Global Leaders Gather in Singapore for Security Forum
SINGAPORE (AP) — This weekend, leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are participating in a security forum in Singapore. The discussions will center around China’s increasing assertiveness, the international consequences of Russia’s war in Ukraine, and rising conflicts in Asia.
Macron will deliver a keynote speech on Friday night, addressing these topics alongside the economic pressures stemming from hefty tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump’s administration on Asian allies.
Hegseth makes his inaugural appearance at the Shangri-La Dialogue, organized by the International Institute for Security Studies, amidst intensified tensions between Washington and Beijing due to proposed tariffs on China. There is also regional uncertainty concerning U.S. commitment to defending Taiwan, which faces potential tariffs of 32%.
China regards the self-governing democracy of Taiwan as part of its territory, with President Xi Jinping not ruling out military action. Consequently, China has engaged in frequent displays of military power near Taiwan, including the presence of an aircraft carrier in international waters nearby.
Prior to his departure for Singapore, Hegseth emphasized that U.S. policies aim to deter any potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan. He stated, “We seek no conflict with anybody, including the Communist Chinese,” asserting that maintaining U.S. interests is a fundamental aspect of his visit.
This year, China is sending a lower-level delegation instead of its defense minister to the forum, though their reasoning remains unclear. Hegseth’s Singapore trip follows a visit to the Philippines, where territorial disputes in the South China Sea with China are escalating. His prior engagement aimed to reassure regional allies about U.S. support amid a perceived shift towards transactional diplomacy by the current administration.
During his speech, Macron is expected to highlight the global ramifications of the war in Ukraine and Russia’s destabilizing influence in Asia. As democracies like Australia, South Korea, and Japan support Ukraine, China increasingly backs Russia, while North Korea has contributed troops to the conflict. The forum also coincides with ongoing challenges in Myanmar, exacerbated by recent violence on the Thai-Cambodian border and heightened tensions between nuclear neighbors India and Pakistan.
