U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will travel to Asia this week, including South Korea, to stress the need for allies to boost defense spending and contribute to collective defense. The Pentagon said Hegseth will praise South Korea's commitment to increasing defense spending and taking greater responsibility for alliance deterrence during the annual Security Consultative Meeting in Seoul on Nov. 4. This comes amid intensifying U.S.-China rivalry and North Korea's nuclear advances.
The U.S. Defense Department announced on Oct. 26 that Secretary Pete Hegseth will embark on a trip to the Indo-Pacific, visiting Hawaii, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and South Korea to reaffirm America's commitment to "peace through strength and a balance of power in the region." The Pentagon's release outlined key themes: "America's focus on the Indo-Pacific, the department's priority theater; the importance of allies stepping up their defense spending and contributions to our collective defense; and the department's commitment to working closely with those that do."
Collective defense embodies the multilateral principle where an attack on one ally is deemed an attack on all, amid China's assertiveness and North Korea's nuclear pursuits. South Korea marks the final stop, though exact dates remain unspecified.
Seoul's defense ministry confirmed that Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and Hegseth will hold the annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) in Seoul on Nov. 4, covering North Korea policy coordination, combined defense posture, and extended deterrence. The Pentagon stated Hegseth will "applaud Seoul's willingness to step up on defense spending and assume greater responsibility for the alliance's deterrence and defense."
It added: "Under Secretary Hegseth's clear and strong leadership, the department recognizes the importance of the focus on the Indo-Pacific and the need to ensure peace through strength together with our allies and partners." In Hawaii, Hegseth will meet Indo-Pacific Command leaders on warfighter readiness. In Japan, he will underscore bilateral alliance strengthening against regional threats. In Malaysia, he will attend the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM-Plus) for regional cooperation. In Vietnam, he aims to deepen ties, including defense trade and information sharing.