U.S. Presses Australia for Higher Defense Spending

At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth formally requested that Australia increase its defense spending to 3.5% of GDP as soon as possible, citing the growing and imminent threat posed by China, especially regarding Taiwan. Australia is currently planning to raise its defense budget to 2.33–2.4% of GDP by the mid-2030s, but Hegseth urged greater urgency. He also called on all Indo-Pacific allies to bolster their defense contributions and accused China of destabilizing actions, including cyberattacks and militarizing the South China Sea. Chinese officials condemned Hegseth’s statements, accusing the U.S. of provoking instability and exaggerating threats. U.S.-Australia talks at the summit also addressed enhancing defense industrial cooperation, improving supply chain resilience, and accelerating U.S. force deployments in Australia. These developments underscore heightened U.S.-China rivalry and renewed efforts to strengthen security alliances in the Asia-Pacific.