Commentary
The US says ships and submarines trump summits. South-east Asia politely says ‘no’
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Delegates attending the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue on May 30.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth advocated military hardware over dialogue at SLD, contrasting with Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta's call for diplomacy.
- Hegseth's "model allies" ranking, based on defence spending, caused unease among South-east Asian nations prioritising domestic needs and neutrality.
- Regional leaders stressed the "ASEAN Way" for strategic stability and trust, advocating dialogue and cooperation to address South China Sea issues.
AI generated
SINGAPORE – On a day dominated by talks of strategic stability and maritime security, Nobel Peace Prize winner Jose Ramos-Horta had a simple but sharp rejoinder to the idea that military hardware matters more than dialogue.
Delivering a special address at the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) on May 30, the Timor-Leste President pointed out that when nations race to raise their defence spending, they struggle to spend the same on factors that may actually prevent conflict.
