My job is to create and maintain decision space for President Trump, not to purport to make decisions on his behalf.”

Pete Hegseth reaffirmed in a speech in Singapore that the U.S. does not seek conflict with China, but to deter China the U.S. "is preparing for war, to deter war."

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is delivering a speech in Singapore. His address comes as part of the Shangri-La Dialogue 2025, hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. He’s set to begin his speech at around 8:30 p.

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The defense secretary said Asia is the administration’s priority region.

After US military allies in Europe were torched by Vice President JD Vance in March over military spending, free speech and the war in Ukraine, America’s partners in Asia warily awaited Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s arrival at a security conference in Singapore.

In a world rattled by President Trump’s tariffs and his scorn for Western allies, the defense secretary struck a rare note of continuity on security partnerships.