US Calls India Key Anchor for Indo-Pacific Stability

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth described India as a critical pillar of regional stability, saying the country is strengthening its military capabilities to help maintain a balance of power across the Indo-Pacific.

Speaking on the second day of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth said, "In South Asia, India is a critical anchor to hold the line. A powerful India acting in its own self-interest advances our shared goal of maintaining a balance of power across the region."

He praised India's



military modernisation efforts, particularly its expanding role in the Indian Ocean region. "India is modernising its military to carry its share of the security burden, particularly in the Indian Ocean," Hegseth said. 

Highlighting India's growing defence manufacturing capabilities, he noted that the country is building the industrial and logistics capacity needed to sustain high-end military operations, including the repair and maintenance of shared platforms and support for US Navy vessels operating in the region.