"Era of US subsidising defense of wealthy nations is over," says US Defence Secretary

Singapore: US Defense Secretary on Saturday declared that the era of the United States bearing a disproportionate share of global security responsibilities is coming to an end, urging allies to take on a greater role in their own defense.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth said Washington is seeking "partners, not protectorates," emphasizing that future alliances must be built on shared responsibility rather than dependence on American military power.

"The era of the United States subsidizing the defense of wealthy nations is over. We need partners, not protectorates," Hegseth said. "We seek alliances built on shared responsibility, not dependency."

This strong statement from the US Administration comes after traditional European allies of America criticised its military action in Iran. In recent months, the relations between European countries and the US have been strained after several European nations expressed strong opposition to Trump's desire to acquire Greenland.

As a result of differences, the US announced to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany, while a consideration is on the table to reduce the size of US forces in Italy and Spain.

Notably, speaking on the military expenditure, Italy's Prime Minister, Georgia Meloni said, “The truth is, if you do not know how to defend yourself, if you ask someone else to guarantee your security, you will pay for it in terms of autonomy, sovereignty and the ability to defend your national interests."

Meanwhile, the US defense chief described the shift as necessary to ensure that security partnerships remain sustainable and capable of addressing modern challenges.

He argued that the change reflects a broader reassessment of American foreign and defense policy under President Donald Trump.

Calling the move a matter of "strategic prudence," Hegseth said the US National Defense Strategy recognizes that previous approaches to foreign policy had become ineffective in addressing emerging geopolitical threats.

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"The old course of toothless, utopian and globalist foreign policy was headed for a disaster. That all changes under President Trump," he said.

Hegseth said the administration's approach is based on "flexible, practical realism" and a clear-eyed assessment of global challenges, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, which Washington increasingly views as central to its long-term strategic interests.

"And nowhere is this clarity more important than the Pacific," he added.

The remarks come amid growing US efforts to strengthen security partnerships across the Indo-Pacific while encouraging allies and partners to increase defense spending and military preparedness in response to evolving regional security concerns.

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