U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth began a round of talks with Asian counterparts on Friday at a defence summit in Malaysia, urging closer cooperation to counter China's growing assertiveness and signing a 10-year military pact with India.
Hegseth said he told China’s defence minister, Dong Jun, that the United States would “stoutly defend its interests” and maintain the Indo-Pacific balance of power, expressing concern about Chinese actions in the South China Sea and around Taiwan.
He hailed the new framework agreement with India’s defence minister, Rajnath Singh, as “a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence.” The pact is intended to deepen military cooperation over the next decade, despite strained trade ties following Washington’s 50% tariffs on Indian goods in August, imposed over New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil.
Indian officials paused major U.S. defence acquisitions after the tariffs, and both sides are expected to review procurement plans during the summit. Hegseth is also scheduled to meet defence ministers from Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, as Washington seeks to strengthen partnerships across Southeast Asia.
Delegations from Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Russia are attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
On Thursday, Hegseth met Malaysia’s defence minister, Mohamed Khaled Nordin, with both reaffirming commitment to maritime security in the South China Sea. The waterway, claimed almost entirely by China, overlaps the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
“Grey-zone tactics, such as hydrographic research conducted under the protection of foreign coast guard vessels, threaten sovereignty and are a clear provocation,” Khaled Nordin said in a joint statement. Beijing insists its coastguard operates “professionally” in defending Chinese territory.
The United States maintains a long-standing defence pact with the Philippines, alongside regular exercises with Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. President Donald Trump told ASEAN leaders on Sunday the United States would remain “a strong partner for many generations.”
Ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, Trump said he had ordered the U.S. military to resume nuclear weapons testing, citing concerns over China’s expanding arsenal. ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn said the bloc continued to oppose nuclear weapons and was pressing the five recognised nuclear powers to endorse a Southeast Asian nuclear-free zone.
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told Trump this week she would raise defence spending to 2% of GDP, after Hegseth urged Tokyo to move faster, calling the U.S.–Japan alliance “critical to deterring Chinese military aggression.”
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Astana turned into a regional cultural hub as Silk Way Star held its grand finale, bringing months of competition to a close and gathering artists from across Asia on one stage. Mongolia’s Michelle Joseph won the first season, marking the end of a project that drew viewers from around the world.
The Amazon River’s future is increasingly defined by the condition of the wider Amazon Basin, a forest system that anchors the river’s rainfall, biodiversity and hydrological balance. Scientists warn the relationship has entered a fragile phase.
McLaren’s Lando Norris mastered the wet conditions under the lights of Las Vegas to secure pole position for Saturday’s Grand Prix, beating Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in a tense and slippery qualifying session that could prove pivotal in the championship race.
Top officials from the United States, Ukraine and Europe are meeting in Geneva to negotiate Washington’s draft plan to end the war in Ukraine, with pressure mounting ahead of Thursday’s deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump for Kyiv to respond.
The pilot of an Indian fighter jet performing in the Dubai Air Show has died after the aircraft crashed during an aerial display on Friday.
An Indian Tejas fighter jet crashed in a ball of fire during an aerial display at the Dubai Airshow on Friday (November 21), leaving spectators in shock.
The United States is preparing to launch a new round of Venezuela-related operations in the coming days, as President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies efforts to pressure President Nicolás Maduro’s government and targets what it calls Venezuela’s role in the regional drug trade.
Air traffic at Eindhoven Airport in the southern Netherlands was suspended on Saturday evening after multiple drones were sighted near the facility, prompting the deployment of counter-drone systems and raising fresh alarm over airspace security in Europe.
President Donald Trump said on Friday that he will soon speak with his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, amid speculation that the U.S. could launch an attack on the Latin American nation.
The Amazon River’s future is increasingly defined by the condition of the wider Amazon Basin, a forest system that anchors the river’s rainfall, biodiversity and hydrological balance. Scientists warn the relationship has entered a fragile phase.
McLaren’s Lando Norris mastered the wet conditions under the lights of Las Vegas to secure pole position for Saturday’s Grand Prix, beating Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in a tense and slippery qualifying session that could prove pivotal in the championship race.
Top officials from the United States, Ukraine and Europe are meeting in Geneva to negotiate Washington’s draft plan to end the war in Ukraine, with pressure mounting ahead of Thursday’s deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump for Kyiv to respond.
The leaders of eight Nordic and Baltic nations held a joint call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday, pledging continued military and economic support for Kyiv and reaffirming their commitment to Europe’s collective security amid Russia’s ongoing aggression.
Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro was taken into custody on Saturday after a Supreme Court justice cited an escape risk linked to a planned supporters’ vigil and evidence of tampering with his electronic ankle monitor, ending months of house arrest as he appeals his coup-plot conviction.
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