Source The Hindu
SINGAPORE — In a major address that firmly cements New Delhi at the center of Washington’s regional strategy, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth highly praised India’s growing military capabilities, calling the nation a “powerful” and “modernizing” force.
Speaking on Saturday at the prestigious Shangri-La Dialogue—Asia’s premier defense and security forum—Hegseth described India as a “critical anchor to hold the line” in South Asia. He emphasized that the Trump administration views a strong India acting in its own self-interest as perfectly aligned with the shared goal of maintaining a robust balance of power across the Indo-Pacific.
Heavy Industrial Muscle and Co-Production
The Pentagon chief pointed out that India’s transformation extends far beyond expanding its active forces. New Delhi is actively building the heavy industrial and logistical framework required to back up sustained, high-end military deployments.
“India is modernizing its military to carry its share of the security burden, particularly in the Indian Ocean,” Hegseth stated during the plenary session. “It’s building out the heavy industrial and logistics capacity to sustain high-end military operations, including the ability to repair and maintain our shared platforms and support US Navy vessels operating forward in the theater.”
Turning words into tangible policy, Hegseth highlighted expanding defense cooperation between Washington and New Delhi. He specifically noted that both nations are moving forward with joint production initiatives, highlighting immediate operational breakthroughs like the co-production of Javelin anti-tank guided munitions.
A Shifting Dynamic and a Fair Warning to Neighbors
While Hegseth struck a relatively measured note on Beijing following President Donald Trump’s recent state visit to China, he explicitly addressed the collective anxieties brewing in the region regarding China’s rapid military expansion.
Heeding the Alarm: Hegseth acknowledged a “rightful alarm” regarding China’s historic military buildup and widening reach.
Rejecting Hegemony: He underscored that “no state, including China, can impose its hegemony and hold the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies in question.”
A New Defense Standard: Hegseth issued a sweeping call to all global allies to step up their domestic defense spending, noting that the US expects its partners to target a benchmark of 3.5% of their GDP. Nations that meet these standards will move to the “front of the line” for expedited arms sales and deep intelligence sharing.
With India currently investing around 2% of its GDP into its military infrastructure while rapidly turning into an industrial powerhouse, Hegseth’s remarks send a clear message: Washington views India not just as a consumer of security, but as an indispensable partner capable of maintaining the freedom of the high seas.
You can watch a detailed broadcast report on how the US envisions India’s role as a regional counterweight in this Republic TV news clip, which highlights key strategic takeaways from the security summit.
