The United States is building a military capable of projecting power anywhere in the world, most especially in the Pacific region, said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
“We will build and sustain a strong denial defense in the Western Pacific that ensures aggression is infeasible, escalation unattractive, and war deemed irrational,” he said. This is “the essence of peace through strength and the foundation of a durable peace in the Pacific that benefits all of us.”
“But this is not a burden America can or should carry alone,” said Secretary Hegseth. A favorable balance of power requires capable allies with military strength, industrial capacity, and political resolve. “For too long, the security of this region has rested disproportionately on American military power,” he added.
The region is best off when all contribute to the shared goal of peace and stability. The United States is ready to work with all its Pacific allies to empower them to contribute to our collective defense.
South Korea “has invested consistently in its own defense because it does not have the luxury of treating war like an academic exercise,” noted Secretary Hegseth. South Korea’s decision to increase defense spending to the new global standard of 3.5 percent and to assume greater responsibility for its conventional defense reflects an understanding of the threat environment, said Secretary Hegseth.
The Philippines is also investing more to modernize its military and coast guard, which includes a 12 percent increase in defense spending.
Japan is taking concrete steps to accelerate its defense transformation. “We have high expectations of our Japanese allies, and together we can and must each pull our weight to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance,” urged Secretary Hegseth.
Australia is stepping up by expanding the rotational presence of U.S. forces and collaborating to ensure we build and sustain weapons required for a high-end fight.
Indonesia too is making important strides as it modernizes its armed forces and expands the scale of military exercises. Malaysia's leadership is rapidly deploying ASEAN observer teams to monitor the Thai-Cambodia border. “That is burden sharing in action,” declared Secretary Hegseth.
On the mainland, Thailand continues to deepen military cooperation with the United States. And Vietnam is modernizing its maritime capabilities while expanding pragmatic defense cooperation with the United States.
And in South Asia, India is modernizing its military to carry its share of the security burden, particularly in the Indian Ocean.
America is undergoing a historic national manufacturing mobilization of its defense industrial base. “We will produce the best weaponry in the world at scale, at speed, and at a reasonable price,” said Secretary Hegseth. Even as the U.S. demands 3.5 percent defense spending from its allies and partners, the U.S. is going well beyond that number.
The United States believes in helping countries that help themselves. “Join us,” urged Secretary Hegseth, “in embracing this vision in building a team of strong, self-reliant nations fully capable of defending their own sovereignty while contributing to our collective security in preserving the favorable balance of power that benefits all of us.”