Hegseth in Cebu: Time for ‘ambitious’ US-Asean defense ties
CEBU—US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth proposed the creation of an “ambitious” new US-Asean defense framework on Wednesday, telling the bloc’s leaders it could help them navigate “critically important” years ahead.
The United States has been seeking to boost its regional defense partnerships in recent years, citing the need to uphold what it terms a “free and open Indo-Pacific” as China has increasingly flexed its muscles in the region.
Hegseth, speaking before a meeting with defense chiefs from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Cebu, praised what he called the region’s “pragmatism” and “proud nationalism.”
‘Practical framework’
“We’re not going to agree on everything, nor do we need to,” he said, calling for cooperation where shared interests overlap.
“As we look to the future in this region, I’d like us to be even more ambitious… we propose that we work together to develop a US-Asean Framework for Defense Cooperation,” Hegseth said, without offering details.
“A practical framework that guides our cooperation over the next several years. I will note a critically important next several years.”
He added that the United States was ready to begin the project as Singapore assumes the chairmanship of the Asean Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in the coming year.
The grouping includes not only the bloc’s 11 member states but representatives from the United States, Japan, China, Australia and others.
Hegseth also called for the strengthening of “maritime domain awareness” and advanced cooperation among naval forces.
“These are not symbolic things; they are concrete demonstrations of what serious partners do, serious partners train together, learn together, plan together, and build the confidence and competence necessary to prevent conflict,” he said.
Japanese defense chief Shinjiro Koizumi met Hegseth earlier on the sidelines of the Cebu event, where they discussed the need to implement “an effective denial defense in the First Island Chain,” an area east of China’s coast that includes Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines.
The two allies also committed to continued “close coordination” on munitions production.
Robust US presence
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., who chaired the Asean Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), said a robust US presence was crucial to peace and stability in Southeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
“We value the United States’ sustained engagement with the defense establishments of Asean as a robust US presence is necessary for peace and stability in Southeast Asia and in the broader Indo-Pacific region,” Teodoro said.
He also stressed the importance of freedom of navigation to the security and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries.
“All of us have relied and will continue to rely on freedom of navigation for the security, prosperity, and resilience of our people,” he said.
The Philippines has been engaged in years of confrontations with China over disputed areas of the South China Sea.
China’s military and coast guard presence in contested areas of the critical waterway nearly doubled in September, Manila said this month.
Hegseth said Washington would maintain an approach that was “strong, quiet, and clear” to deter coercion and aggression without unnecessary escalation.
He said the United States would defend its interests and those of its allies and partners.
‘Peaceful means’
At the opening of ADMM on Wednesday morning, Teodoro urged Asean countries to settle disputes, including those in the South China Sea, through peaceful and legal means.
“And where such differences exist, including in the South China Sea, we shall settle them through peaceful and legal means,” Teodoro said, urging member-states to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity and renounce the threat or use of force.
Asean defense ministers adopted five new initiatives in Cebu, according to the Department of National Defense (DND).
These include proposals for a maritime security conference on emerging technologies; a concept paper for a young defense leaders’ exchange program; a proposal to improve coordination between the ADMM-Plus and Asean Regional Forum defense dialogues; and a guide to ADMM and ADMM-Plus practices and protocols.
The DND did not specify when the initiatives would be implemented or how they would be funded. —With reports from Gabryelle Dumalag, AFP and Kyodo News
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