Hegseth praises Asian allies for ‘burden-sharing,’ calls out China
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth answers questions during a press conference at the Pentagon on May 5, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia.
Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the United States aims to maintain balance in the Asia-Pacific region and is working toward a situation in which its allies are more capable, while warning China against disrupting the status quo.
“The foundation of the partnership is alignment on national interests,” Hegseth said in his speech at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday. He said the United States would approach alliances with a “strong, quiet and clear” approach.
He praised countries such as the Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore for stepping up and sharing the burden of defense and alliances.
Vietnam and India have also received calls to increase their military preparedness.
While Hegseth said the United States’ relationship with China is the strongest it has been in a long time, he addressed the country directly.
Washington said it “seeks a positive but permanent balance of power in which no state, including China, can impose its hegemony and question the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies.”
He also claimed there was “justified alarm” about China’s military buildup in the Asia-Pacific region and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond.
“While our goal is a decent peace, make no mistake, America is a Pacific nation and we insist that China respect its long-standing position in the region.”
Complaining that his allies in the region were not doing their part, Hegseth had few options for Europe.
Alliances should happen “without drama and moralizing,” he said. “Europe must take this into consideration.”
The secretary also said that “for too long, the security of this region has depended disproportionately on American military might, while many of our allies and partners have allowed their own defense capabilities to atrophy.”
exemplary allies
Hegseth noted that the United States demands 3.5 percent of GDP as defense spending from its allies and partners, adding that Washington will prioritize working with these “exemplary allies.”
“For these countries, we put them at the forefront: accelerated arms sales, deep industry-based cooperation, expanded intelligence sharing, the list goes on, benefiting many.”
He also warned that “allies who refuse to step up and pull their own weight in our collective defense will face a clear shift in the way we do business.”
Under the Trump administration, the USA does not hesitate to call out its allies who it thinks are not doing their part, and many countries do not hesitate to make moves that will upset the post-World War II global order. Many leaders said they were concerned they could no longer count on the United States to be a reliable alliance partner.
US President Donald Trump has claimed he told a NATO ally before his second term that Washington would not protect countries that did not “pay”.
“America first does not mean America alone,” Hegseth also said, adding that alliances are true partnerships measured by the sovereign strengths and capabilities that each member brings.
