Reuters reported that it is expected that Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Secretary of War, will face questions about how committed Washington is to its commitments in the Indo-Pacific region when he meets with his counterparts from Southeast Asian countries in the Philippines on Wednesday, November 6.

As Reuters wrote, the Iran war has put U.S. military preparedness under pressure, and at the same time tensions between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea have increased. Analysts said Southeast Asian countries may use Hegseth’s visit to clarify Washington’s objectives in the Iran war and its impact on Washington’s commitments in the region.

The Iran war has also disrupted maritime transport and the oil market, and has revealed Southeast Asia’s vulnerability to fuel import shocks.

Gregg Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, said countries in the region want assurance that U.S. commitments will continue. Hegseth is also scheduled to meet with the defense ministers of Japan, Australia, and the Philippines. According to analysts, the final statement of the summit is expected to have a cautious tone on contentious issues including the South China Sea.