Overview

• Hegseth is set to deliver plenary remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, presenting the Defense Department’s vision for a stable, deterrent strategy in the Indo-Pacific.
• He will underscore the threat posed by China and emphasize that the United States seeks no conflict while remaining ready to deter aggression.
• The defense secretary plans bilateral meetings with Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro during his visit.
• Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun will be absent, with a lower-level academic delegation representing Beijing at the summit.
• Officials say the US, Japan, Australia and the Philippines are in talks to convene a four-way defense ministerial meeting on the forum’s sidelines.