VIENTIANE — Defense officials from the U.S., Japan, ASEAN and elsewhere met here Thursday to discuss security challenges facing Asia as countries in the region aim to keep America involved under the second Trump administration to maintain stability.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were among the attendees at the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus in Vientiane. Japan and China did not participate in the 2023 talks.