Defense nominee Pete Hegseth seems really confused about the Southeast Asia situation

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, revealed embarrassing ignorance about a major geopolitical organization during his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday.

Hegseth, a former Fox News personality, was answering questions from Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) when she challenged him to share his knowledge about a single member of the Association of Asian Nations. Southeast, or ASEAN.

“Can you name the importance of at least one of the ASEAN nations and what kind of agreement we have with at least one of these nations?” she asked.

“I can’t tell you the exact number of nations involved, but I know we have allies in South Korea, Japan and… Australia,” Hegseth began to respond.

Duckworth interrupted to make a major correction.

“None of the three countries you mentioned are part of ASEAN,” she said. “I suggest you do some homework before preparing for these types of negotiations.”

ASEAN members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Australia, one of the countries Hegseth mentions, is not even part of the Asian continent.

Hegseth, who faces allegations of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and partying, spent the last decade as a commentator for Fox News. In the early 2000s, he was commissioned as an infantry officer in the National Guard and deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo. Beyond that, he has no experience in defensive roles.

Duckworth wasn’t the only person focused on Hegseth’s minimum qualifications Tuesday. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) told Hegseth he would support him if he auditioned for a lesser role, such as Pentagon spokesman. Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, was even harsher.

“Mr. Hegseth, I do not believe you are qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job,” Reed told him.

“Various sources, including your own writings, accuse you of disregarding the laws of war, financial mismanagement, racist and sexist remarks about men and women in uniform, alcohol abuse, sexual assault , sexual harassment and other troubling issues,” he continued. . “I have reviewed many of these allegations and find them extremely alarming. »

Hegseth has denied all allegations against him.