Pentagon chief joins South-east Asian meet to shore up US ties
In October 2025, Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth arrived in Kuala Lumpur to attend the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), a pivotal annual gathering that brings together Southeast Asian defense ministers and major dialogue partners, including the US, China, Japan, India, Australia, and Russia. This year’s meeting carried particular weight, as it marked Hegseth’s first in-person engagement with his Chinese counterpart, held discreetly on the sidelines amid rising maritime tensions and intensifying competition between Washington and Beijing. The discussions came at a time when regional nations are navigating the delicate balance between security cooperation and geopolitical neutrality, making the U.S. presence both symbolic and strategic.
For the United States, the central goal was clear: to institutionalize and deepen security cooperation with key Southeast Asian partners and reaffirm Washington’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” vision. The Pentagon’s strategy hinges on building “networked deterrence” a model where the U.S. works not only bilaterally but through interlinked regional partnerships, enabling allies to better deter coercive actions, particularly those associated with China’s expanding military footprint in the South China Sea and beyond.
Secretary Hegseth encapsulated this renewed focus in his opening statement, emphasizing that “the United States does not seek conflict but will stoutly safeguard its interests in the Indo-Pacific, a region that remains America’s priority theater.” His tone reflected both resolve and reassurance, signaling to partners that Washington’s engagement in Southeast Asia is enduring, not episodic. By participating directly in ADMM-Plus, the U.S. aimed to reaffirm that its defense diplomacy remains anchored not in rivalry alone, but in cooperation, capacity-building, and a shared commitment to a stable, rules-based regional order.
Deepening Bilateral and Multilateral Defense Ties
The renewed U.S. engagement across Southeast Asia in 2025 is no longer limited to symbolic visits or short-term training exercises. Instead, it’s part of a broader Pentagon strategy to institutionalize defense cooperation, transforming once-informal relationships into structured, enduring partnerships. This approach ensures that cooperation with allies like Malaysia and the Philippines can withstand shifts in leadership, external pressure from China, and changing regional dynamics, while also supporting ASEAN’s collective defense mechanisms.
Malaysia: From Friendly Cooperation to a Structured Security Partnership
One of the most important outcomes of Secretary Pete Hegseth’s trip to Kuala Lumpur was the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation and the renewal of the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) between the U.S. and Malaysia. Both agreements, signed in October 2025, represent a leap forward from informal collaboration to a formalized partnership framework. The MoU institutionalizes regular defense dialogues, annual joint assessments, and a clear roadmap for capability development. It also strengthens coordination in maritime security, particularly in safeguarding the Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s most vital trade routes and a frequent target of piracy and smuggling. By integrating operational and logistical support, these agreements ensure both militaries can operate together more efficiently in regional contingencies, from humanitarian crises to counter-piracy missions.
The Philippines: The Linchpin of U.S. Defense Posture in the Indo-Pacific
The Philippines continues to serve as the most strategically critical U.S. ally in Southeast Asia. The two nations have deepened their cooperation under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which now allows U.S. forces access to nine Philippine military bases. Many of these sites are located in northern Luzon and Palawan, close to the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, areas of growing tension and strategic importance. These bases enable faster U.S. logistical support, rotational deployments, and humanitarian operations while strengthening Manila’s deterrence posture. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., during a defense forum in March 2025, described the alliance as “the linchpin of securing peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.” This statement reflects Manila’s clear recognition that a strong partnership with Washington doesn’t only serve Philippine defense, it underpins regional balance and resilience against coercive powers.
ASEAN Centrality and the Expansion of Multilateral Cooperation
Beyond individual alliances, the U.S. is investing in ASEAN’s role as the cornerstone of regional security cooperation. Since 2002, Washington has provided over $14.1 billion in total economic, health, and security assistance to its Southeast Asian partners, underscoring a long-term commitment that extends far beyond defense hardware. Secretary Hegseth reaffirmed that ASEAN’s mechanisms, especially the ADMM-Plus framework, are vital in ensuring that all nations, big or small, have a voice in maintaining regional peace.
A key example of this expanding cooperation is the upcoming ASEAN-United States Maritime Exercise, which the U.S. will co-chair later this year. The exercise is expected to focus on joint naval operations, maritime domain awareness, and interoperability in search-and-rescue and crisis response missions. These efforts reinforce ASEAN’s collective security while allowing member nations to engage in confidence-building activities with external partners in a transparent, rules-based manner.
