U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday urged Indo-Pacific allies to raise their defense spending to 5% of GDP, arguing that rising threats from China demand urgent action. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth said Asian partners should follow the example of NATO countries, claiming that even Germany is now committing to 5%, and warned that alliances cannot be considered “ironclad” if they are seen as “one-sided.” The U.S. itself spent 3.4% of GDP on defense in 2023.

Focusing on “peace through strength,” Hegseth emphasized U.S. forward deployments in the Philippines and joint missile testing with Japan and Australia. He framed China as the region’s dominant threat, citing Beijing’s military buildup, aggression in the South China Sea and alleged efforts to prepare for a possible invasion of Taiwan by 2027. South Korea was mentioned once in reference to new aircraft radar repair capabilities in Australia, but received no broader strategic acknowledgment.