India’s role highlighted at Shangri-La Dialogue
At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised India’s military as a key pillar for maintaining peace and a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Indo-Pacific—spanning the waters where the Indian and Pacific Oceans connect—has become central to global geopolitics and trade. Hegseth pointed to China’s growing military buildup and assertive posture as a major challenge, including its claims over the South China Sea and the creation of artificial islands that are being developed into military facilities.
He said India plays an important role in South Asia and in safeguarding its borders, and noted that India acts based on its own national interests—something he argued helps preserve regional equilibrium and advance shared objectives.
Hegseth also referred to India’s ongoing military modernisation and efforts to strengthen its industrial and logistics base. He added that the United States is committed to working with India on joint production, while warning that unchecked dominance in the Pacific could disrupt the region’s balance of power.
