Pentagon Chief Promised to Bring "Peace Through Strength" to the ASEAN Region

The US proposes ASEAN develop a defense cooperation program.

As reported by TASS, this was stated by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth.

"Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the beginning of dialogue relations between the US and ASEAN. In this regard, we propose developing a US-ASEAN framework program on defense cooperation. This will be a practical foundation defining our cooperation over the next several years," he said on the sidelines of the expanded meeting of defense ministers of the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the Philippines.

Hegseth promised to bring "peace through strength" to the region. "The United States is a Pacific power, and together with our ASEAN partners, we are ready to ensure peace through strength," he added.

The meeting of ASEAN defense ministers is taking place on October 28-29 at a resort on the Philippine island of Cebu. Representatives from Australia, India, the US, and Japan are also participating in the event as invited guests.