September 8, 2025 – Governor Jenniffer González-Colón of Puerto Rico, alongside First Gentleman Dr. José Yovín Vargas, welcomed U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, the highest-ranking officer in the U.S. Armed Forces. The visit reaffirms the Administration’s support for the troops currently training on the island.

“We thank President Trump and his administration for recognizing Puerto Rico’s strategic importance to our national security, and for their commitment to combat drug cartels and the narco-dictator Nicolás Maduro. We fully support America First policies that protect our borders and fight illicit activities in defense of the American people,” stated the Governor.

The meeting took place at Muñiz Air Base in Carolina, with the Adjutant General of the Puerto Rico National Guard, Colonel Carlos José Rivera-Román; the Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety, Brigadier General Arthur Garffer; and several military leaders from different branches.

Secretary Hegseth addressed nearly 300 soldiers with a message of unwavering support on behalf of President Trump and the Department of War, emphasizing their vital mission—particularly the efforts to counter narcotrafficking in the region.

He praised servicemembers, describing them as “American Warriors” and affirming that those serving in the nation’s Armed Forces will be the best equipped and prepared in the world.

“President Trump’s leadership in the fight against narcotrafficking places Puerto Rico—our nation’s Caribbean border—at the forefront of our security and interests. For the first time, I believe we are confronting the problem at its root, striking directly at the source of the drug flow,” added Governor González-Colón.

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