Hegseth Hails US Allies in Asia, Hits Out at Europe Partners

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(Bloomberg) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hailed stable US ties with China and praised allies in Asia, while taking swipes at longstanding defense partners in Europe. 

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In a speech Saturday morning in Singapore at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense forum, Hegseth said the Trump administration would prioritize working with “model allies” who are the “most capable, clear-eyed, and ready to defend their national interests.”

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“For those who believe they can continue to free ride on the generosity of the American taxpayer, hear us now: those days are over,” Hegseth said. “Allies who refuse to step up and carry their own weight for our collective defense will face a clear shift in how we do business.”

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Hegseth lauded countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region for bolstering their own capabilities, highlighting South Korea in particular as an example to follow. At the same time, he hit out at longstanding partners in Europe and NATO, saying they “have some big decisions to make.”

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The Trump administration has demanded allies globally step up defense spending and take responsibility for their regional security. While that has driven NATO allies toward more European collective defense less reliant on the US, Washington has still continued to engage in Asia and deepened military coordination. 

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Taiwan is top among several friction points between the US and China, with American arms sales and diplomatic support for the island angering Beijing. China’s leader Xi Jinping warned President Donald Trump during his visit to Beijing earlier this month that mishandling the issue could lead to clashes. Trump has since delayed approving a $14 billion weapons package to Taiwan, which is heavy on air defenses.

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“Any decision about future Taiwan arms sales, as the president said, will rest with him,” Hegseth said when asked about the weapons package in a question-and-answer session after his speech. 

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Hegseth didn’t directly mention Taiwan during his address, the first such omission by a Pentagon chief at the Singapore forum in at least a decade. The self-ruled island, which the Chinese Communist Party claims as its own despite never having ruled it, remains the brightest of red lines in the US-China relationship.

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Last year, Hegseth mentioned Taiwan at least five times during his address to the forum. His predecessor Lloyd J. Austin III name-checked the global chip hub once the year before, and five times in 2023, according to the official transcripts.

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Hegseth, who also didn’t mention Iran is his speech, said later in response to a question that the Taiwan arms package should be decoupled from the issue of munitions. He reiterated that the US was ready to fight Iran further if there’s not a “great deal” that ensures Tehran’s leaders don’t get a nuclear weapon. 

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“Our stockpiles are are more than suited for that, both there and around the globe, because of how we balance exquisite and more plentiful munitions,” Hegseth said. “We’re in a very good place.”