US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday proposed a new US-Asean defence framework to guide cooperation over what he called “critically important years” ahead, but offered few details on what it would entail.
The proposal faces questions over whether members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will embrace a bloc-wide initiative, with analysts suggesting they would prefer bilateral arrangements that preserve their flexibility as they navigate ties with Washington and Beijing.
Speaking at the opening of the US-Asean Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting in Cebu, Hegseth said Washington wanted to build on the region’s “pragmatism, openness to dialogue, respect for counterparts, and proud nationalism”, noting that 2027 would mark the 50th anniversary of relations between Southeast Asia and the US.