U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a visit to the state of Ohio, marking the first of two planned stops on his tour titled 'Arsenal of Freedom.' During the trip, he met with workers from the local aerospace industry and expressed his gratitude for their labor, which he said is carried out with a 'warrior mentality' and a sense of wartime urgency. The visit is aimed at strengthening ties between the Defense Department and industrial enterprises that provide military equipment production and components for aviation and space sectors. Hegseth emphasized the importance of workers' contribution to maintaining the country's defense capability, noting that their efforts directly impact the readiness of U.S. armed forces. The 'Arsenal of Freedom' tour involves visiting key production centers related to the defense industry and is designed to demonstrate the administration's support for American workers employed in strategically important sectors. Ohio is traditionally considered one of the centers of aerospace and defense manufacturing in the United States, home to enterprises producing components for military aviation. Details of the tour's second stop have not yet been revealed, however, it is expected that the Secretary will continue a series of visits to industrial facilities connected to the country's defense sector.