Ankara: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that wealthy US allies must take on a greater share of defense responsibilities, declaring that Washington will no longer subsidize their security. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue 2026 in Singapore, Hegseth said the US is pursuing a new alliance model centered on burden-sharing and self-reliance among partner nations.

According to Anadolu Agency, Hegseth emphasized that the era of the United States subsidizing the defense of wealthy nations is concluded. He stated the need for partners rather than protectorates, highlighting a shift towards shared responsibility over dependency. Hegseth argued that alliances must evolve to meet future security challenges and supported President Donald Trump's stance on the necessity of meaningful contributions from all alliance members.

Hegseth elaborated on the requirement for a two-way street in alliances, asserting that a strong alliance depends on all members having a vested interest. He expressed encouragement over commitments made by several Indo-Pacific partners, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, indicating optimism about the region's readiness to contribute more significantly to collective defense.

Hegseth also issued a warning to countries reluctant to increase their defense contributions, suggesting that such nations could face changes in their relationship with Washington. He emphasized that allies who fail to assume their share of collective defense responsibilities will experience a clear shift in how the US conducts its alliances.