U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called for a defense framework with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Cebu Wednesday, as Singapore prepares to assume the regional defense meeting chairmanship.
The Daily Tribune reported that Hegseth proposed developing the framework. CNA, citing Reuters, also described it as a proposal. Both outlets reported that he urged stronger maritime domain awareness and expanded cooperation among regional navies.
The ASEAN Secretariat confirmed that ministers met Oct. 28 and discussed Indo-Pacific challenges and the future of ASEAN-U.S. defense ties. Its public summary did not mention a new framework. In a separate Reuters dispatch carried by Business Recorder, Reuters reported that the United States and Southeast Asian allies were already working on one, giving a different account of its status.
ASEAN already has the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), a platform that includes the bloc’s 11 members and eight dialogue partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States. The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting lists seven areas of practical cooperation, including maritime security, cybersecurity and disaster relief. The platform has met annually since 2017. The reports do not specify whether the proposed framework would operate through ADMM-Plus or separately.
The Daily Tribune reported that Hegseth linked the proposal to the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-U.S. dialogue relations in 2027 and said discussions could begin with Singapore’s defense minister. The ASEAN Secretariat dates the dialogue relationship to 1977. The Philippine News Agency reported that the Philippines is scheduled to transfer the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting and ADMM-Plus chairmanship to Singapore on Oct. 29.
