U.S. defense proposes establishment of U.S.-ASEAN defense cooperation system... Promoting expansion of military cooperation (comprehensive)

(Hanoi = Yonhap News) Correspondent Park Jin-hyung = U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) defense ministers on the 28th (local time) and proposed establishing a U.S.-ASEAN defense cooperation system and urged allies such as Korea and Japan to increase defense investment.

Secretary Hegseth, who visited Cebu, Philippines, the host city, to attend the 13th ASEAN Enlarged Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM-Plus) scheduled to be held on the 29th, met with ASEAN defense ministers and said, "As we look to the future of this region, we must have more ambitious goals," and added, "I propose to jointly develop the U.S.-ASEAN defense cooperation system."

“This will be a practical framework that will guide our cooperation over the next few years,” he said. “The next few years will be very important.”

He did not reveal specific details of the U.S.-ASEAN defense cooperation system, but noted that the U.S. is ready to begin this project as Singapore will assume the ADMM-Plus chairmanship as a rotating ASEAN president next year.

Regarding territorial disputes such as the South China Sea, Minister Hegseth also said, "Serious partners train, learn, plan together, and build the trust and capacity necessary to prevent conflict," urging countries to strengthen maritime domain awareness and advance cooperation between navies.

On this day, he held bilateral meetings with the defense ministers of countries including South Korea, Japan, and Australia, which are allies, and called for strengthening deterrence in the Pacific region and expanding defense investment.

After meeting with Minister of National Defense Kang Shin-cheol, Minister Hegseth wrote on

He added, “The United States stands with allies who take their own defense seriously.”

This is the first time that Minister Kang, who took office on the 22nd of last month, met in person with Minister Hegseth.

The content of the conversation between the two ministers has not yet been made public, but since this is the first meeting between the heads of defense of the two countries, it is possible that key security issues between Korea and the United States, including the issue of wartime operational control (OPCON) transfer, were on the table.

Minister Hegseth also met with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and reaffirmed U.S.-Japan security cooperation to strengthen deterrence against China.

In particular, he emphasized the importance of expanding investment in the defense sector to build the defense posture of the First Island Chain, which runs from the Nansei Islands in southwestern Japan to Taiwan and the Philippines.

Both sides shared this perception and agreed to secure sufficient defense capabilities to strengthen 'denial power' to prevent the other country from achieving its military goals even if it attacks.

To this end, they discussed ways to strengthen training, including live-fire training for U.S. forces in Japan, and agreed to improve accessibility to military facilities and continue close cooperation in the areas of ammunition production.

In a meeting with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Richard Marles, Minister Hegseth agreed to expand investment in air force bases in Australia and improve the joint logistics capabilities of the two countries' militaries.

They also agreed that "there is a need to quickly implement military posture cooperation," including the deployment of U.S. military assets in Australia, and reviewed the progress of the U.S.-Australia-British security alliance AUKUS and plans to jointly produce ammunition.

He added that he also met with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh to seek ways to strengthen cooperation.

The U.S. Department of Defense said Secretary Hegseth's visit was to reaffirm the U.S.'s will to realize peace through strength in the Pacific region and to expand cost sharing with allies.