US defense chief hails growing ‘true friendship’ with Pakistan amid Iran peace efforts

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth highlighted a 'true friendship' developing between Washington and Islamabad during remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore on May 30, 2026. Hegseth credited Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for supporting US-led efforts to negotiate an end to the war in Iran. He cited President Donald Trump’s role in brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in May 2025 as evidence of improved ties, though New Delhi continues to reject Trump’s claims about his involvement. Hegseth emphasized that the US remains engaged with Pakistan’s military leadership, marking a shift in relations over the past year. At the same time, he reaffirmed India’s importance to US strategy in the Indo-Pacific, calling it a 'critical anchor' for regional security. He noted India’s military modernization efforts, particularly in the Indian Ocean, and the US commitment to co-producing weapons with New Delhi. When asked about India’s long-range missile capabilities, Hegseth stated that both India and Pakistan view each other as security threats, leading to continued missile development as part of their deterrence strategies. The remarks were made during a question-and-answer session following his address, with the discussion later released by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) on YouTube.