U.S. Urged Allies In Asia To Sharply Increase Military Spending
- 30.05.2026, 9:50
And prepare for a confrontation with China.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Asian allies to sharply increase military spending and warned of a growing threat from China.
According to Reuters.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore, Hegseth stressed that the United States needs stronger and more self-reliant allies.
"There is a valid concern about China's historic military buildup and expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond," the Pentagon chief said.
The dominance of any state in the Pacific could upset the existing balance of power, he said.
"No state, including China, can impose its hegemony and call into question the security or prosperity of our country and our allies," he emphasized.
Washington wants to see bigger defense budgets
Hegseth said the United States expects allies and partners to increase military spending to 3.5 percent of GDP.
He said countries in the region are already planning to invest about $1.5 trillion to develop their armed forces.
At the same time, the minister stressed that Washington's goal is not escalation but stability.
"What they want, and what the United States provides, is disciplined force, unwavering resolve and leadership confident enough to speak and act softly while having powerful weapons," the U.S. defense chief explained.
At the same time, Hegseth echoed US President Donald Trump's position on the need for a more equitable distribution of defense spending among allies.
"The era when the United States subsidized the defense of rich countries is over. We need partners, not protectorates," the Pentagon chief said.
He added that a strong alliance is impossible without an even distribution of responsibility.
"We will not have a strong alliance if not everyone takes responsibility. No parasitization," Hegseth emphasized.
He praised South Korea, Australia, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Japan for their contributions to strengthening regional security.
U.S.-China Relations
Despite harsh assessments regarding China's military buildup, Hegseth said relations between Washington and Beijing have improved recently.
He said the militaries of both countries are in direct contact more often, which helps avoid dangerous escalation.
A representative of the Chinese delegation, senior researcher at Tsinghua University and retired Colonel Zhou Bo characterized relations between the U.S. and China as "complicated."
But he noted that Hegseth has chosen a "much better tone" this year than in the past, attributing the change to Trump's visit to China.
"Both sides have open channels of communication, the situation is not as exaggerated as the outside world portrays it," Zhou added.