US Defence Secretary calls India a ‘critical anchor’ in South Asia

Singapore: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday described India as a key strategic partner in maintaining regional stability, underscoring expanding defense cooperation between Washington and New Delhi during his address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

Speaking on the Indo-Pacific security landscape, Hegseth said, "And in South Asia, India is a critical anchor to hold the line. A powerful India acting in its own self-interest advances our shared goal of maintaining a balance of power across the region."

Highlighting India's military modernization efforts, he added, "India is modernizing its military to carry its share of the security burden, particularly in the Indian Ocean."

The remarks come amid growing strategic cooperation between India and the United States across defense, technology, logistics, and Indo-Pacific security, with both countries seeking closer collaboration to strengthen regional deterrence and military readiness.

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Hegseth also pointed to India's growing defense industrial capabilities and logistical infrastructure, saying the country is "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 U.S. Navy vessels operating forward in the theater."

The US defense chief noted ongoing efforts to deepen defense industrial cooperation between the two countries.

"We've also committed to pursuing co-production with India to advance capabilities like Javelin anti-tank guided munitions. Real, tangible steps to improve the collective readiness of our forces," he said.

Emphasizing the importance of defense manufacturing, Hegseth said, "This kind of industrial muscle isn't just a long-term goal, it's an immediate operational imperative and the United States Department of War is leading the way."

He further stated that the United States is undertaking a major effort to strengthen its own defense production base.

"America is undergoing a historic national manufacturing mobilization of our defense industrial," Hegseth said.

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