Updated

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to face questions about Washington's commitment to the Indo-Pacific when he meets Southeast Asian counterparts in the Philippines on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Reuters reported that the gathering is in the province of Cebu. The Pentagon said his attendance would reaffirm Washington's commitment to peace through strength in the Pacific, while analysts note the Iran war is straining US military readiness and tensions with China are rising.