US Secretary of War arrives in Cebu for ASEAN defense meeting

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth delivers the State of the Force address in Quantico, Virginia, on September 30, 2026. Evan Vucci, Pool/AFP/File 

MANILA — United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is set to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Cebu on Wednesday. 

He arrived at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) on board a Boeing E-4B Nightwatch of the United States Air Force.

The Boeing E-4B Nightwatch is also known as the “Doomsday Plane” as it is designed to keep the United States government running in case of emergency or destruction of ground command centers.

Hegseth is part of the US delegation that will meet the defence ministers of the ASEAN. 

He is joined by Assistant Secretary of War for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs John Noh, and Deputy Assistant of War for South and Southeast Asia  Rafael Leonardo. 

Philippine Defense Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong said that one of the issues to be discussed would be maritime security, especially in the West Philippine Sea.

“The Secretary always said that the West Philippine Sea will always be part of the discussion. It would be no different,” said Andalong.

Representatives will also talk about counter terrorism, peace keeping operations, military medicine, humanitarian action, and cyber security.

After two days of meetings, the delegates are expected to release a joint statement and consensus. 

“This also coincides with the 50th year of the signing of the treaty of amity and cooperation in Southeast Asia,” Andolong noted. 

The priority, he added, is for the country to“strengthen regional partnership and have a meaningful dialogue in practical defense cooperation”.

China is also part of the delegation with representatives still to be confirmed. 

Some 2,000 police personnel are deployed in Lapu-lapu City to ensure the safety of the delegates.