China, Russia won’t ‘dare test’ US, says Hegseth after show of military might in Venezuela

US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth delivered a stark warning to China and Russia on Monday, declaring that the United States is rebuilding military dominance to a level so absolute that its enemies would “not dare” test it.

Addressing shipyard workers and naval personnel at Newport News Shipbuilding, the nation’s largest military shipyard, Hegseth pointed to the recent US military operation in Venezuela as evidence of renewed American military readiness and the limits of non-American defence technology.

“We’re re-establishing deterrence that’s so absolute and so unquestioned that our enemies will not dare to test us,” Hegseth said. He added that under previous US administrations, the world had begun “wondering” whether America was still strong enough to lead. “Well, that’s over now,” he concluded.