The United States expects its Asian allies to increase defence expenditure, the Pentagon chief has said, in a blunt message that underscores Washington’s strategic recalibration towards the Indo-Pacific. The warning came as the United Kingdom signed a landmark submarine agreement, further cementing the transatlantic security architecture.
Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo, the US Secretary of Defence framed the demand as a necessary response to evolving regional threats. “We commend the contributions of our allies, but the security environment demands more,” he said. “The era of free-riding on American taxpayers must end.”
The remarks were directed at Japan, South Korea, Australia, and other partners that host US forces or rely on extended deterrence. Washington has long pressed allies to meet the NATO standard of spending at least 2% of GDP on defence, a target many Asian nations have yet to achieve.
Analysts view the statement as part of a broader Biden administration strategy to burden-share in the Indo-Pacific, where China’s military modernisation and assertive territorial claims have heightened tensions. The Pentagon chief’s visit also included talks on the AUKUS pact, the trilateral security partnership between the US, UK, and Australia.
In a parallel development, the UK government confirmed a new submarine deal that will see British nuclear-powered vessels operate from Australian ports by the 2030s. The agreement, worth an estimated £3.5 billion, is the most tangible outcome of the AUKUS framework to date. British officials described it as a “generational commitment” to regional stability.
The submarine deal has drawn criticism from some quarters, with China condemning it as a “provocative act of nuclear proliferation”. Non-proliferation advocates have warned that the transfer of nuclear propulsion technology could set a dangerous precedent. However, the UK and US insist the submarines will be conventionally armed and subject to rigorous safeguards.
The Pentagon chief’s warning and the UK submarine deal are likely to dominate discussions at the upcoming Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier defence summit. Diplomats expect heated exchanges over burden-sharing and the future of the rules-based order.
For the UK, the submarine pact represents a post-Brexit pivot towards the Indo-Pacific. For the US, it is a concrete demonstration of allied commitment even as Washington’s attention may be diverted by crises in Europe and the Middle East. The coming months will test whether this unified front can be sustained.