Ultimately, Washington’s regional strategy combines bilateral depth with multilateral reach. By anchoring strong individual alliances such as those with Malaysia and the Philippines, within a broader ASEAN-centered framework, the U.S. is creating a networked security structure that balances deterrence with diplomacy. This approach ensures that Southeast Asian nations are not forced to choose sides but are instead empowered to collectively uphold regional stability, freedom of navigation, and peace across the Indo-Pacific.
U.S. Missiles in Philippines Can REACH China Faster Than You Think
Addressing Regional Security Challenges (China as the Undercurrent)
In 2025, one issue stood out above all others during the Southeast Asian defense meetings, China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea and beyond. It has become the constant “undercurrent” driving U.S. and regional security cooperation. What used to be quiet diplomatic disagreements has turned into daily tensions at sea, with coast guard standoffs, “research missions” backed by military escorts, and aggressive maneuvers near other nations’ waters. Against this backdrop, the Pentagon’s renewed engagement with Southeast Asian partners reflects a clear goal: to strengthen collective defense, improve military interoperability, and maintain regional stability in the face of coercion.
During his visit to Kuala Lumpur in October 2025, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, where he expressed “serious concerns” about China’s military behavior, from its buildup in the South China Sea, to its activities around Taiwan, and its continued intimidation of neighboring countries. His warning echoed the growing frustration among Southeast Asian governments that China’s tactics are pushing the region toward instability.
Even traditionally cautious nations like Malaysia are now speaking out. Malaysian Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin openly criticized Beijing’s “grey-zone tactics,” such as sending hydrographic survey ships into other countries’ Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) under the escort of armed coast guard vessels. He described these actions as “clear provocations and threats”, one of Malaysia’s strongest public statements against Chinese activity to date. Meanwhile, the Philippines continues to bear the brunt of maritime confrontation. Chinese Coast Guard and militia ships have repeatedly rammed, blocked, and blasted water cannons at Philippine resupply vessels near the Second Thomas Shoal, where Filipino troops are stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre. Between 2023 and 2024, these encounters became so frequent and aggressive that they transformed the shoal into one of the region’s most dangerous flashpoints.
Balabac Base as Philippines Stronghold Against China in the South China Sea
In response, the U.S. and its regional partners have moved from diplomatic discussions to practical deterrence through joint training and exercises. The Balikatan 2025 military exercise in the Philippines marked a turning point, it was the largest and most complex version yet, focusing not just on humanitarian relief but on amphibious landings, live-fire drills, and island defense operations that simulate real-world combat scenarios. These drills demonstrated that Manila and Washington are preparing for potential maritime crises, not just managing them.
In Malaysia, cooperation has also expanded to new levels. The two countries held joint long-range precision fire exercises, integrating the U.S. HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) with Malaysia’s ASTROS multiple rocket launchers for the first time. These activities signal a growing level of military trust and operational coordination, allowing both nations to respond faster and more effectively in shared security challenges, such as piracy, illegal fishing, or regional aggression.
According to data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the United States has conducted over 1,100 military exercises with regional countries between 2003 and 2022, more than any other global power. These exercises, covering naval warfare, air defense, cyber operations, and humanitarian assistance, have built a foundation of trust, skills, and readiness among partner nations.
In simple terms, what’s happening now is a shift from talk to action. The U.S. and its Southeast Asian partners are no longer satisfied with responding to crises after they happen, they are training together to prevent them. Every exercise, every agreement, and every coordinated patrol adds another layer of strength to a growing network of cooperation. And while the tension with China remains the unspoken backdrop, the message from the region is unmistakable: Southeast Asia is standing together, not to provoke, but to protect.
Economic and Diplomatic Pillars of U.S. Ties
The United States’ strategy in Southeast Asia goes far beyond military drills and defense agreements, it is equally built on economic strength and diplomatic credibility. Together, these pillars form the foundation of a long-term American presence in the region, one that emphasizes stability through trade, investment, and political engagement rather than coercion or rivalry.
On the economic front, the U.S. remains one of ASEAN’s most significant partners, driving growth and sustaining prosperity across the Indo-Pacific. In 2023, U.S. goods exports to ASEAN totaled $125 billion, while services exports reached $58 billion, highlighting a strong and diversified commercial relationship. More importantly, U.S. foreign direct investment in Southeast Asia stood at $74 billion, making up roughly one-third of all foreign investment in the region that year. These figures demonstrate that America’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific is as economic as it is strategic, built on creating jobs, developing infrastructure, and promoting innovation throughout the region.
