By Clement Tan | May 31, 2025 | The Straits Times
SINGAPORE – The US wants Asian countries to increase their defence spending to match levels that Washington expects of European allies, saying that they bear the brunt of the “threat” of China and North Korea in their backyards.
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth reassured allies that the Indo-Pacific remains the US “priority theatre” in his address on May 31 at the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue, a leading security and defence forum focused on the Asia-Pacific.
With nations taking ownership of their own defence, the Pentagon chief said this would in turn boost the collective effort to deal with the “threat” of China’s quest for “hegemonic power in Asia”.
“It is hard to believe I can say this – but Asian allies and partners should look to countries in Europe as a newfound example. Nato members are pledging to spend 5 per cent of their GDP (gross domestic product) on defence, even Germany,” Mr Hegseth said.
“How can it make sense for countries in Europe to do that while key allies and partners in Asia spend far less in the face of a far more formidable threat from communist China, not to mention North Korea?” the former Fox News presenter added.
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