US Defence Secretary Reaffirms Commitment to Asia-Pacific Amid Global Obligations
The US military is not "turning our backs" on Asia despite fulfilling "global obligations" such as the conflict in Iran, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth stated at a prominent regional defence forum in Singapore.
Hegseth aimed to reassure Asia-Pacific allies of the US's ongoing commitment to the region, including the continuation of arms deals following the suspension of a Taiwan weapons package. Concurrently, he reiterated the expectation that Asian partners increase their defence expenditures.
While acknowledging the threat posed by China's military expansion in the region, Hegseth emphasized that the US seeks to avoid "needless confrontation." His remarks came weeks after US President Donald Trump engaged in constructive discussions with China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Addressing Concerns at the Shangri-La Dialogue
At the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, Hegseth responded to concerns raised by Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi regarding US commitment. Koizumi noted that "some countries might underestimate" the US's level of commitment and may attempt to "drive a wedge" between the US and its allies.
"People want to conflate that we have global obligations with the turning of our backs to this region," Hegseth said, denying such perceptions.
He explained that a component of the US national defence strategy involves "power projection" in the Pacific and collaboration with allies.
"We can do two things at one time," he asserted, adding that the US was "quietly but very strongly" working with allies through a "substantive, serious approach" to the Pacific, while maintaining "global obligations to ensure that, say, Iran doesn't get a nuclear weapon."
US Arms Deals and Munitions Stockpile
During the forum, a participant questioned the US's capacity to fulfill arms agreements after suspending a $14 billion (£10 billion) package to Taiwan to conserve munitions for the Iran conflict.
Hegseth stated he would "very much decouple the two" issues, affirming that the US was in a "very good place... very strong position" concerning its overall munitions stockpile and production capabilities.
In his address, Hegseth highlighted the US's "strong, quiet and clear" strategy in the region, characterized by the ability to wield a "big stick" while "speaking softly."
"Rules are great, but if you can't back them up with hard power, the rules are not worth the paper they are written on," he said. "We don't need more conferences, we need more combat power less Shangri-La Dialogue, more ships and more subs."
His remarks followed Vietnam's President To Lam's keynote speech at the defence summit, which called for increased dialogue to ease regional tensions.
Call for Increased Defence Spending Among Asian Allies
Reiterating a demand from the previous year, Hegseth urged Asian allies to raise their defence spending, setting a target of 3.5% of GDP.
He commended countries that have recently increased military expenditures and enhanced cooperation with the US, specifically naming South Korea, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines.
Hegseth also criticized "freeloaders," categorizing New Zealand as such in response to a later question, while cautioning that "Europe and NATO have some big decisions to make."
In a subsequent BBC interview, New Zealand's Defence Minister refuted the "freeloader" label, stating that the country was increasing defence spending from a "historic under-investment" to as much as 2% of GDP.
Shifts in Tone Regarding China and Taiwan
Speaking weeks after the Xi-Trump summit, where Xi identified Taiwan as the most significant issue between the two nations, Hegseth adopted a notably softer tone on China and mentioned Taiwan only in response to a question.
This contrasted with his speech at the previous year's conference, where he described Beijing as posing an "imminent threat" to Taiwan.
"While there is rightful alarm regarding China's historic military buildup," Hegseth said, "the US also understands that its allies in Asia do not seek constant escalation and instead want a balance of power in which no state including China can impose its hegemony."
"The US wants a genuinely stable equilibrium and wants to preserve the conditions that have long underwritten peace and prosperity in this region," he added. "We do not approach this challenge with needless confrontation but with the posture of measured and deliberate strength."
Forum Context and Regional Dynamics
The forum, organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, has traditionally been a platform anchored by the US and China, serving as a key mechanism for Asian countries to engage in direct defence and security discussions with the superpowers.
However, for the second consecutive year, China declined to send its defence minister, opting instead for a lower-level delegation.
This move has been interpreted by some as a snub to the forum, while others view it as an effort by China to avoid a public confrontation with the US amid their rivalry for regional influence.
Muhammad Faizal Bin Abdul Rahman, a regional security expert, told the BBC that it was "uncertain if [Hegseth's] language of war will resonate well with Asian countries."
Hegseth's assertion that "the US must maintain military dominance in the region... suggests power must always be in US advantage," said the research fellow with Singapore's S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
"This works in the past but not today when a rising power, China, is a near peer. No peer competitor will accept dominance, including in the military sphere, of its rival, and this will sustain Asian countries' worries."
