Hegseth pledges US defense for Guam, Northern Mariana Islands against China

During his visit to Guam, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the territory's strategic importance in the Pacific and its role in a proposed national missile defense system known as the Golden Dome, modeled after Israel's Iron Dome. Hegseth discussed ongoing military preparations to deter threats from China and reaffirmed that any attack on Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands would be considered an attack on the U.S. He highlighted the deployment of advanced defense capabilities in the region, including potential operations in the Philippines to strengthen deterrence against Chinese aggression. Amid these developments, China expressed concerns regarding U.S.-Philippines defense agreements, urging the Philippines to act independently. Hegseth's statements reflect a broader U.S. strategy to bolster military readiness in response to escalating tensions in the South China Sea and around Taiwan. The Pentagon's assessments indicate that Guam would be a primary target in any conflict over Taiwan, underscoring its critical role in U.S. military operations in the Indo-Pacific.