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U.S. Urges Asia-Pacific Defense Budgets to Reach 3.5% GDP

6/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth urged Asian-Pacific nations at the Shangri-La Dialogue to raise defence spending to 3.5% of GDP.
Vietnamese President To Lam said great-power competition must follow rules and self-restraint.
Malaysia’s defence minister warned spending should match each country’s development priorities, not NATO demands.
Analysts noted most Southeast Asian states spend under 2% of GDP, so reaching 3.5% would require more than doubling current defence budgets.

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Story summary

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth urged Asian-Pacific nations at the Shangri-La Dialogue to raise defence spending to 3.5% of GDP.
Vietnamese President To Lam said great-power competition must follow rules and self-restraint.
Malaysia’s defence minister warned spending should match each country’s development priorities, not NATO demands.
Analysts noted most Southeast Asian states spend under 2% of GDP, so reaching 3.5% would require more than doubling current defence budgets.