U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth soothed some Indo-Pacific allies, chided others, and swiped at China in a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore last weekend, warning attendees that an invasion of Taiwan “could be imminent,” and acknowledging that the U.S. is “engaging with, enabling, and empowering our allies — sometimes with tough love.”
The 4,700-word speech is the most detailed Indo-Pacific vision laid out by any member of the ‘Trump 2.0’ administration so far, and sheds light on Washington’s regional priorities: maintaining the “status quo” in Asia, pushing allies to spend more on defence, rebuilding defence-industrial bases, and deterring China from invading Taiwan.
Hegseth, on his second tour of the region, told attendees that, “I’m going to keep coming back, and back, and back again,” adding that, “America is ... here to stay.” His tone — direct but somewhat encouraging — was a contrast to the February speech delivered by U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference, where Vance lectured (and reportedly “stunned”) some European attendees.
Hegseth said in Singapore that “no one should doubt America’s commitment to our Indo-Pacific allies and partners,” which will reassure Australia, India, Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan in particular. Hegseth didn’t have as much patience for ASEAN members, implicitly criticizing the bloc by arguing that, “economic dependence on China ... deepens [Beijing’s] malign influence and complicates our defence decision space during times of tension.”
Hegseth’s friendly overtures clash with the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs, hard-line negotiating, and dismantling of U.S. foreign aid, all of which are undermining Washington’s credibility and unsettling the very partners that Hegseth is trying to reassure.
Macron envisions more Asia collaboration
French President Emmanuel Macron delivered the keynote speech at the dialogue, calling for a coalition between European and Asian partners to uphold the international rules-based order and avoid being strong-armed into policies by the U.S. or China. Macron also noted the potential for economic partnership between ASEAN, the 12 members of the CPTPP, and the European Union.
Macron’s speech contrasted with comments made by Kaja Kallas, the European Commission’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, who presented a more critical view of China, highlighting divisions inside the bloc just weeks before the EU-China Summit.
China skips dialogue, Canada sends deputy
Canada’s new defence minister, David McGuinty, did not attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, with deputy minister Stefanie Beck representing Canada instead. McGuinty did, however, deliver an address of his own at a defence and security event in Ottawa.
McGuinty said that China’s “imperial ambitions are increasingly clear — in its military buildup and its assertive posture toward other international powers.” He noted that, in the Arctic, “our competitors have shown little hesitation in challenging Canada’s territorial sovereignty,” and teased a “forthcoming defence industrial strategy.”
In 2024, the Shangri-La Dialogue was the venue for the first meeting between Canadian and Chinese defence ministers in more than 10 years. This year, Beijing declined to send its defence chief, instead sending a “low-profile” group from a Chinese military academy.
