Hegseth praises Asian allies for ‘burden-sharing,’ calls out China’s role in the region
Hegseth urged Asian partners to spend more on defense and said stronger alliances will help preserve regional stability and deter Chinese dominance.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of "rightful alarm" over China's historic military buildup, urging Asian allies to rapidly ramp up their own military spending to preserve the regional balance of power.
- Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth set a target for Indo-Pacific allies to raise defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, mirroring the Trump administration's aggressive domestic pledge of a $1.5 trillion investment in the U.S. military.
- The Pentagon chief echoed President Donald Trump's "no freeloading" policy, bluntly stating that the era of the U.S. subsidizing the defense of wealthy nations is over and warning that deep industrial collaboration and expedited arms sales will be reserved for true partners rather than "protectorates."
- Despite the stern warning on defense spending, Hegseth struck a surprisingly measured tone on U.S.-China ties, noting that relations are "better than they have been in many years" due to more frequent military-to-military communication to manage potential escalations.
- The address was highly notable for completely omitting any mention of Taiwan, a sharp pivot from Hegseth's speech at the same forum last year where he warned a Chinese attack on the island could be "imminent"—a shift analysts link to Trump's recent suggestion that proposed Taiwan arms packages could serve as a "negotiating chip" with Beijing.
158 Articles
158 Articles
The Secretary of War of the United States avoided the stakes of Taiwan and Iran in the face of anxious Asian countries at the Shangri Dialogue, the main forum on security in the region.
Pete Hegseth tones down warnings about China but says US remains committed to Pacific security
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth assured Pacific allies on Saturday that Washington remained committed to the region, but toned down previous comments calling China a threat.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sought to reassure the American allies in Asia on Saturday by stating that Washington is not "turning its back" on the region, despite its global priorities, including the conflict with Iran. In a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's main security forum, he ensured that the US will maintain a strong military presence in the Indo-Pacific, but again charged regional partners to extend their own defence spe…
US Secretary of Defense Hegseth is known for Tiraden and Machoposen. At a speech in Singapore, he made Europeans feel his contempt, but was conciliatory to Asian allies.
Pentagon chief warns China buildup demands stronger regional defenses
Hegseth urges Asian allies to boost defense spending to counter China's military rise; US seeks stronger, more self-reliant alliances, warns against 'freeloading'; US stands ready to restart strikes on Iran if no deal is reached
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