US defence chief looks to woo allies at Asian forum

SINGAPORE: Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will try to convince Asian defence leaders this weekend that the United States is a more trusted partner for the region than China, US officials told Reuters, as questions linger about the Trump administration’s commitment to the region.

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Mr Hegseth, who has spent a large portion of his first months on the job focused on domestic issues, countering diversity, equity and inclusion in the military and taking aim at the press, will make his first extended remarks in Singapore tomorrow about how he envisions US defence policy in the Indo-Pacific.

He will be addressing the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier security forum, which runs this year from tomorrow until Sunday. Defence ministers, senior military and security officials and diplomats from around the world are expected to attend.

"Secretary Hegseth is going to make the case to Asian allies about why the United States is a better partner than the CCP," said a senior US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official, who was using an acronym for China’s Communist Party, said Mr Hegseth had the opportunity to take advantage of Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun’s expected absence from the dialogue, where US and Chinese delegates have locked horns in previous years.

Before departing for Singapore, Mr Hegseth criticised former US President Joe Biden’s approach to the region.