Takeaways From Hegseth’s Asia Tour

The U.S. Secretary of War made stops in Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea, as well as the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea.

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (C) leaves after attending a bilateral meeting and the signing of the memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation between Malaysia and the United States, in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 30, 2025. Mohd Rasfan/ AFP via Getty Images

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has been making stops throughout Asia, upgrading ties, projecting American leadership in the Indo-Pacific, and condemning the Chinese regime’s military aggression in the region.

“President Trump wants allies to be strong,” Hegseth said in Seoul on Nov. 4. It was a frequent refrain throughout the trip.