'India is powerful and modernising its military': US defence secretary Pete Hegseth

NEW DELHI: "India is powerful and modernising its military," US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said on Saturday, placing New Delhi at the centre of Washington's Indo-Pacific strategy as he praised India's growing military capabilities and expanding strategic role in maintaining regional balance.

Addressing delegates at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth said, “India is powerful and modernising its military,” and specified New Delhi's importance in the broader Indo-Pacific security architecture.

Hegseth said, "In South Asia, India is a critical anchor to hold the line. A powerful India acting in its own self-interest advances our shared goal of maintaining a balance of power across the region."

The Pentagon chief commended India's efforts to strengthen its defence capabilities, noting that the country was also "building a heavy industrial and logistics capacity to sustain high-end military operations."

Highlighting expanding defence cooperation between Washington and New Delhi, Hegseth said the two nations were pursuing co-production initiatives to boost military readiness and capability development.

“We've also committed to pursuing co-production with India to advance capabilities,” said Hegseth, adding that America was undergoing a national manufacturing mobilisation of its defence industrial base.

Referring specifically to joint defence projects, he said, "We've also committed to pursuing co-production with India to advance capabilities like Javelin anti-tank guided munitions. Real, tangible steps to improve the collective readiness of our forces."

Linking India's defence-industrial growth to wider regional security objectives, Hegseth said, "This kind of industrial muscle isn't just a long-term goal, it's an immediate operational imperative."

The US defence secretary also outlined the Trump administration's plans to significantly increase defence spending and manufacturing capacity.

"America is undergoing a historic national manufacturing mobilisation of our defence industrial base. We will produce the best weaponry in the world at scale, at speed, and at a reasonable price," he said.

Calling it a personal commitment, Hegseth added, "This is my personal commitment to all of you, and it is our president's demand."

Referring to US President Donald Trump, he said, "President Trump, after spending $1 trillion on defence last year, plans to make a generational investment of $1.5 trillion on defence this year, to unleash America's arsenal of freedom and expand America's military dominance for decades to come."

Hegseth also urged America's allies and partners to increase their defence spending and capabilities.

"We demand 3.5 per cent from our allies and partners, and we are going well beyond that number. We expect every single ally and partner to match that kind of resolve," he said.

Signalling deeper engagement with countries willing to shoulder greater security responsibilities, Hegseth said, "For those nations that rise to this challenge, that embrace responsibility as true partners, the benefits will be clear."

He added, "As our strategy states, we will prioritise working with model allies. Those nations that are most capable, clear-eyed, and ready to defend their national interests. For those nations, we are moving them to the front of the line."

Touching upon broader regional security dynamics, Hegseth reviewed defence ties with Japan, South Korea, Asean members and Australia. He stressed that the Indo-Pacific remains the world's most consequential region and argued that regional security continues to rely heavily on American military power, while urging partner nations to invest more seriously in their own defence capabilities.

On China, Hegseth said US-China relations had improved under President Trump but maintained that “no state, including China, can impose hegemony and hold the security of our nation and allies in question”.

His remarks came amid ongoing conflicts in West Asia and Europe, as well as growing debate over Washington's long-term strategic priorities in the Indo-Pacific.

The Shangri-La Dialogue, one of Asia's premier security forums, entered its second day on Saturday, bringing together senior defence and government officials from 44 countries.