U.S. Urges Allies to Share More of Regional Security Burden
A senior U.S. defense official told a regional security gathering that Washington will no longer subsidize wealthy allies and expects partners to increase military spending. The remarks came amid discussion of China’s military expansion and U.S. readiness to resume strikes on Iran if talks fail.
Financial TimesA senior U.S. defense official told a regional security gathering that Washington will no longer subsidize wealthy allies and expects partners to increase military spending. The remarks came amid discussion of China’s military expansion and U.S. readiness to resume strikes on Iran if talks fail.
The official said the United States has invested 5 percent of its GDP, totaling 5 trillion dollars, in its own military and that the era of Washington subsidizing wealthy nations was over. The statement was delivered at a forum attended by the Australian defense minister and the British defense secretary.
The official warned that a Pacific dominated by any hegemon would unravel the regional balance of power and that no state, including China, could impose its hegemony. “There is rightful alarm regarding China’s historic military buildup and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond,” the official said.
China’s defense minister skipped the dialogue for a second consecutive year. Last year Beijing accused the U.S. side of making vilifying remarks. A senior fellow at Tsinghua University who attended as part of the Chinese delegation described relations as complicated but said the U.S. representative struck a much better tone this year than last, attributing the shift to President Trump’s recent visit to China.
The official said the United States expects partners, not protectorates, and that strong alliances require everyone to have skin in the game with no freeloading. The official praised defense contributions from South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, and said Japan was taking concrete steps to bolster its defenses.
The official added that Tokyo and Washington must each pull their weight. On the Middle East, the official said the United States stands ready to resume strikes on Iran if diplomacy fails and that the administration remains capable of recommencing operations.
President Trump said after meeting China’s President Xi Jinping this month that he remained undecided on the package regarding Taiwan.
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- Rappler reported: The US expects its Asian allies and partners to increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP
- Rappler reported: Pete Hegseth said a Pacific dominated by any hegemon would unravel the regional balance of power
- Rappler reported: Pete Hegseth said the era of the United States subsidizing the defense of wealthy nations is over
- Rappler reported: Pete Hegseth said any decision on future arms sales to Taiwan rests with President Trump
- Rappler reported: Pete Hegseth said no state, including China, can impose its hegemony and hold the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies in question
- Rappler reported: Pete Hegseth said the United States stands ready to resume strikes on Iran if diplomacy fails
- Rappler reported: A multi-billion-dollar US arms sale package to Taiwan is under consideration
- Rappler reported: The United States pledged a $1.5 trillion investment in its military
- Rappler reported: Pete Hegseth said there is no strong alliance unless everyone has skin in the game and there is no freeloading
- Rappler reported: Pete Hegseth said the US needs partners, not protectorates
- Rappler reported: China’s defense minister skipped the Shangri-La Dialogue for a second consecutive year
- Rappler reported: Pete Hegseth praised defense contributions or steps by South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Japan
- Rappler reported: Pete Hegseth said the US can address both the Middle East conflict and Asia-Pacific priorities at the same time
- Rappler reported: Zhou Bo, a retired PLA senior colonel and senior fellow at Tsinghua University, attended the dialogue as part of the Chinese delegation
- Rappler reported: Zhou Bo said Hegseth struck a much better tone this year than last year
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