The U.S. doesn't want war, but they're preparing for every eventuality. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, appeals to the generals: – Prepare for war to protect peace.
Why the United States Strengthens the Army
In recent weeks, the American government has significantly accelerated reforms in the armed forces. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced wide changes and directly addressed the military: – We don't want war and we love peace, but we have to be ready and effective.. This moment requires rebuilding our defense capabilities.
Our enemies don't pour pears in ash. If we want to prevent a war, we must be ready now. Only peace by force," Hegseth added. The minister stressed that the free world needs allies with truly strong armies. Against this background, a new U.S. defense strategy is being built – focused on direct protection of the country's territory, not only on rivalry with China and Russia.
Strategic changes and new priorities
President Donald Trump's administration is preparing a broad reform of the US Army. One of the main objectives is to reduce the number of generals by 20% and to replace the upper command. "The best way to take care of soldiers is to give them the best commanders – aggressive, faithful oaths and constitutions", Hegseth pointed out. The new defense strategy is to prioritise ensuring the security of Americans in their own country.
Key elements of defence policy:
- Strengthening combat preparedness in the US
- Reallocation of some forces from Europe and Asia
- Investments in modern equipment and training
- Reduction of bureaucracy and leadership
Scale of maneuvers and movements of troops
At the end of September, the Secretary of War convened an extraordinary gathering of hundreds of generals at Quantico Base, Virginia. In the weeks preceding NATO exercise, the "Iron Defender" reached Poland with large US forces – about 30,000 soldiers and hundreds of combat vehicles. At the same time, Russian-Belarusian maneuvers Zapad 2025 gathered more than 100,000 soldiers and modern military equipment in eastern Europe, as estimated.
Key events September 2025
| Date | Event | Participants |
|---|---|---|
| 12-16.09 | Exercises Fall 2025 | Russia, Belarus, US observers |
| 13.09 | Launch of Operation Iron Defender | USA, Poland, NATO countries |
| 24-29.09 | Convening Generals by Hegseth | USA – Supreme Commanders |
Statements and Messages of the Pentagon Head
No one can touch us. But we must be ready now that our enemies are armored," Hegseth assures us. The Secretary of War stresses that military personnel and their morale are as important as equipment and numbers. – Etos of the warrior and the real armed forces are our priorities – he stated in a closed meeting with the generals.
Key quotes by Pete Hegseth:
- "We don't want war and we love peace, but we have to be ready and effective."
- "Only peace by force."
- "The best way to take care of soldiers is to give them good, aggressive commanders."
- "Our enemies are gathering. If we want to prevent war, we must be ready now."
What's next? Possible scenarios
According to commentators, the U.S. signals that they want to be ready for anything – from conventional conflicts to cyber warfare. The reduction of commanders and the increase of readiness is intended to create an army faster and more effective. Similar to sports – not only the number of players, but the combination and quick response to each threat are important.
Aktualna polityka Pentagonu pokazuje, że Ameryka rewiduje swoje zaangażowanie w świecie, ale nie zamierza ustępować miejsca innym potęgom. Bezpośrednia ochrona kraju i szybka reakcja na ryzyka – to klucz do skutecznej obrony w XXI wieku.
