U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addresses security leaders at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, praising U.S. relationships with Asian partners and describing U.S.-China ties as more stable than in recent years. Multiple outlets report that he calls for greater burden-sharing among Asian allies as countries in the Indo-Pacific face threats and growing uncertainty. While he discusses concerns about China’s growing military capabilities and activities in the region, reporting also says his remarks take a more cautious tone on China than recent rhetoric, reflecting efforts to keep channels open after a U.S.-China summit earlier involving President Donald Trump.
At the same time, Hegseth criticizes European NATO partners over defense spending and makes disparaging comments about Western Europe’s contributions to security. Bloomberg reports that his speech is notable for the topics it does not address, including Taiwan and the Iran war. Overall, the coverage describes the speech as signaling a continued U.S. shift in emphasis toward the Indo-Pacific while expressing tension with Europe and the NATO alliance, alongside reassurance and support for Asian allies.
