Pete Hegseth Fails to Identify ASEAN Members in Senate Hearing
Pete Hegseth Fails to Identify ASEAN Members in Senate Hearing - During his Senate confirmation hearing as nominee for U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth struggled to answer basic questions about the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), raising eyebrows among lawmakers and foreign policy experts.
The Exchange
Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) questioned Hegseth on three simple aspects of ASEAN: naming a member country, identifying how many countries are in the bloc, and describing any defense agreements between ASEAN nations and the U.S.
Hegseth attempted to answer but mistakenly listed Japan, South Korea, and Australia—none of which are members of ASEAN. Duckworth promptly corrected him, stating, "None of those countries are ASEAN members. I encourage you to better prepare."
What Is ASEAN?
ASEAN is a regional bloc made up of 10 Southeast Asian countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. It promotes economic growth, cultural exchange, and regional stability. Timor-Leste is also in the process of joining the group as its 11th member.
The United States maintains formal defense agreements with some ASEAN members, including Thailand and the Philippines, making ASEAN a strategic pillar in U.S. Indo-Pacific policy.
Why It Matters
Hegseth's failure to identify basic ASEAN information raised concerns about his readiness to handle defense matters in Asia, especially amid increasing tensions with China in the region. Lawmakers stressed that understanding alliances like ASEAN is crucial for maintaining U.S. influence and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
