US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington remained a Pacific nation with a consistent and long-standing presence in the region.

He added that its partnerships under Asean and the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) continued to be a source of pride.

“We’ve always been a Pacific country. We’ve never gone and aren’t going anywhere.

“I don’t think we lost it (trust). We’re proud of our partnerships and the shared commitment through the ADMM-Plus and Asean frameworks,” Hegseth said on the sidelines of the ADMM-Plus meeting here today.

When asked about the US’s nuclear capabilities and possible testing, Hegseth initially declined to elaborate but later affirmed that the country possesses very capable nuclear capabilities, describing testing as a prudent measure.

US president Donald Trump on Friday announced the immediate start of new nuclear weapons tests, citing similar testing programmes in other countries.

Hegseth also expressed appreciation to Malaysia for its hospitality in hosting the ADMM-Plus, underscoring Washington’s continued engagement and support for regional cooperation in defence and security.

“We’re grateful to our Malaysian hosts and proud to be part of this important gathering.”

The ADMM-Plus, which marks its 15th anniversary this year, brings together Asean member states and the eight dialogue partners – the US, China, Japan, India, Russia, Australia, South Korea and New Zealand – to strengthen regional security cooperation and dialogue.