US defense chief outlines new deterrence doctrine: prevent, fight, win

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has outlined the principles of America’s modern deterrence doctrine, framing the military’s mission as twofold: preventing adversaries from starting wars, and being prepared to fight and win if deterrence fails. He said the doctrine is rooted in the idea of “America First and peace through strength.”

Hegseth explained that Washington is reinforcing deterrence by rebuilding the US military and enhancing its capabilities both at home and abroad, ensuring the armed forces can prevent conflicts while remaining ready to respond to any crisis. This approach, he said, is encapsulated by the motto “peace through strength.”

The new vision also emphasizes expanding technologically advanced military capabilities. Hegseth highlighted American innovations such as unmanned ships, autonomous systems, drones, and hypersonic missiles, describing them as tools that will reshape the means of modern deterrence.

The defense secretary stressed that implementing this doctrine relies on rebuilding the military and strengthening deterrence capabilities, with a focus on enhancing these capacities both within the United States and globally.