Key Highlights
- US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth praised India’s military preparedness and defence modernisation.
- Remarks delivered at the Shangri-La Dialogue 2026 in Singapore.
- India and Vietnam recognised for strengthening military readiness.
- US warned China against expanding regional dominance in the Indo-Pacific.
- Washington called for higher defence spending among allies and partners.
- Countries investing more in defence may receive faster arms sales and enhanced intelligence cooperation.
- Hegseth reaffirmed that the United States remains committed to Indo-Pacific security.
- Remarks highlight India’s growing strategic importance in regional and global security affairs.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has praised India’s growing military preparedness and defence modernisation efforts, highlighting New Delhi as one of the key strategic partners contributing to stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Speaking at the prestigious Shangri-La Dialogue 2026 in Singapore, Hegseth said India and several Asian nations are taking significant steps to strengthen their defence capabilities amid an increasingly complex regional security environment. His remarks come at a time when geopolitical tensions, territorial disputes and military competition continue to shape the strategic landscape across Asia.
During his address, Hegseth reiterated Washington’s commitment to maintaining a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific while encouraging regional partners to play a greater role in ensuring collective security. He specifically acknowledged India and Vietnam for improving military readiness and strengthening their defence infrastructure. He also praised countries such as Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore for their willingness to contribute more actively to regional security initiatives. According to Hegseth, strong partnerships are built on shared interests, mutual trust and meaningful contributions from all participating nations.
A major focus of the speech was China’s expanding military influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Hegseth warned that concerns over Beijing’s growing military capabilities and regional ambitions are increasing among countries across Asia. He stressed that the United States seeks a durable balance of power where no single nation, including China, can dominate the region or threaten the security and economic prosperity of its neighbours. Reaffirming America’s long-standing role in the region, he stated that the United States remains a Pacific nation and expects China to respect established international norms and regional stability.
The US Defence Secretary also called for higher defence spending among allied and partner nations. He suggested that countries should aim to allocate around 3.5 percent of their GDP towards defence and security. According to him, nations that demonstrate stronger commitments to their own defence could benefit from expedited arms sales, deeper defence-industrial collaboration and enhanced intelligence-sharing arrangements with the United States. The remarks reflect Washington’s broader push for burden-sharing among allies and strategic partners in an era of evolving global security challenges.
Hegseth further cautioned that countries unwilling to strengthen their military capabilities may witness changes in the nature of their defence relationships with Washington. He noted that for decades, regional security has relied heavily on American military power, while some partners have not invested sufficiently in their own defence preparedness. He also drew comparisons with Europe, suggesting that allies around the world must take greater responsibility for their own security requirements rather than depending solely on the United States.
For India, the comments represent another strong endorsement of its growing role in the Indo-Pacific security architecture. Over the past decade, India has accelerated defence modernisation, increased indigenous defence manufacturing, expanded strategic partnerships and enhanced military cooperation with countries across the region. Hegseth’s recognition of India’s military preparedness underscores New Delhi’s emergence as a key player in regional security and highlights the strengthening strategic partnership between India and the United States. As geopolitical competition intensifies in the Indo-Pacific, defence cooperation between the two democracies is expected to remain a critical pillar of regional stability.
