Pentagon chief hails Indo Pacific allies for stepping up to share security burden
The US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, emphasized the importance of Indo-Pacific allies in sharing global security responsibilities. He praised nations like Australia, Japan, and South Korea for their commitment to increasing defense spending. Hegseth's remarks come amid a shift in US defense policy that seeks to balance power in the region, particularly concerning China.
- ▪The United States is prioritizing partnerships with Indo-Pacific allies that are willing to increase their defense expenditures.
- ▪Hegseth highlighted the need for allies to match the US's expectations for defense spending, specifically a target of 3.5 percent of GDP.
- ▪The speech followed a recent summit between US President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, aiming for a stable balance of power.
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Shangri-La Dialogue 2026Pentagon chief hails Indo Pacific allies for stepping up to share security burdenSign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developmentsIn his speech, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Washington will prioritise working with "model allies".PHOTO: AFPClement TanPublished May 30, 2026, 09:59 AMUpdated May 30, 2026, 09:59 AMSINGAPORE -- The United States has pledged to prioritise working with “model allies” that have risen to its call for a more equitable sharing of the security burden globally.Drawing a sharp contrast to European allies, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth praised the response of Indo-Pacific partners in responding to the Trump administration’s expectation for nations to spend 3.5 per cent of their GDP on defence expenditure in his address.“We…
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