Pete Hegseth has told America’s allies in Asia they cannot “freeload” on defence and must increase spending to counter China’s military build-up.
The US defence secretary said the United States would no longer subsidise their allies, echoing Donald Trump’s message to Nato leaders to shoulder more of the military burden and reduce reliance on Washington.
The Pentagon chief told a security conference in Singapore: “The era of the United States subsidising the defence of wealthy nations is over.”
