The U.S. Department of Defense announced on Friday (March 21) that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will visit Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines, and Japan next week to further strengthen alliance and partnership relationships, advancing the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. This will be Hegseth’s first official visit to the Indo-Pacific region since taking office.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that Hegseth will first arrive in Hawaii to meet with military and civilian leadership from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. He will then travel to Guam, where he is expected to visit local military facilities and receive a briefing on military capabilities.
Following that, Hegseth will proceed to the Philippines to advance security cooperation goals with Philippine leaders and meet with U.S. and Philippine troops.
In Japan, Defense Secretary Hegseth will attend the 80th anniversary commemoration ceremony of the Battle of Iwo Jima, followed by meetings with Japanese leaders and U.S. military personnel.
The Battle of Iwo Jima was one of the toughest battles fought by the U.S. against Japan during World War II. Today, the location has become an important site for both countries to commemorate history, symbols, and reconciliation after the war.
According to Japanese media reports, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Defense Minister Motoya Nakatani plan to visit Iwo Jima next Saturday, March 29, to attend a joint U.S.-Japan commemoration ceremony on the island. It is believed that Ishiba’s attendance at this joint U.S.-Japan commemoration ceremony holds significance in demonstrating the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance to the world.
The four locations Hegseth is visiting this time are all core nodes of the U.S. military deployment in the Indo-Pacific region. Hawaii is the headquarters of the Indo-Pacific Command, Guam is a key forward operating base for the U.S. military in the region. The Philippines and Japan are important allied countries in the first island chain, serving as key strategic defense lines against Chinese expansion and threats.
Especially in the Philippines and Japan, as two major treaty allies of the United States in Asia, there has been significant enhancement of military cooperation in recent years.
In 2023, the Philippines opened more military bases for U.S. military use, while Japan actively developed “counterattack capabilities” and conducted joint military exercises with the U.S.
Since assuming the role of Defense Secretary, Hegseth has demonstrated a leadership style markedly different from his predecessors.
Hegseth is a retired U.S. Army officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. During his time as a media commentator and public figure, he frequently participated in physical training with soldiers, emphasizing readiness and connecting with the grassroots.
Parnell mentioned that Hegseth has specially arranged to “train with troops” during his visit, and Hegseth himself is looking forward to interacting with the troops.
Parnell emphasized that Hegseth’s visit comes at a time when cooperation between the U.S. and like-minded countries has reached an unprecedented level, aiming to further strengthen regional security.