US Secretary of War Hegseth hails Miller as new Chief of Staff

Washington, Nov 10 (IANS) US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Tuesday welcomed Stephen Miller's move into a new Chief of Staff role, crediting him with helping shape Washington's border security and counter-cartel operations across the Western Hemisphere. 

Hegseth told reporters at a Pentagon news conference that Miller was a close partner of the defence establishment and said he expected the two to work together on President Donald Trump's national security agenda.

"He'll be a fantastic Chief of Staff. He understands the President's agenda," Hegseth said.

The secretary singled out Miller's role in the creation of America's Counter-Cartel Coalition (ACCC), an initiative he said was bringing regional partners together against drug trafficking networks and outside influence.

Hegseth also linked Miller to efforts along the US-Mexico border. He claimed that the administration's ability to secure the southwestern border over the past 18 months would not have been possible without Miller's involvement.

He called Miller "an incredible American patriot and a great friend of this department".

Hegseth also said he was grateful for Trump's support amid efforts to impeach him and suggested he would remain at the Pentagon as long as the president wanted him in the role.

Asked whether Miller had discussed a reported proposal to end the Iran war as part of his move into the chief of staff position, Hegseth did not address the claim directly. He said the two had spoken about several matters and that he expected further discussions.

"I look forward to meeting with him soon in particular about the ways that we'll work together," he said.

Hegseth portrayed the counter-cartel coalition as a cornerstone of Trump's approach to the Americas. He said countries had joined rapidly because they wanted stronger US leadership, operational support, and an alternative to influence from China, Russia and Iran.

"These countries that joined the America's Counter-Cartel Coalition, the ACCC, didn't just join us and they didn't join us reluctantly," he said.

He argued that the coalition gave governments assistance against trafficking organisations while helping the United States stop drugs and gangs from crossing its borders.

Hegseth said the administration had applied that policy through operations against suspected drug vessels, a blockade around Venezuela and a mission that brought Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro into US custody. Those descriptions were his account of the operations.

He claimed more than 70 suspected drug vessels had been sunk and 218 people he called narco-terrorists had been killed. Maritime smuggling had fallen by at least 65 per cent, he said, without presenting supporting figures at the briefing.

The secretary also rejected suggestions that US personnel involved in attacks on suspected trafficking boats had committed war crimes. He said such criticism could discourage regional partners from pursuing drug cartels.

Hegseth said Washington was working with coalition members to prevent what he described as legal campaigns against personnel engaged in counter-cartel operations. He presented the partnership as beneficial to both sides.

"They get to save their countries and take their streets back. We get to prevent drugs and gangs from coming to our country," he said.

--IANS

lkj/ksk/as