U.S. Defense Secretary Reaffirms Commitment to Pacific Allies

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth assured America’s Pacific allies of continued support, emphasizing Washington’s commitment to the region. He spoke at the Shangri-La Defense Conference in Singapore to an assembly of dignitaries, diplomats, and high-ranking security officials.

Hegseth acknowledged the region’s importance to U.S. security and prosperity. He emphasized the priority of achieving a lasting balance of power in the Pacific. This was Hegseth’s second address at the forum organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Last year’s conference sparked tensions with Beijing after Hegseth cited China’s aggressive stance toward Taiwan as a threat. He noted that China was not only increasing its military capacity to potentially take Taiwan but was also actively training for this scenario.

This year’s meeting came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Trump praised Xi as a ‘great leader’ and spoke about a promising future together.

Hegseth stressed that the U.S. priority remains ensuring China does not dominate the Indo-Pacific region. Concerns exist surrounding China’s military growth and expanding activities.

Chinese Major General Meng Xiangqing praised the discussions between Trump and Xi, suggesting they could guide China-U.S. relations for years. Xi emphasized a constructive strategic stability with the U.S., focusing on cooperation while managing differences.

Senator Tammy Duckworth of the U.S. criticized Trump’s administration for potentially being distracted by conflicts elsewhere. She expressed concerns about aligning too closely with China’s policies.

Hegseth reassured the forum of unchanged U.S. status regarding Taiwan, despite President Trump’s comments suggesting arms sales might be a negotiation tool with China.

Hegseth highlighted U.S. encouragement for allies to increase their defense spending, appreciating efforts by some Asian countries while subtly criticizing European allies.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles approved the message, indicating smaller states benefit from rules-based order. He urged for the renewal of such order.

In a side event, the U.K., U.S., and Australia introduced a new initiative focusing on developing submarine drone capabilities under their AUKUS partnership.

British Defense Secretary John Healey announced investments in advanced drone sensors and systems, aiming to improve threat detection, including underwater cable and pipeline threats.