Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth backs a powerful India to balance China, while issuing a bold 3.5% GDP defense spending demand for global allies.
Indo-Pacific Stability: In a major policy address at the prestigious Shangri-La Dialogue, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth strongly backed India’s role in regional security, labeling the nation a “critical anchor” to maintain the balance of power in South Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific region.
Speaking at Asia’s premier defense summit, Hegseth combined high praise for New Delhi’s rapid military modernization with a clear warning against Chinese expansionism. He also used the global platform to announce a massive surge in American military spending and issued an aggressive defense budget ultimatum to US allies.
‘A Powerful India’ Benefits the Region
Indo-Pacific Stability: The Pentagon chief emphasized that India’s growing strength is essential for securing the Indo-Pacific against coercive forces.
“In South Asia, India is a critical anchor to hold the line,” Hegseth stated during his plenary session. “A powerful India acting in its own self-interest advances our shared goal of maintaining a balance of power across the region.”
Hegseth lauded New Delhi for stepping up its defense capabilities, particularly in the strategically vital Indian Ocean region. He noted that India is successfully scaling up its heavy industrial and logistics infrastructure, which allows it to sustain high-end military operations.
Crucially for bilateral ties, the US Defense Secretary pointed out that India is rapidly developing the advanced capability to repair and maintain shared military platforms, including providing forward-deployed support to US Navy vessels operating in the theater.
Beyond Buying: Deepening US-India Co-Production
Indo-Pacific Stability: Highlighting the evolution of the US-India strategic partnership from a traditional buyer-seller dynamic to a deep defense-industrial alliance, Hegseth pointed to concrete manufacturing partnerships.
The two nations are actively pursuing co-production initiatives, which include joint manufacturing efforts for the Javelin anti-tank guided missile system.
“These are real, tangible steps to improve the collective readiness of our forces,” Hegseth said. He added that building up India’s defense-industrial muscle is no longer just a long-term goal but an “immediate operational imperative” for current regional stability.
Sharp Warnings Over China’s ‘Hegemony’
The focus on boosting India comes amid heightened anxiety over Beijing’s assertive military footprint. Hegseth explicitly voiced Washington’s growing concern regarding China’s massive military expansion.
Warning that any single superpower dominating the Pacific would completely destabilize the region, Hegseth remarked, “No state, including China, can impose its hegemony and hold the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies in question.” He insisted that no single country should have the authority to dictate the security or economic choices of neighboring sovereign nations.
US Unveils Massive $1.5 Trillion Budget, Issues Ultimatum to Allies
Turning to global defense economics, Hegseth detailed the Trump administration’s aggressive plan to supercharge its own military-industrial base. He confirmed that the United States is pushing its defense budget from last year’s 1 trillion dollars to a historic 1.5 trillion dollars this year.
However, Hegseth made it clear that Washington expects its partners to match this financial resolve, explicitly demanding that allies step up and stop relying heavily on US subsidies.
The US Ultimatum: The Pentagon is now demanding that allies and partner nations spend at least 3.5% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on defense.
The Indian Context: India currently allocates roughly 2% of its GDP toward its defense budget, meaning it falls below the new target set by Washington for its global partners.
“We demand 3.5 percent from our allies and partners, and we are going well beyond that number,” Hegseth stated. He added that the US will actively prioritize and fast-track defense cooperation for “model allies” who show the clear-eyed readiness to shoulder their fair share of the global security burden.
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