Shangri-La Dialogue: New US-Europe Tensions Over Asian Security

The annual Shangri-La Dialogue security meeting in Singapore revealed emerging tensions between the US and Europe over Asia-Pacific engagement, moving beyond the traditional US-China rivalry that has dominated the forum.

HEGSETH'S MESSAGE TO EUROPE

Despite warning that China poses an "imminent" threat, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Europeans to focus their increased military spending on European security rather than expanding their Asian presence.

Key Quote: "We would much prefer that the overwhelming balance of European investment be on that continent...so that as we partner there, which we will continue to do, we're able to use our comparative advantage as an Indo-Pacific nation to support our partners here."

CHINA'S NOTABLE ABSENCE

Beijing sent only a low-level team of military scholars instead of Defense Minister Dong Jun, signaling reduced engagement with the forum amid rising tensions.

EUROPEAN PUSHBACK

European leaders rejected American calls to limit their Asian involvement:

Kaja Kallas (EU's top diplomat): "The security of Europe and the security of the Pacific is very much interlinked. If you are worried about China, you should be worried about Russia."

Emmanuel Macron: Outlined a "third path" for Europe, stating "We are neither China nor the US, we don't want to depend on either of them."

DEEP EUROPEAN TIES IN ASIA

DESPITE US PREFERENCES, EUROPEAN ENGAGEMENT IN THE REGION RUNS DEEP:

MILITARY PRESENCE

• France maintains 8,000+ soldiers across Indo-Pacific territories
• Britain operates jungle training facilities in Brunei and a 1,200-strong Gurkha battalion
• Singapore keeps 200 personnel in France operating combat aircraft
• Upcoming British aircraft carrier visit to Singapore continues commitments dating to 2017

DEFENSE PARTNERSHIPS

• 54-year-old Five-Power Defence Arrangement (UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand)
• AUKUS submarine agreement strengthening UK-Australia ties
• European defense firms (Airbus, Thales, Naval Group) have long-standing Asian operations

COMMERCIAL SUCCESS
• Saab is close to securing Thailand fighter jet contract, beating US competitor Lockheed Martin
• Asian defense spending rose 46% to $629 billion in the decade to 2024

INDIA-PAKISTAN SUBPLOT

High-ranking military delegations from both nuclear-armed neighbors attended despite recent border clashes, pointedly avoiding each other in the hotel corridors.

NORDIC PERSPECTIVE

Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen aligned with US thinking, arguing Europe should focus on its Russian border threat: "When Europe's defence is in a good shape, then you will have resources to do something more."

THE BOTTOM LINE

The dialogue exposed a fundamental disagreement about burden-sharing in an interconnected world, with Europeans insisting they cannot abandon Asia while Americans want them to prioritize European threats.