US Defense Secretary Tours Indo-Pacific to Strengthen Alliances

The US Secretary of Defense will tour several Indo-Pacific countries next week, the Pentagon announced. The region is considered a "top priority" for the US.

Pit Hegseth will visit Hawaii, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and South Korea. The goal is to urge US allies to increase their defense spending "against increasing regional threats."

This is Hegseth's second tour of the region. In March, he visited Guam, the Philippines, and Japan. This tour coincides with President Donald Trump's visit to Asia, where he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.

In Singapore, Hegseth stated that the US is "readjusting (its strategy) to deter any attack from communist China," provoking reactions from Beijing.

Source: APE-MPE-AFP