost of traditional weapons systems.
The creation of this unit reflects the military’s ongoing adaptation to a rapidly evolving combat environment, where speed, autonomy, and low-cost lethality are increasingly defining the future of armed conflict.
