Washington wants allies to spend more on defense, while Beijing judges Australia by what it does, not what it says. Canberra needs to take stock of its own interests.

Hegseth urged Asian allies to ramp up military spending to counter China’s growing power.

As Pete Hegseth reshapes the US military into a hyper-masculine zone of ‘warfighters’, we should ask if this is really who we want to be ‘good friends’ with

Washington wants allies to spend more on defense, while Beijing judges Australia by what it does, not what it says. Canberra needs to take stock of its own interests.

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.