1 revisions for "The Pacific Pivot: Hegseth's Praise for Asian Allies Exposes a Widening Rift With Europe"
At the 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly praised Indo-Pacific allies for burden-sharing while sharply criticizing European NATO members for decades of underspending — demanding all allies meet a 3.5% GDP defense spending target. The speech crystallizes a broader strategic reorientation in Washington that is accelerating European autonomy efforts while channeling tens of billions in arms sales toward the Pacific.