Shangri-La Dialogue: We don't need more conferences, we need more combat power, says Hegseth

Speaking at the 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday (May 30), US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanded that US partners and allies commit 3.5% of their GDP to defence spending.

"For too long, the security of this region has rested disproportionately on American military power. While many of our allies and partners allowed their own defence capabilities to atrophy, that's a bad deal for the American taxpayer, and it's an unsustainable crutch for our allies and partners. Instead, we are all best off when, based on our comparative advantages, we all contribute to the shared goal of peace and stability," he said.

"We don't need more conferences. We need more combat power. I'm sorry to say this here. Less Shangri-La, more ships, more subs," he said.