Defense Nominee Hegseth Struggles with ASEAN Knowledge at Hearing

Defense Secretary Nominee Pete Hegseth Struggles with ASEAN Knowledge in Senate Hearing

Pete Hegseth, nominated for the position of Secretary of Defense, faced challenges during his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday when he could not identify any member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

During the session, Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth from Illinois inquired about the number of countries in ASEAN and asked Hegseth to discuss the significance of one of them.

Hegseth admitted, “I couldn’t tell you the exact amount of nations in that,” but mentioned allies in South Korea, Japan, and the AUKUS partnership in Australia.

Duckworth pointed out, “None of those countries are in ASEAN.”

ASEAN comprises a group of 10 nations located in proximity to the South China Sea, including Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines. This region is crucial for global trade and security, with $3.4 trillion in goods transiting through it in 2016, making up roughly 21% of the world’s trade.

The South China Sea remains a contentious area due to overlapping territorial claims. China asserts near-total control, a stance opposed by ASEAN member states, Japan, and the United States. In recent times, China’s attempts to assert dominance have included economic leverage and military maneuvers.

On the day of Hegseth’s hearing, Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya expressed grave concerns regarding rising tensions in the maritime area.

Hegseth, who was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump on November 13, has faced criticism for perceived inadequacies in his qualifications. His background includes serving as a captain in the Minnesota National Guard and a deployment to Afghanistan, alongside a role as a Fox News contributor since 2014.