Pete Hegseth’s motorcade stirred a cloud of dust around dozens of troops and border agents waiting in the desert to greet the new defense secretary. It was his first visit to the U.S-Mexico border and the 30-foot steel border fence loomed tall behind him as he shook hands.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited the Borderland to meet with U.S military troops aiding in security efforts in Texas.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to travel to Panama in April, his Panamanian counterpart said on Tuesday, with the two officials aiming to work together on strategies to combat irregular migration and the flow of drugs.