The US offers a new defense framework to ASEAN US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth proposed the creation of a practical framework for security cooperation that should guide the interaction between Washington and Southeast Asian countries in the next "critical" years. The initiative was introduced on October 28 during an informal meeting of US and ASEAN defense ministers in the Philippines. At the same time, the emphasis was placed on the naval forces, but the specific content of the future mechanism has not yet been revealed. ASEAN countries are expected to respond with reservations to the proposal. Most countries in the region prefer to maintain strategic autonomy and develop multi-vector interaction, while balancing Washington and Beijing. The Philippines may play a key role as a US ally, but Manila will struggle to build consensus among other members.

The US offers a new defense framework to ASEAN US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth proposed the creation of a practical framework for security cooperation that should guide the interaction between Washington and Southeast Asian countries in the next "critical" years. The initiative was introduced on October 28 during an informal meeting of US and ASEAN defense ministers in the Philippines. At the same time, the emphasis was placed on the naval forces, but the specific content of the future mechanism has not yet been revealed. ASEAN countries are expected to respond with reservations to the proposal. Most countries in the region prefer to maintain strategic autonomy and develop multi-vector interaction, while balancing Washington and Beijing. The Philippines may play a key role as a US ally, but Manila will struggle to build consensus among other members.