The United States is delivering a "more forward" force posture in the Indo-Pacific to help deter an increasingly assertive China, the Pentagon chief said Wednesday, calling on allies and partners to "step up" to be "true force multipliers for freedom."
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the remarks during a speech at the US Army War College in Pennsylvania, reaffirming America's security commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and stressing that US President Donald Trump's America First policy does not mean "America alone."
"Most importantly, we are deterring Communist China in the Indo-Pacific and around the world to deliver peace in this region," Hegseth said.
"We are delivering a more forward regional force posture. We are supporting allies and partners ... Allies and partners are our force multipliers as they strengthen their own capabilities, including in Taiwan," he added.
The secretary did not elaborate on the forward force posture efforts, but his remarks helped ease concerns to a certain degree that under Trump's America First credo, the US might seek to cut back on its costly overseas military involvement.
However, Hegseth reiterated calls for US allies to do more for their own security, noting that in three "strategically important regions" -- the Indo-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East, the US is increasing allies' "burden sharing."
"America first doesn't mean America alone," he said. "It means we expect our allies to step up to be true force multipliers for freedom. This approach ensures we achieve peace through strength."
In particular, the secretary urged Europe to step up militarily and lead the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Trump has demanded that NATO member nations spend 5 percent of their gross domestic product on defense -- well above the current 2 percent guideline. (Yonhap)
