AMERICA FIRST — U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth greeted service members aboard the USS Iwo Jima after landing in Puerto Rico, underscoring Washington’s growing military presence in the Caribbean.

The visit comes amid a recent buildup of U.S. naval forces in the region, part of an intensified campaign to disrupt drug cartels operating across the Caribbean and South America. The USS Iwo Jima, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, plays a central role in supporting these operations.

Hegseth’s arrival served both as a morale boost for the sailors and Marines deployed and as a signal of the administration’s resolve to expand counter-narcotics efforts. The deployment reflects the broader “America First” defense strategy, emphasizing security along U.S. borders and in nearby regions.