Discussions at the Shangri-La Dialogue centered on defense spending and regional peace commitments, with calls for increased military capabilities. Analysts noted challenges for ASEAN countries in meeting proposed defense budgets.

As the Shangri-La Dialogue drew to a close on Sunday, two issues dominated discussions throughout the event: defence spending and the varying level of commitment of countries to maintain peace in the region after calls by Washington for its allies and others to pull their weight. Analysts said the 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product for defence spending proposed by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was not something that most Asean countries – aside from Singapore – could commit to. Hegseth.....