Secretary Hegseth provides remarks at the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting.

I now invite His Excellency, Secretary Hegseth, to deliver his remarks. Well, Secretary Teodoro, thank you for your clarity, for your leadership, for your great work as chairman of the ADMM Plus over the past year. continue to showcase the kind of leadership we expect and have come to really appreciate from the Philippines. So thank you very much. And to all the our other friends and partners here as members of ASEAN and ADMM Plus, we look forward to building on the great foundation that has existed for quite some time, but we think under this administration is gathering quickly. Earlier this year at the Shangri-La Dialogue, I described a vision on behalf of President Trump of a more stable, secure, and prosperous Pacific. It was a vision based on strength, built not on wishful thinking, but on the backs of strong, self-reliant nations. Nations capable of defending their own sovereignty and contributing to the favorable balance of power that benefits us all. The approach we're taking, we describe as strong, quiet, and clear, strong enough to deter coercion and aggression, quiet enough to avoid needless escalation or public theatrics, and to let our actions speak for themselves. But it's clear enough that our friends, our partners, and potential adversaries understand precisely where the United States stands and that we will defend our interests and the interests of our allies and partners. That is by definition peace through strength. And we're ready and willing to work with all of you where you are based on your own circumstances Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I look forward to hearing from you about your experiences and your own priorities and shared mutual interests thereafter. In many ways, this approach, we believe, reflects what ASEAN has long demonstrated, pragmatism, openness to dialogue, respect for counterparts, and proud nationalism. We're not going to agree on everything, nor do we need to, but an agreement on the fundamentals is enough to support practical cooperation where our shared interests are overlapping and are clear. And that's the type of cooperation the Department of War will continue to pursue with our ASEAN partners. Strengthening maritime domain awareness, improving interoperability and advancing cooperation among our navies. These are not symbolic things. They are concrete demonstrations of what serious partners do. Serious partners train together, learn together, plan together, and build the confidence and competence necessary to prevent conflict. We've also seen this practical cooperation at work to sustain the ceasefire along the border between Thailand and Cambodia. ASEAN's leadership here demonstrates what the institution can achieve when it acts with purpose and resolve, and certainly President Trump's attention on this matter has been critical. And the United States was glad to do its part and will continue to do its part on this ASEAN led effort And as we look to the future in this region, I'd like us to be even more ambitious. Next year marks the 50th anniversary formally of U.S.-ASEAN relations, an important milestone. And in recognition of this milestone, we propose that we work together to develop a U.S.-ASEAN framework for defense cooperation, a practical framework that guides our cooperation over the next several years. a critically important next several years We are ready to begin that work with Minister Chan and his team as Singapore assumes the ADMM Plus chairmanship. The United States is a proud Pacific nation, and alongside our ASEAN partners, we are resolved to deliver peace through strength. Peace, prosperity, and sovereignty for all member nations based on mutual respect and strength. So thank you, Gibo, for welcoming us, the great hospitality of the Philippines, and we look forward to the work together. Thank you very much.