Staff Reports
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth brought a blunt message to the Shangri‑La Dialogue in Singapore this week: U.S. allies must stop freeloading and pay more for their own defense. He tied that demand directly to President Trump’s big FY2027 defense budget push, saying America will no longer subsidize wealthy partners. The speech comes as Congress prepares to mark up the National Defense Authorization Act and wrestles with whether to approve a record defense topline.
Hegseth’s message in Singapore
Hegseth said plainly, “The era of the United States subsidizing the defense of wealthy nations is over. We need partners, not protectorates.” That line is not diplomatic fluff. He urged allies to aim for roughly 3.5% of GDP on defense — a clear step up from the old 2% benchmark — and tied the ask to growing threats from China and to faster arms cooperation. He framed the request as a condition for deeper U.S. support and quicker transfers of advanced systems.
Big budget, bigger questions
The administration’s FY2027 request is a massive $1.5 trillion topline, split into about $1.14 trillion through the NDAA and roughly $350 billion via reconciliation. It funds ambitious items: the Golden Dome missile defense plan, the biggest shipbuilding push since the early 1960s, big jumps in drones and counter‑drone work, a nearly doubled Space Force budget, and plans to add 44,000 service members. Those are serious capabilities we need — but they come with a red flag. The Pentagon still struggles with eight failed audits and GAO warns financial management problems won’t vanish with a glossy new budget. Asking allies to spend more while the Pentagon can’t pass an audit is like asking your neighbor to pay rent when you can’t balance the checkbook.
Allies: step up, or pick a new protector
Raising the bar to 3.5% of GDP is a cheeky way to put pressure on allies that have long relied on American muscle. Some Indo‑Pacific partners have been stepping up, and that deserves credit. But many European and Asian governments will balk — politics and budgets matter. Hegseth is right to demand reciprocity: alliances must be two‑way streets. If a partner wants American technology, training, and the fast lane to joint operations, it should accept clearer burden sharing and pay more for the common defense.
Congress must demand results, not blank checks
Republicans who prefer a strong military should cheer the goal of a modernized, well‑funded force. Conservatives who care about taxpayers should insist on real oversight before cutting massive new checks. Lawmakers should fund what strengthens deterrence — but also force the Pentagon to fix audits, account for war costs, and show that previously appropriated funds are spent wisely. No reconciliation gimmicks to bury billions without scrutiny. If we want allies to be partners and not protectorates, let’s start by making the Department of Defense earn every dollar.
