Jun 02, 2026 16:09 pm IST

Opinion | Why Pete Hegseth's Unusual 'Shangri-La' Speech Should Worry India

Usually, the forum is not the stuff of headlines. This year, though, almost every country seemed uneasy, thanks to Hegseth.

Tara Kartha Tara Kartha Columnist

Tara Kartha Columnist

If anyone has doubts about US intentions in the region, a recent speech by Pete Hegseth, heading the Department of War - the aptly renamed Defence Department - was illuminating. Time for considerable Indo-Pacific musing, and suitable action. US policy changes are already having a domino effect on the Indo-Pacific. Defence budgets are rapidly rising as neighbours confront a highly belligerent China, and greyzone warfare has come to stay. The Defence Secretary, however, went according to a script that might have been very well written for his European allies. The same phrasing, the same expectations, and possibly, therefore, the same results.

The 'Pay More' Debate

Hegseth made his intervention at the Shangri-la Dialogue, hosted annually in Singapore, which brought together some 40-plus Chiefs of Defence, among other officials. Usually, the forum, while offering some interesting insights, is not the stuff of headlines. This year, though, almost every country seemed uneasy, and much of that could be attributed to the 'new' US posture, well in evidence as the US President visited Beijing just a short while ago. Now add to that the provocative speech of his Defence secretary, and you have a real pot- boiler. 

Hegseth, who is no stranger to controversy given his resignation from the Army and accusations of 'white nationalism', began his speech in the first few seconds by rejecting "wishful thinking or utopian idealism" for a "future that will be defined by our collective efforts to safeguard and secure our most vital national interests". The rest of the speech stressed 'collective' entirely. He declared, "The era of the United States subsidising the defence of wealthy nations is over. We need partners, not protectorates. We seek alliances built on shared responsibility, not dependency." That's hard talking. In other words, you want defence, you pay for it yourself. Add to that this quote, "Allies who refuse to step up and carry their own weight for our collective defence will face a clear shift in how we do business." That's primarily aimed at........

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