Pete Hegseth said the US was ready to begin the project as Singapore assumes the chairmanship of the Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in the coming year. (EPA Images pic)CEBU: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth proposed the creation of an "ambitious" new US-Asean defence framework on Wednesday, telling the bloc's leaders it could help them navigate "critically important" years ahead.
The US has been seeking to boost its regional defence 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 defence chiefs from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Cebu, praised what he called the region's "pragmatism" and "proud nationalism".
