U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth urged Southeast Asian partners Wednesday to deepen defense ties, with maritime domain awareness and naval cooperation among priorities in a more ambitious regional framework.
The U.S. Department of War said Hegseth made the remarks during meetings in Cebu, Philippines, on Oct. 28. He called for the United States to pursue a more ambitious regional defense cooperation framework. The department's account did not include a draft, timeline or approval process.
Hegseth identified efforts to strengthen maritime domain awareness, improve interoperability and expand cooperation between U.S. and partner navies as practical areas for work. He described Washington's approach as “strong, quiet and clear,” saying it aimed to deter coercion while avoiding needless escalation. He also urged partners to “train together, learn together, plan together.”
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat said an informal meeting of ASEAN and U.S. defense ministers in Cebu focused on Indo-Pacific challenges and the direction of defense ties. Reuters reported that Hegseth sought to reassure Southeast Asian counterparts of Washington's commitment to the Indo-Pacific, linking that pledge to practical cooperation. Reuters also reported that governments in the region were weighing U.S. focus on Asia as the war in Iran strained American military resources.
EconoTimes previously reported on Hegseth's call for a U.S.-ASEAN defense framework. ASEAN says its dialogue relations with the United States began in 1977, making 2027 their 50th anniversary. ASEAN itself was founded in 1967.
ASEAN's calendar lists the 20th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting for Wednesday, Oct. 28, and the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus for Thursday, Oct. 29, in the Philippines.
