Hegseth Proposes Developing Defense Cooperation Program Between US, ASEAN
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks with reporters during a news conference with President Donald Trump in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US Secretary of Wat Pete Hegseth proposed on Wednesday that a program for practical defense cooperation between the United States and ASEAN be developed for several years ahead. «Next year marks the 50th anniversary formally of US-ASEAN relations, an important milestone, and in recognition of this milestone, we propose that we work together to develop a US-ASEAN framework for defense cooperation, a practical framework that guides our cooperation over the next several years,» Hegseth said at a meeting of ASEAN defense ministers in the Philippines. Washington is ready to begin working in this area together with Singapore, which is taking over the chairmanship of the ADMM-Plus, he added. The ADMM-Plus is a platform for dialogue between ASEAN member states and their eight partners, namely Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States.
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