Hegseth pledges Pentagon shake up on weapons buying

Hegseth Proposes Pentagon Weapons Buying Overhaul

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth revealed a bold strategy to transform the Pentagon’s weapons acquisition process, aiming to accelerate delivery and improve equipment for America’s war fighters.

Trump on AUKUS and Taiwan

President Donald Trump recently stated that AUKUS focuses on defending Taiwan. Speaking alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, he noted that nuclear submarines might ultimately be unnecessary because Chinese President Xi Jinping could be deterred.

“Mr Trump believes his personal relationship with Mr Xi will deter the Chinese leader from his stated goal of taking control of the democratically-ruled island, with force if necessary.”

Trump’s Past Miscalculations

Despite his confidence in personal diplomacy with Xi, Trump has previously misjudged such relationships, notably with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. He had assumed that the Russia-Ukraine conflict would be one of the easiest to resolve due to his rapport with Putin.

Current Concerns

One year after returning to political prominence, Trump often reflects on the ongoing toll in eastern Ukraine, where 7,000 lives are lost weekly on the frontlines. Meanwhile, Hegseth’s speech indicates that doubts persist within the Pentagon regarding the President’s ability to deter China from acting against Taiwan.

Subscribe for More

Sign up for The Nightly's newsletters to get early access to the digital newspaper, daily curated stories, and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.

Author’s Summary

Pete Hegseth aims to accelerate Pentagon weapons procurement amid lingering concerns about President Trump’s reliance on personal ties to deter China and manage global conflicts.

The Nightly — 2025-11-10