U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised Washington's allies in Asia while warning European partners to take greater responsibility for their security.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore, Hegseth said the Trump administration would prioritize cooperation with allies investing in their defense capabilities.
“For those who believe they can continue to free ride on the generosity of the American taxpayer, hear us now: those days are over,” Hegseth said. He highlighted South Korea as an example of an ally strengthening its military.
The comments come as the Trump administration pushes allies to increase defense spending. Bloomberg noted this has accelerated European discussions on reducing reliance on the U.S.
Hegseth avoided directly mentioning Taiwan, a first for a Pentagon chief at this forum in a decade. He also stated U.S. readiness for military action against Iran if needed.
