{"id":32738,"date":"2026-05-31T06:37:46","date_gmt":"2026-05-31T06:37:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/?p=32738"},"modified":"2026-05-31T06:37:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T06:37:50","slug":"what-hegseths-comments-at-the-shangri-la-dialogue-say-about-us-foreign-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/?p=32738","title":{"rendered":"What Hegseth\u2019s comments at the Shangri-La Dialogue say about US foreign policy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The US defence secretary spoke in Singapore about America\u2019s geopolitical goals.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during the 23rd IISS Shangri-La Dialogue at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore [File: Ezra Acayan\/Getty Images]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>United States Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth has been discussing key foreign policy issues for Washington at a defence summit in Singapore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Saturday at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Hegseth commented on America\u2019s\u00a0main rival<\/a>, China, as well as Iran, NATO and Taiwan \u2014 a major point of contention between Washington and Beijing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0US and Israel launched their war on Iran in late February, rattling global markets, triggering an energy crisis and causing shortages of critical US munitions, including Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) interceptors, which cost about $12m each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a\u00a0report<\/a>\u00a0published on Wednesday, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said it would take two years \u2014 and in some cases more than three \u2014 to replenish four critical munitions used heavily during the war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are Hegseth\u2019s most important comments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

China\u2019s \u2018historic military buildup\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beijing is widely seen as Washington\u2019s greatest geopolitical challenge, and Hegseth expressed alarm about China\u2019s growing military presence in the Asia Pacific.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is rightful alarm regarding China\u2019s historic military buildup and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond,\u201d Hegseth said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washington\u2019s latest National Defence Strategy describes China as the world\u2019s second-most powerful country after the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hegseth used his speech to call on US allies in the region to increase defence spending in an attempt to offset China\u2019s growing power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The defence secretary, who said relations with Beijing were \u201cbetter\u201d than they had been in many years, warned that unless action was taken, China would become the regional hegemon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA Pacific dominated by any hegemon would unravel the regional balance of power,\u201d Hegseth said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo state, including China, can impose its hegemony and hold the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies in question.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018No change in our status\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Taiwan has been improving its defence capabilities in response to concerns about a potential Chinese invasion. Taiwan, which has never officially declared independence from China, has de facto functioned as a separate country since 1949, despite Beijing viewing the island as its territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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