By Gloria Ogbonna
A former leader of the Pentagon is sounding the alarm about the direction of U.S. global power, warning that recent military maneuvers and diplomatic choices by the United States could weaken America’s standing on the world stage and strain long-standing alliances.
Veteran Defense Leader Voices Deep Concerns
Chuck Hagel — who served as U.S. Secretary of Defense from 2013 to 2015 under President Barack Obama, is a Vietnam veteran and two-time Purple Heart recipient spoke candidly in an exclusive interview with the ABC7 Chicago I-Team about what he sees as troubling global developments.
During a wide-ranging discussion, Hagel expressed serious concerns about U.S. interventions abroad, adherence to international law, and the future of America’s role in global security.
U.S. Action in Venezuela: A Legal and Strategic Turning Point
One of the key subjects Hagel addressed was the United States’ recent military action in Venezuela — where U.S. forces captured former President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.
Hagel characterized this operation as a clear violation of international law, raising profound questions about how the United States is interpreting its authority to use military force.
He noted that the world rules and norms created after World War II including international law and collective security mechanisms like the United Nations Charter and NATO are now in jeopardy.
The way the U.S. has carried out recent military activities, including operations at sea and in international waters, suggests to Hagel that longstanding legal frameworks are being ignored rather than upheld.
Hagel further highlighted recent congressional developments: Vice President **J.D. Vance cast a tie-breaking vote to block legislation that would have required President Donald Trump to secure congressional authorization for additional military action in Venezuela a move that reflects broader tensions between the executive branch and Congress over war powers.
The Question of “Narco-Terrorist” Targets and International Law
Hagel also weighed in on the Trump administration’s labeling of certain groups, like Mexican cartels, as “narco-terrorists.” Although such designations carry domestic political weight, he underscored that international law does not automatically recognize those designations as legitimate grounds for military action, regardless of rhetoric from Washington.
Global Military Stretch and Uncertain Endgames
Despite acknowledging that the U.S. military remains the most advanced fighting force on Earth, Hagel cautioned that the United States cannot realistically sustain simultaneous operations across multiple theaters from the Caribbean to the Pacific and beyond. “Once you start something, you never know where it’s going to go,” he told the I-Team, noting the unpredictable nature of armed conflict and the risks of mission creep.
Greenland Controversy and NATO’s Future
Beyond Venezuela, Hagel addressed rising international concern over President Trump’s repeated comments about taking control of Greenland — an autonomous territory of Denmark and a NATO member. He warned that even suggesting such an action could fracture the NATO alliance and undermine trust between the United States and its European partners.
Experts outside the U.S. have echoed these fears. Recent reporting shows that Greenland’s government and several NATO allies have rejected any notion of U.S. takeover, emphasizing that Greenland should remain under Danish and NATO defense arrangements — and that any attempt to seize it would jeopardize the alliance.
NATO: Cornerstone of U.S. Power Under Threat
For decades, Hagel explained, NATO has been central to U.S. global strategy, enabling American forces to be stationed across Europe and deterring potential adversaries. But if trust in the alliance erodes through perceived unilateral actions by Washington Hagel fears the United States could find itself increasingly isolated on the world stage.
He starkly suggested that continuing on the current trajectory might lead to “a United States with no allies,” a world in which traditional partnerships have broken down due to unilateral or controversial policy choices.
Politicization of the Military and Domestic Implications
Hagel also expressed alarm at the growing politicization of the U.S. military during President Trump’s second term, noting that safeguarding nonpartisan trust in national defense institutions is crucial for both domestic cohesion and international credibility.
A Call for Strategic Reassessment
Now in Chicago working with the University of Chicago’s Chicago Project on Security and Threats (CPOST), Hagel’s remarks reflect a broader call among some defense analysts for a reassessment of how the United States engages the world balancing power projection with diplomacy, respect for international law, and sustained alliances.
As global tensions grow from the Caribbean to the Arctic and beyond Hagel’s comments underscore the debate over what America’s role in the world should look like in an era marked by uncertainty and shifting geopolitical fault lines.
Source ABC7
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