Hegseth praises Australia for ‘stepping up’ as he shifts tone on China
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has praised Australia for its increased defence spending and collaboration with the US. Speaking at the Shangri-la Dialogue, he noted that relations with China have improved compared to previous years. Hegseth emphasized the importance of allies investing in their own defence capabilities while highlighting Australia's commitment to enhancing its military strength.
- ▪Hegseth commended Australia for its investment in defence and collaboration with the US.
- ▪He criticized other allies for not contributing enough to their own defence budgets.
- ▪The US Secretary of Defence stated that relations with China are better than in previous years.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Sydney Morning Herald.