US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a keynote speech at the 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 30, focusing on the importance of stable US-China relations and strengthening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region [1, 2, 3, 4]. He praised ties with China as newly stable following recent high-level meetings between President Trump and Xi Jinping [5, 6, 7, 8]. Hegseth reaffirmed US commitment to Pacific and Asian defense allies throughout his talks and summit attendance [5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10].
Ahead of the summit, Hegseth arrived in Singapore on May 29 and held meetings with regional leaders, including Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing [7, 8, 9, 10]. Discussions centered on expanding US military asset rotations, enhancing training support for Singapore’s Armed Forces, and appreciating six decades of bilateral ties [7, 8, 9, 10]. He also met Vietnam’s top leader, To Lam, where talks focused on maritime security and unmanned capabilities in response to China’s South China Sea presence [7, 8].
During the visit, Hegseth met defense counterparts from Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand [7, 8]. His talks with Thailand’s defense minister came after a 2025 ceasefire accord with Cambodia, focusing on defense modernization [7, 8]. In the Philippines, discussions involved expanding US military deployments and infrastructure following the 2026 Balikatan exercises [7, 8].
Hegseth criticized Europe’s longstanding NATO allies for insufficient defense contributions, taking pointed swipes at their commitments and urging greater effort, saying, "Western Europe might take note" [1, 3, 4, 5, 6]. His speech notably omitted mention of Taiwan or the ongoing war in Iran [4]. However, questions remain pending about a potential US$14 billion arms sale to Taiwan, a sensitive topic in US-China relations [8].
Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun was absent from the Dialogue for the second consecutive year, and Beijing’s top military diplomat also skipped the event in 2026 [7, 8, 11].
On May 29, Hegseth visited the USS Boxer amphibious assault ship docked in Singapore, engaging in physical exercises with US service members [9, 10]. The Shangri-La Dialogue hosted representatives from 44 countries, including 54 ministerial-level and over 42 Chief of Defence Forces-level delegates [9, 10].
Singapore’s Ministry of Defence said, "Secretary Hegseth’s visit underscores the strength of the bilateral defence partnership between Singapore and the US," reflecting close military cooperation [9].
The US continues pressing Indo-Pacific allies and partners to boost defense spending and reinforce deterrence capabilities in the region [7, 8].
