Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth convened with defense leaders from Southeast Asian countries, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. The meeting took place in Singapore to discuss ongoing defense cooperation.
During the meeting, Secretary Hegseth reiterated the United States' commitment to working alongside the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and supporting its central role. He highlighted advancements in building defense capacities within Southeast Asian nations through U.S.-ASEAN collaboration. "The Secretary highlighted progress made in the U.S.-ASEAN relationship to build the defense capacity of Southeast Asian nations," stated a Department of Defense release.
Hegseth emphasized pragmatic cooperation as essential for deterring aggression and achieving peace through strength. He referenced President Trump's vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific as still relevant today. Additionally, he noted U.S. involvement in co-chairing with Indonesia both the ASEAN-United States Maritime Exercise and ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Military Medicine later this year.
The Secretary expressed concerns over China's coercive actions against South China Sea claimant countries and stressed that Southeast Asian nations should share responsibility for maintaining regional peace and security. "As the United States reestablishes deterrence in the Indo-Pacific," Hegseth remarked, "the United States stands shoulder-to-shoulder with its Allies and partners against all challenges to their sovereign rights."