On his first visit to Asia this week, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will hold talks in the Philippines, the first stop on his first visit to Asia, on how to increase deterrence against rising tensions in disputed areas in the South China Sea. A Philippine official said the talks will include this issue.
Hegseth will meet with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Philippine capital Manila on March 28-29. Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez told the Associated Press that the talks will focus on Beijing’s escalating tensions in the South China Sea and the Trump administration’s “stronger support” for Philippine security forces. Hegseth will meet with civilian and military leaders at the Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, followed by a tour of US military facilities in Guam and a briefing on capabilities, US Department of Defense (Pentagon) spokesman Sean Parnell said. Hegseth will then fly to the Philippines and Japan. Hegseth will advance security goals with Philippine leaders and meet with US and Philippine forces, Parnell said. In Japan, he will attend a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima and meet with Japanese leaders and US military forces.
