US Defense Secretary to Visit Philippines for Security Talks and Military Alliance Strengthening

US Defense Chief to Visit Philippines Ahead of Joint Military Drills

Manila seems set to remain a priority partner for Washington, despite the Trump administration’s radical foreign policy changes.

Hegseth to make first visit to Asia as defense secretary this week

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth travels to Asia this week for meetings with allied leaders and American troops during his first overseas visit as the Pentagon's most senior civilian leader.

‘Pentagon chief’s visit shows Philippines in US radar’

The visit of United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the country this week is an indication that the Philippines is in the US radar screen, the Philippines’ top diplomat in Washington said yesterday.

Hegseth’s visit shows PH is ‘important’ to US—envoy

The upcoming visit of United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shows the importance of the Philippines to the United States, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said on Sunday, March 23. 

Don't expect US to scale back its Asia-Pacific military presence, analysts say

The U.S. looks set to maintain rather than reduce its military presence in the Asia-Pacific under Donald Trump, given the persistent tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea, according to analysts at a leading security forum in Beijing.

US defense secretary’s choice of Philippines instead of S.Korea for first Indo-Pacific trip signals intention toward China: expert

The US Department of Defense announced on Friday that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will depart next week for a trip to Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines and Japan. This will be Hegseth's first official visit to the Indo-Pacific region during his tenure. Unlike traditional first trips to the Asia-Pacific region by US defense secretaries, which typically include South Korea, Hegseth has notably omitted South Korea and included the Philippines ins…