US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, assuring Southeast Asian nations that the United States would protect its interests and support its allies and partners.
Speaking at the two-day ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting and related gatherings in Cebu, the Philippines, Hegseth pledged to strengthen practical defence cooperation, including maritime surveillance, coordination between armed forces and joint naval activities.
“These are not symbolic things. They are concrete demonstrations of what serious partners do,” Hegseth said, emphasising the importance of joint training, planning and operational cooperation to prevent conflict.
His visit comes as governments across Southeast Asia question whether Washington can maintain its strategic focus on the region while the war involving Iran puts additional pressure on US military resources and domestic politics.
US Adopts a ‘Strong, Quiet and Clear’ Approach
Hegseth described Washington’s regional strategy as “strong, quiet and clear”, saying the United States intended to deter aggression without provoking unnecessary escalation.
He said Washington would remain firm in defending its interests and those of its allies and partners, describing the strategy as “peace through strength”.
The defence secretary also proposed establishing a US-ASEAN framework for defence cooperation to guide relations through what he called the “critically important next several years”. The proposal comes ahead of the 50th anniversary of formal US-ASEAN relations in 2027.
Iran War and South China Sea Tensions Complicate Regional Security
The meetings are taking place amid growing concerns over the economic and security consequences of the Iran war, which began with US and Israeli strikes on February 28. Disruptions to global shipping and oil markets have highlighted Southeast Asia’s vulnerability to energy supply shocks, pushing energy security higher on ASEAN’s agenda.
At the same time, tensions between the Philippines and China have added to the challenges facing regional security discussions.
The Philippines, a US treaty ally, has experienced repeated confrontations with Beijing in the disputed South China Sea. China claims almost the entire waterway, while the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia are among the regional countries claiming parts of it.
Days before the Cebu meeting, the Philippine military said it had monitored and shadowed China's Liaoning aircraft carrier group as it passed through waters off the southern Philippines towards the Celebes Sea.
China's defence attaché in the Philippines is also expected to attend the gathering, according to China's defence ministry.
Greg Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, said the meetings would give Hegseth an opportunity to address concerns involving China, the South China Sea and Washington's commitments to its treaty allies.
Defence Partnerships Take Centre Stage
Closer coordination among like-minded partners is expected to feature prominently in discussions. The United States, Japan, Australia and the Philippines, an informal grouping known as the “Squad”, are scheduled to hold a meeting of their defence chiefs on October 28.
Hegseth will also participate in an expanded defence ministers’ meeting on October 29. The gathering will bring together ASEAN's 11 members and eight partners, including Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Russia.
These discussions are expected to focus on practical cooperation in areas such as maritime security and counter-terrorism, although differences over regional strategic issues could limit broader agreements.
ASEAN Expected to Take a Cautious Approach
Despite the heightened geopolitical tensions, analysts expect the eventual ASEAN chairman's statement to adopt measured language rather than reflect the sharper exchanges likely to take place behind closed doors.
Collin Koh, a security scholar at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said the Philippines' position as ASEAN chair while dealing with an ongoing dispute with China made the situation particularly sensitive.
Poling noted that Manila must balance ambitions for regional cooperation in energy connectivity, the digital economy and coast guard activities against deteriorating relations with Beijing and limited progress towards a South China Sea code of conduct.
He expects ASEAN members to continue pursuing practical cooperation on agreed security initiatives, while avoiding a unified strategic position on the South China Sea and other contentious issues.
As the meetings continue, Washington's challenge will be to demonstrate a lasting commitment to Southeast Asia while regional governments navigate competing security priorities, economic pressures and increasingly complex relations with China.