The US has approved a possible $100 million foreign military sale to Vietnam for C-130 Hercules sustainment services and related equipment, advancing what could be one of the Southeast Asian nation’s most significant defense procurements from Washington in years.
A US Air Force C-130 Hercules. Photographer: Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP/Getty Images
Cambodia has initiated rare United Nations compulsory conciliation proceedings against Thailand to resolve a decades-long maritime border dispute, after talks collapsed over an area both countries say holds $300 billion worth of oil and gas.
Cambodia has initiated rare United Nations compulsory conciliation proceedings against Thailand to resolve a decades-long maritime border dispute, after talks collapsed over an area both countries say holds $300 billion worth of oil and gas.
At a security forum in Singapore, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sought to convince US allies that staying quiet on Taiwan is the best way to project American strength. While time will tell if that’s the case, for the moment it’s a win for Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Malaysia ramped up its criticism of Norway’s recent decision to cancel a weapons deal, using the dispute as a launching pad to slam “stronger powers” for dismissing international rules and contracts when they become inconvenient.
Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin Photographer: Ezra Acayan/Getty Images AsiaPac
The Philippines is seeking closer ties with Taiwan and stronger military links with nations focused on deterring China’s “nefarious plans,” according to the Southeast Asian nation’s defense chief.
Philippines' Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (C) attends a plenary session of the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on May 30..
Qatar opposes permanent legal fees for transit through the Strait of Hormuz, but a temporary fee is negotiable and could help restore normal passage through the key waterway, a top official said.
STRAIT OF HORMUZ, IRAN - MAY 16: A ship remains anchored on May 16, 2026.
Malaysia will not rush to increase its defense budget despite US pressure for partners to become more self-reliant, as the Southeast Asian nation seeks to balance military modernization with other critical sectors, Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrived early Friday in Singapore, where he will meet with regional leaders and security counterparts ahead of a closely watched address at a major Asian security forum Saturday.
Pete Hegseth arrives for a meeting with Singapore's Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing on May 29. Photographer: JAM STA ROSA/AFP
Singapore’s top diplomat is making a rare visit to North Korea as part of a regional tour that includes stops in China and South Korea as the city-state seeks to boost diplomatic engagement amid intensifying geopolitical tensions.
Myanmar has turned migrant remittances into its biggest source of foreign inflows, finance ministry data seen by Bloomberg News show, after the military imposed rules that pressure citizens abroad to send money home.
Myanmar has turned migrant remittances into its biggest source of foreign inflows, finance ministry data seen by Bloomberg News show, after the military imposed rules that pressure citizens abroad to send money home.
Vietnam has expanded its outposts in the South China Sea by hundreds of acres over the past year, according to a new report, as Hanoi and Beijing race to reinforce competing territorial claims through land reclamation.
Satellite image of Barque Canada Reef in the Spratly Islands, taken on April 30. Source: CSIS/AMTI/Vantor
Sentiment is warming among some Southeast Asian nations toward easing Myanmar’s isolation five years after the overthrow of Aung San Suu Kyi, with diplomats signaling a desire to bring the crisis-torn nation back into the fold despite ongoing conflict.
Sentiment is warming among some Southeast Asian nations toward easing Myanmar’s isolation five years after the overthrow of Aung San Suu Kyi, with diplomats signaling a desire to bring the crisis-torn nation back into the fold despite ongoing conflict.
Singapore and New Zealand signed a deal Monday to strengthen supply chain resilience and safeguard the flow of critical goods such as food and energy, as both countries seek to shield their trade-dependent economies against disruptions from the war in Iran.
Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore Lawrence Wong
Singapore and New Zealand signed a deal Monday to strengthen supply chain resilience and safeguard the flow of critical goods such as food and energy, as both countries seek to shield their trade-dependent economies against disruptions from the war in Iran.
Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore Lawrence Wong
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong warned of bigger disruptions ahead as the country navigates a more uncertain global environment, from the Iran conflict to the rapid rise of artificial intelligence.
Vietnam’s General Secretary and President To Lam will deliver the keynote address at Asia’s top security summit this year, giving the Southeast Asian leader a high-profile opportunity to address long-standing territorial tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea.