In a significant diplomatic and strategic move, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to embark on a multi-country tour across Asia, including Malaysia, Japan, Vietnam, and South Korea, the Pentagon confirmed on Sunday. This will mark Hegseth’s third visit to the region, underscoring Washington’s intensified efforts to reinforce its alliances amid growing concerns over China’s expanding military and economic influence.
The Pentagon described Asia as the “priority theatre” for US defence interests, with Hegseth’s agenda focused on promoting stronger defence cooperation, encouraging increased military spending among allies, and ensuring peace through strength.
President Donald Trump is also in the region, attending high-level summits and bilateral talks, including a highly anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea later this week — a session that may shape the future of US-China relations and broader Indo-Pacific stability.
During his stops, Secretary Hegseth will engage with defence officials and regional leaders to deepen military partnerships. He is expected to attend the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Malaysia, hold security talks in Vietnam, and co-chair a bilateral meeting in South Korea, while also visiting US Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii.
In a previous address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth cautioned that China is preparing to use military force to shift the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, urging regional powers like Japan and the Philippines to invest more in defence to preserve sovereignty and deterrence.
The Pentagon reaffirmed its stance, stating that under Hegseth’s leadership, the Department of Defence “recognises the importance of sustained focus on the Indo-Pacific and the need to ensure lasting peace through partnership and preparedness.”
As the geopolitical tides in Asia shift, this visit is seen as a critical reaffirmation of US commitment to its allies — a move that balances power and strengthens unity in an increasingly uncertain global landscape.
