U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gestures as he speaks during a joint press conference with Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro, at Camp Aguinaldo, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, March 28. Reuters-Yonhap

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth underscored the need Friday for the United States to work together with Korea, Japan and other allies "shoulder to shoulder" to establish deterrence needed to prevent war, as he said America seeks to ensure a "free" 21st century.

Hegseth made the remarks during a joint press conference with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro in Manila as the Pentagon chief is on his first multi-nation trip to the Indo-Pacific since taking office in January.

"What the Trump administration will do is deliver ... is truly prioritize and shift this region of the world in a way that is unprecedented to match the threats of the future with the recognition that for the 21st century to be a free century, America needs to stand alongside our allies and partners shoulder to shoulder," he said, according to a transcript provided by the Pentagon.

"Today, it's the Philippines. Tomorrow, it's Japan. It will be Australia and Korea and other nations in this part of the world, where together, by, with and through we will establish the deterrence necessary to prevent war," he added.

Hegseth pointed out that the Trump administration is currently dealing with "many years of deferred maintenance and of weakness" in an apparent jab at the preceding Biden administration, as he stressed the need to "reestablish strength and deterrence in multiple places around the globe."

"But pertinently today for this region, there was a lot of talk about shifting ... a lot of talk about emphasis on the Indo-Pacific, a lot of talk about allies," he said.

The secretary also reiterated President Donald Trump's mantra of "peace through strength."

"We do not seek war. We seek peace, but those who long for peace must prepare for war, and we stand united shoulder to shoulder," he said.

His Asia swing has excluded a stop in Korea, adding to concerns that a period of political uncertainty, caused by Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment in December, could have a negative impact on the allies' security coordination despite Washington's repeated assurances about its "ironclad" commitment to the alliance. (Yonhap)