KUALA LUMPUR: United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has arrived in the country ahead of the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) set for Nov 1.
The Defence Ministry in a statement said Hegseth’s aircraft landed at Subang Air Base at 9pm, where he was received by senior officials from the Defence Ministry and the armed forces.
His visit is held in conjunction with the regional defence summit, which will gather Asean ministers and dialogue partners to discuss strategic and security issues of common concern.
Hegseth is also scheduled to meet Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin on the sidelines of the ADMM-Plus.
This is his first official visit to Malaysia since assuming office as the United States Secretary of War.
Previously, it was reported that the Pentagon announced on Sunday that Hegseth will visit four Asian countries in the coming days, his second tour of the “priority” region where Washington is urging increased spending by allies to counter China.
The Pentagon said in a statement that Hegseth would make stops in Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and South Korea.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
