Hegseth Affirms U.S. Global Capability Following “Operation Absolute Resolve”

In the wake of the successful capture of Nicolás Maduro, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has delivered a series of statements reinforcing the administration’s “Peace through Strength” doctrine. During a joint press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday, January 3, 2026, and in subsequent interviews, Hegseth emphasized that the precision of the Venezuela operation serves as a clear signal to the global community regarding the current state of American military lethality.

“This is about the safety, security, freedom, and prosperity of the American people,” Hegseth stated. He characterized the mission—which involved over 150 aircraft and the deployment of Delta Force—as the “most sophisticated, most complicated, and most successful joint special operations raid of all time.” Hegseth further asserted that under the leadership of President Trump, the War Department has restored its “warrior ethos,” enabling the United States to strike “anywhere, any time” to protect national interests and enforce established red lines.

The Secretary specifically addressed international concerns by contrasting the Venezuela mission with the 2003 Iraq War. He described “Operation Absolute Resolve” as the “exact opposite” of past “unending foreign entanglements,” arguing that the current approach utilizes “flexible realism” to achieve strategic objectives without significant American casualties or long-term financial drain. According to Hegseth, the operation was designed not for territorial domination but to re-establish a balance of power and secure the “northern flank” of the Western Hemisphere from adversarial influence.