Senator Duckworth challenged Hegseth’s knowledge of ASEAN during his confirmation hearing, highlighting gaps in his understanding of international relations.

Washington: During a Senate confirmation hearing, Senator Tammy Duckworth put Pete Hegseth on the spot about ASEAN. She asked him to name any of the ten countries in the group, but he couldn’t. It was a bit awkward.
Hegseth, who was nominated for defense secretary, struggled to answer Duckworth’s questions about ASEAN. He mentioned allies like South Korea and Japan instead, which aren’t even part of ASEAN. Duckworth quickly pointed that out, telling him to do some homework.
So, what is ASEAN? It’s a group that includes countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines, aimed at boosting regional cooperation. Established in 1967, it’s crucial for economic and security matters, especially with China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Duckworth’s questions were important because the U.S. has treaty partners in ASEAN, like Thailand and the Philippines. President Biden has emphasized ASEAN’s role in his Indo-Pacific strategy, even hosting a meeting with its leaders last year.
ASEAN is also significant because it has ties with major powers like China and Russia. The U.S. recently achieved a “comprehensive strategic partnership” with ASEAN, putting it on the same level as China. This partnership is more than just symbolic; it’s about addressing big geopolitical issues together.
In addition, ASEAN is part of major trade agreements, like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which includes several countries and accounts for a large chunk of the world’s economy. So, knowing about ASEAN is pretty important for anyone in a leadership position.