US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has described India as a “critical anchor” in South Asia and a central pillar of stability in the wider Indo‑Pacific, highlighting New Delhi’s growing military capability and expanding defence‑industrial base. Speaking at the Shangri‑La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth said a stronger India directly supports the shared objective of maintaining a balanced regional power structure.
Hegseth emphasised that India is steadily modernising its armed forces and increasing its ability to shoulder a larger share of regional security responsibilities. He praised India’s progress in defence manufacturing, logistics, and maintenance capacity — including its emerging ability to service advanced military platforms and support forward‑deployed US Navy vessels in the Indian Ocean.
He noted that India is building the heavy industrial and logistics backbone required for high‑end military operations, a development Washington views as essential for long‑term Indo‑Pacific stability. At the same time, Hegseth warned of growing alarm over China’s expanding military footprint, saying no single power should be able to dictate the security or prosperity of the region.
“A Pacific dominated by any hegemon would undermine the regional balance of power,” he said, adding that a powerful India acting in its own interest advances the shared goal of a free and open Indo‑Pacific.
Hegseth also outlined the Trump administration’s plan to significantly increase US defence spending — from $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion this year — and urged allies and partners to raise their commitments. “We demand 3.5% of GDP from our allies and partners,” he said, noting that India currently spends around 2%.
Highlighting deepening India‑US defence ties, he pointed to ongoing co‑production initiatives, including efforts to jointly manufacture Javelin anti‑tank guided munitions, which he described as a key step toward strengthening shared capabilities.