Hegseth and US President Donald Trump had unexpectedly summoned global military leaders to convene at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, near Washington, keeping the reason undisclosed until today.

Hegseth’s speech predominantly echoed his long-standing views, depicting a military hindered by “woke” policies, and he urged military leaders to “do the honorable thing and resign” if his new strategy did not align with their views.

Italian Adm. Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, NATO’s Military Committee chair, characterized the meeting as unusual, telling reporters at a NATO meeting in Riga, Latvia, on Saturday that, “in my 49 years of service, I’ve never witnessed such an occurrence.”

The absence of specific information has led many Washington observers to speculate on the meeting’s focus. Whatever it may involve, Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution believes there may be a dramatic aspect that potentially rivals any substantive element.

“Just the sheer scope makes you question what type of meaningful engagement can transpire,” remarked O’Hanlon, Brookings’ foreign policy research director.

“And therefore it smacks more of theatrics or of trying to impose than of trying to exchange views.”