US defence chief Hegseth signals ‘early priorities are domestic’ in China remarks
New secretary of defence is pushing for allies to do more on security, while focus may be shifting from Indo-Pacific, according to analysts
They also said domestic issues could be driving a shift in focus away from the Indo-Pacific.
During a question-and-answer session with troops and staff, Hegseth was asked about the deterrence strategy, particularly in the context of China’s “grey zone” activities, according to a transcript released by the Department of Defence.
He said the Pentagon was “not attempting to initiate conflict or create conflict where it otherwise doesn’t need to exist”.
He also pledged to “stand strong with our partners”, but emphasised that “part of ‘America first’ is empowering allies and partners to be combat multipliers, to add to the capabilities that we have” through mechanisms like defence partnerships and foreign military sales.