Hegseth’s Asia Tour Won’t Fix the US Credibility Crisis
The defense secretary can choose to uphold US commitment to the Indo-Pacific or let China play a more important role.
The annual US-Philippine Balikatan drills have been growing in size.
Photographer: Iya Forbes/BloombergThe battle of Iwo Jima in World War II was one of the bloodiest in the history of the US Marine Corps. Nearly 7,000 American soldiers died. On the Japanese side, the scale of the casualties was exponentially higher. The epic military operation is a reminder of America’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific. Eighty years later, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has a chance to show that resolve again. The alternative is to accept that China will play a more important role in the region — and take the space as the US retreats.
The timing of Hegseth’s first Asian tour couldn’t be more awkward. President Donald Trump’s “America First” mantra is raising eyebrows, but so is his administration’s apparent incompetence. The revelation that US plans to bomb Houthi targets in Yemen were accidentally exposed via a commercial messaging app is worrying for nations that have depended on Washington’s military assistance. Compounding that sense of unreliability: More Trump tariffs are expected next week and allies are likely to be included.