Hegseth proposes \u2018ambitious\u2019 US-ASEAN defence framework at Philippine\nsummit<\/p>\n
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged the formation of a new\nUS-ASEAN defence cooperation framework and for strengthened maritime\nawareness and advanced naval coordination in the region.<\/p>\n
CEBU: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth proposed the creation of an\n\u201cambitious\u201d new US-ASEAN defence framework on Wednesday (Oct 28),\ntelling the bloc\u2019s leaders it could help them navigate \u201ccritically\nimportant\u201d years ahead.<\/p>\n
The United States has been seeking to boost its regional defence\npartnerships in recent years, citing the need to uphold what it terms a\n\u201cfree and open Indo-Pacific\u201d as China has increasingly flexed its\nmuscles in the region.<\/p>\n
Hegseth, speaking before a meeting with defence chiefs from the\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations in Cebu, praised what he called\nthe region\u2019s \u201cpragmatism\u201d and \u201cproud nationalism\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not going to agree on everything, nor do we need to,\u201d he said,\ncalling for cooperation where shared interests overlap.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we look to the future in this region, I\u2019d like us to be even more\nambitious\u2026 we propose that we work together to develop a US-ASEAN\nFramework for Defence Cooperation,\u201d Hegseth said, without offering\ndetails.<\/p>\n
\u201cA practical framework that guides our cooperation over the next\nseveral years. I will note a critically important next several\nyears.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that the United States was ready to begin the project as\nSingapore assumes the chairmanship of the ASEAN Defence Ministers\u2019\nMeeting (ADMM)-Plus in the coming year.<\/p>\n
The grouping includes not only the bloc\u2019s 11 member states but\nrepresentatives from the United States, Japan, China, Australia and\nothers.<\/p>\n
Hegseth also called for the strengthening of \u201cmaritime domain\nawareness\u201d and advanced cooperation among naval forces.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are not symbolic things; they are concrete demonstrations of\nwhat serious partners do, serious partners train together, learn\ntogether, plan together, and build the confidence and competence\nnecessary to prevent conflict,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
US ally the Philippines has been engaged in years of confrontations\nwith China over disputed areas of the South China Sea.<\/p>\n
China\u2019s military and coast guard presence in contested areas of the\ncritical waterway nearly doubled in September, Manila said this\nmonth.<\/p>\n
Japanese defence chief Shinjiro Koizumi met Hegseth earlier on the\nsidelines of the Cebu event, where they discussed the need to implement\n\u201can effective denial defence in the First Island Chain\u201d, a reference to\nislands that lie between China and the open Pacific.<\/p>\n
The two allies also committed to continued \u201cclose coordination\u201d on\nmunitions production.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hegseth-proposes-ambitious-us-asean-defence-framework-at-philippine-summit-1793177436", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }