Hegseth praises Asian allies for ‘burden-sharing,’ calls out China’s role in the region
Hegseth urged Asian partners to spend 3.5% of GDP on defense and said stronger allies will get faster arms sales and more intelligence sharing.
- 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.
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NEW: Hegseth Unveils Bold Defense Strategy At Shangri-La Dialogue In Singapore
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth recently concluded an important diplomatic mission in Asia that signals a noteworthy shift in American defense strategy. His visit coincided with the International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue 2026 in Singapore, where he unveiled the new National Defense Strategy for the Indo-Pacific. This initiative emphasizes shared responsibilities among regional allies to counter growing Chinese milit…
Hegseth’s message to Asian partners: Do more to get more
SINGAPORE — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Asia’s military leaders on Saturday that America would put its most committed partners at “the front of the line” for U.S. support, suggesting that countries must vie for U.S. attention even as many look for more help to counter an emboldened China. The post Hegseth’s message to Asian partners: Do more to get more appeared first on West Hawaii Today.
NEWS HEADLINES: Hegseth calls for Asian allies to ‘carry their own weight’ in defense spending at Shangri-La Dialogue – One America News Network
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks during the 23rd IISS Shangri-La Dialogue at the Shangri-La Hotel on May 30, 2026, in Singapore. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images) OAN Staff Katherine Mosack3:07 AM – Saturday, May 30, 2026 Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivered a speech outlining a shift in U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy at the 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue. Speaking on behalf of the Trump administration on Saturday, Hegseth noted that “those …
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