Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
3 min of reading 
0 comments 
At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Pete Hegseth called for Asian partners to increase military spending to 3.5% of GDP, cited China’s advance, and advocated for more self-sufficient alliances in the Pacific
The United States urged Asian allies to increase military spending to 3.5% of GDP in light of China’s military advance in the region. The request was made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, where he advocated for a stronger network of partners less dependent on Washington.
US wants more self-sufficient Asian allies
Hegseth stated that there is “legitimate alarm” regarding China’s military strengthening and the expansion of its military activities in and beyond the region. The statement was made at the main Asian forum aimed at defense leaders, military personnel, and diplomats.
According to the Pentagon chief, a stronger and more self-sufficient network of allies is necessary to deter aggression and preserve the balance of power in the Pacific.
-
Pix threatened? Trump administration investigation targets Brazil’s trade practices and puts digital payments under pressure
-
French Navy intercepts a sanctioned Russian oil tanker in the high seas more than 740 km off Brittany, captain refuses to comply, ship appears without a flag, and Moscow reacts furiously, calling the operation illegal and comparing it to an act of international piracy.
-
Attacks on refineries in Iran release a gigantic toxic cloud with 33,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, crossing 2,000 kilometers in just two days and triggering an environmental alert compared to a large-scale volcanic eruption.
-
The USA and Ukraine signed an agreement in 2025 that gives Washington priority access to lithium, titanium, uranium, and rare earths in exchange for military aid. The country, which has one-third of Europe’s lithium reserves and 7% of the continent’s titanium, is negotiating sovereignty over resources worth trillions using geological maps made by the Soviet Union 60 years ago.
He said that no country, including China, should impose hegemony or jeopardize the security and prosperity of the United States and its allies.
The call comes amid the American promise to invest $1.5 trillion in its Armed Forces.
At the same time, Washington expects Asian partners to take on a larger share of their own defense costs.
“Less Shangri-La, more ships,” says Pentagon chief
During the speech, Hegseth summed up his call with the phrase “less Shangri-La, more ships, more submarines.”
The message was directed at the need to turn diplomatic meetings into concrete military capability.
He stated that allies want stability, not escalation. According to Hegseth, what the United States offers is “disciplined strength,” “firm determination,” and leadership with enough confidence to engage in cautious dialogue while maintaining military capability.
The speech also repeated a long-standing demand from President Donald Trump, who advocates that allies take on more defense costs. Hegseth said that the era in which the United States subsidized the defense of wealthy nations is over.
Relationship with China appears in a more cautious tone
Despite the criticisms of Chinese military growth, Hegseth adopted a more restrained tone about the ties between the United States and China. He stated that relations are better than they have been in many years.
The secretary also highlighted that military contacts between the two countries are more frequent. According to him, Washington has kept open lines of military communication with its Chinese counterparts to help manage tensions.
Zhou Bo, a senior fellow at Tsinghua University and a retired senior colonel of the People’s Liberation Army of China, classified the relations between the two countries as “complicated.” However, he said that Hegseth used “a much better tone” this year.
China does not send minister for the second consecutive year
China did not send its Defense Minister to the Shangri-La Dialogue for the second consecutive year. Last year, Beijing accused Hegseth of making “defamatory” comments.
Zhou, who was part of the Chinese delegation, stated that both sides maintain open communication channels and that the situation “is not as exaggerated as the outside world makes it seem.”
In the end, Hegseth reinforced that the United States seeks partners, not “protectorates.” For him, a strong alliance depends on the real participation of all involved, without countries that only benefit from the American defense structure.
This article was prepared based on information provided in the base material about Pete Hegseth’s statements at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, with data, numbers, and statements preserved according to the consulted material.
Be the first to react!