Pete Hegseth on Saturday called on U.S. allies in Asia to increase their defense spending in response to China’s growing military capabilities, saying Beijing’s rapid military buildup raises “legitimate concerns” about the security balance in the Asia-Pacific region.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth said that stronger and more self-reliant allies are a key element of deterrence, warning that domination of the Pacific region by any single power would undermine regional stability.
He added that the United States expects its Asian partners to raise defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, while Washington plans to invest $1.5 trillion in its own armed forces.
The U.S. defense chief stressed that allies seek stability rather than escalation, noting that relations with China are “better than they have been in years,” while military-to-military communication channels between the two countries remain open.
Regarding Iran, Hegseth said the United States is fully capable of resuming military operations if necessary. He emphasized that U.S. President Donald Trump prefers reaching an agreement that ensures Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon, while giving diplomacy every opportunity before considering other options.
Reuters / AFP