In Malaysia, this economic relationship has taken on a new level of importance. Recent trade deals include up to $3.4 billion annually in U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchases, a move that strengthens Malaysia’s energy security while reinforcing its economic partnership with Washington. In addition, Malaysian companies have expanded imports of U.S. telecommunications technology and semiconductors, sectors vital to Southeast Asia’s digital transformation and industrial competitiveness. These deals not only deepen economic ties but also demonstrate mutual confidence, Malaysia sees the U.S. as a reliable technology and energy partner, while Washington views Malaysia as a crucial link in maintaining secure, resilient supply chains in the Indo-Pacific.
But America’s approach in the region is not just economic; it is deeply diplomatic as well. In October 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump personally brokered the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords between Thailand and Cambodia, a landmark agreement that resolved long-standing border tensions and eased years of hostility. This event marked one of the most visible demonstrations of U.S. diplomatic influence in Southeast Asia in recent memory. It showed that the U.S. is not only a military ally but also a trusted mediator capable of bridging divides among ASEAN states. The peace deal helped restore stability along the Thai-Cambodian border and reestablished confidence in Washington’s ability to act as a regional peace broker.
The diplomatic breakthrough also led to major policy changes. Following the accords, Washington lifted its arms embargo on Cambodia, a ban that had been in place since 2017, signaling a significant warming in relations. Alongside this, the Angkor Sentinel defense exercise, a joint military training program between the U.S. and Cambodia that had been suspended for years, was formally reinstated. This development underscores Washington’s pragmatic diplomacy: instead of isolating nations with close ties to China, it is choosing engagement and cooperation as tools for influence.
Will China ESCALATE Tensions with Philippines at Scarborough Shoal?
These combined efforts, economic, diplomatic, and defense-based, form a comprehensive U.S. strategy in Southeast Asia. Trade and investment build prosperity, while diplomacy strengthens trust and conflict resolution. The Pentagon’s security initiatives then ensure that these gains are protected under a stable, rules-based order. Together, they signal a long-term commitment: the United States is not a distant power intervening occasionally, but a reliable regional partner deeply invested in ASEAN’s peace, prosperity, and independence.
In essence, America’s Indo-Pacific vision is not defined by confrontation, but by connection, linking economies, restoring dialogue, and ensuring that growth and security go hand in hand. This blend of hard power and soft diplomacy is what makes U.S. engagement in Southeast Asia enduring, credible, and vital for the region’s future.
Conclusion: Sustaining the Momentum
The Pentagon chief’s visit to Southeast Asia in 2025 marked a significant step forward in U.S. efforts to build a durable and interconnected regional security framework. Through a combination of new defense agreements, high-intensity joint exercises, and expanded diplomatic and economic cooperation, Washington successfully advanced its long-term goal of establishing a “networked security architecture” across the Indo-Pacific. This approach ties together bilateral alliances, multilateral exercises, and economic initiatives, ensuring that Southeast Asian nations can collectively respond to crises while benefiting from stability and prosperity. The visit reinforced a clear message, that America’s presence in the region is not transient, but enduring and evolving to meet modern challenges.
Looking ahead, however, the region faces the delicate task of navigating great-power competition. Southeast Asian countries continue to rely heavily on China for trade and investment, even as they deepen defense cooperation with the United States. This dual dependence requires careful balancing, maintaining economic growth while safeguarding sovereignty and maritime rights. The Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam all sit at the heart of this balance, walking a tightrope between deterrence and diplomacy. The challenge for Washington, meanwhile, will be to sustain engagement beyond military commitments, investing in local economies, education, technology, and climate resilience to ensure that its partnerships remain multidimensional and mutually beneficial
Ultimately, the success of the U.S. strategy in Southeast Asia will depend on its ability to turn partnerships into lasting institutions, and exercises into real readiness. As Secretary Pete Hegseth declared in May 2025, the United States stands “shoulder-to-shoulder with its Allies and partners against all challenges to their sovereign rights.” This statement captures both the spirit and direction of America’s Indo-Pacific policy: one of solidarity, shared strength, and sustained commitment.
The momentum built during this visit, through defense cooperation, diplomatic outreach, and economic partnership has set the foundation for a more connected, capable, and confident Southeast Asia. Yet the journey ahead will demand persistence, adaptability, and unity. In a region where the tides of geopolitics shift quickly, only those who move together “sama sama,” as the Filipinos say, will stay strong enough to shape their own future.
