WASHINGTON: Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel is pulling out of a long-planned trip to Vietnam and Myanmar this month because of a demanding schedule at home, defence officials said Tuesday.
The last-minute decision to postpone the 10-day trip came after Hagel faced criticism over his performance from unnamed officials inside President Barack Obama's administration in a series of news reports.
Some of the reports suggested Hagel and other officials might be replaced in a shake-up of Obama's national security team after Tuesday's midterm elections.
Officials have dismissed the speculation and the criticism, saying the trip was put off because Hagel needed to attend a Congressional hearing.
"It was deemed the most prudent thing to do to make sure he was available to answer questions from Congress about any number of matters that are on their minds," Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby told a news conference.
"This was simply a prudent scheduling decision and nothing more," Kirby said.
Asked whether Hagel was out of favor at the White House and needed to shore up his position in Washington, Kirby said the Pentagon chief was in good standing.
"The secretary enjoys a very close relationship with the president and the national security staff," Kirby said.
The trip had yet to be publicly announced when officials gave word the visit would be postponed, likely until next year.
The announcement also came against the backdrop of strategy discussions in the White House and the Pentagon on the US-led war against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
The move to delay the visit was unusual, especially so close to a planned trip.
In the past, Hagel has gone ahead with scheduled tours to Asia even at politically-charged moments.
Last year, Hagel flew to Southeast Asia as the Obama administration appeared poised to take military action against the Syrian regime.
Kirby said postponed trip should not call into question the Pentagon chief's commitment to the administration's strategic "rebalance" to the Asia-Pacific region.
Hagel has taken more than six trips to the Pacific region during his tenure and remains heavily focused on Asia, he said.
Hagel called his counterparts in Vietnam and Myanmar to inform them about the postponement, Kirby added.
Visiting Vietnam carries special resonance for Hagel, a veteran who was wounded during the US war in the country.
The trip was to be his first to Vietnam since he took over as defense secretary in 2013.
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