Read The Diplomat, Know The Asia-Pacific
Like the CPTPP after the U.S. exit from TPP, the next phase of regional security may be shaped by what U.S. allies and partners build when Washington moves one step back.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth delivers his speech to the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2026 on May 30, 2026,
At the 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue, two questions dominated the conversations in and around the conference hall. One was why China’s defense minister was absent. The other – less sensational but more important – was how the United States presented its stepping back from the front stage of regional order.
The first question generated much speculation but few firm answers. The second question was more revealing.
