Indo-Pacific Nations Hedge at 3-Day Shangri-La Dialogue as US Security Doubts Deepen
Updated
Updated · Asia Times · May 29
Indo-Pacific Nations Hedge at 3-Day Shangri-La Dialogue as US Security Doubts Deepen
13 articles · Updated · Asia Times · May 29
Singapore’s Shangri-La Dialogue opened on May 29 with Indo-Pacific governments using the 3-day forum less for speeches than for private talks on alternative security ties.
US credibility doubts are driving that shift, as regional officials question whether Washington can sustain commitments across Europe, the Middle East and Asia after the recent Iran conflict.
Southeast Asian states are already diversifying arms purchases, with the Philippines fielding BrahMos missiles and Indonesia and Vietnam seen moving toward similar non-US options; Hanoi has also struck South Korean defense deals.
Ministerial gaps from India and China are expected to leave the US dominant on the public stage, even as delegates focus on closed-door bilateral meetings and signals from officials including Pete Hegseth.
Analysts say the forum now reflects a broader move toward strategic autonomy, with Japan increasingly viewed as trying to fill space left by an inconsistent US security role.
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