Hegseth will depart Washington, D.C., on March 24, 2025, with visits in Japan, Hawaii, Guam, and the Philippines on her itinerary. He said on social media that “We’re strengthening our deterrence, readiness, and alliances” and that the US places a high focus on the Indo-Pacific.
Hegseth will meet with high-ranking military and civilian officials during his tour to strengthen ties and alliances that will guarantee an open and free Indo-Pacific. Hawaii will be his first destination, where he will meet with US Indo-Pacific Command leaders.
After that, he will visit Guam’s military installations before travelling to the Philippines to meet with local authorities and discuss security goals. In order to discuss the rising tensions with China in the South China Sea, Hegseth is scheduled to meet with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Philippine Secretary of National Defence Gilberto Teodoro.
He will go to Japan for the last stop on his tour, where he will meet with US military members and Japanese officials and take part in a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima. In light of mounting worries about China’s aggression in the region, this tour demonstrates the US commitment to regional security.
