Secretary of War Hegseth Meets Singapore Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing in Cebu on ADMM-Plus Sidelines
According to a U.S. Department of War readout, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth met Singapore Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing on October 28 in Cebu, the Philippines, on the sidelines of the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), to discuss U.S.-Singapore defense cooperation and the regional security environment. The meeting was one of several bilateral engagements Hegseth held with counterparts during the conference.
At the ASEAN-U.S. defence ministers' meeting the same day, according to published reports, Hegseth proposed that the United States and ASEAN work together to develop a U.S.-ASEAN framework for defence cooperation to guide cooperation over the next several years, noting that next year marks the 50th anniversary of U.S.-ASEAN dialogue relations. He said the United States was ready to craft the framework with Minister Chan, as Singapore is due to assume the chairship of the ADMM-Plus in 2027. Hegseth reiterated the U.S. commitment to its allies and partners, describing the United States as a proud Pacific nation resolved, alongside its ASEAN partners, to deliver peace through strength.
Singapore is regarded by Washington as an anchor partner for the U.S. defense presence and regional stability in Southeast Asia, and the two countries' armed forces train together regularly across all domains. This year's ADMM-Plus is being held in Cebu on October 28-29, bringing together the defence ministers of the ASEAN member states and dialogue partners including the United States, India, Japan, and Australia.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国战争部长 Pete Hegseth 官方肖像。美国战争部（Chad McNeeley 摄），公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Official portrait of U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. U.S. Department of War photo by Chad McNeeley, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
