Top quotes from Shangri-La Dialogue 2026: Defense, Multilateralism and Asia

As Asia’s major defense summit comes to a close, leaders from around the world expressed their views on a variety of defense topics.

Here are some of the most interesting quotes CNBC heard during the summit.

Allies that refuse to assume responsibility and take responsibility for our collective defense will face clear changes in the way we do business.

— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense

You have a choice, you are either on the menu or seated at the table. If you don’t increase defense spending, make sure you’re also getting results. That way you’ll be on the menu. I don’t want Dutch, Dutch on the menu. I want to have a voice at the table.

— Dilan Yesilgos-Zegelius, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the Netherlands

The Philippines is keen to build its resilience by increasing its defense spending as it prepares to acquire stronger capabilities, more lethal deterrence, build deterrence, and expand alliances at the same time.

— Gilberto Teodoro, Philippine Secretary of Defense

The more powerful we are, the more effort we need to put into making others feel safe. Because ultimately in the defense sector, people value intent as well as ability.

— Chan Chun Sing, Minister of Defence, Singapore

Defense is an important part of maintaining our individual sovereignty as nations, and having the ability to come together to complement each other’s capabilities is critical. One country cannot accomplish everything alone.

— General Jenny Carignan, Canadian Chief of Defense Staff

The Asia-Pacific is an open space, and all countries with legitimate interests can play a role in contributing to its peace, stability and development. What this region needs is more than just the presence or absence of a great power. What it demands is responsible commitment.

— To Mr. Lam, President of Vietnam

While a decent peace is our goal, make no mistake: the United States is a Pacific nation, and we insist that China respect our long-standing position in the region.

— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense

If the principle of “one China” is adhered to and there is no outside interference in China’s national reunification process, I can guarantee that the Chinese people living on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will be able to find a solution and achieve national reunification, and once that happens, all instability in the Taiwan Strait will be resolved once and for all.

— Cui Tiankai, former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China

Some of you may have heard the term “neo-militarism,” but nothing could be further from the truth. Think about it. There are countries that possess large numbers of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers. Even though Japan has no such weapons, Japan has been labeled a “neo-militarist.” Isn’t it strange?

— Shinjiro Koizumi, Minister of Defense

[China]does not repent of its expansionism and ruthlessness, and to deny it would be completely dishonest…Because of the authoritarian nature of its government, China is completely unaccountable to its own people, and is opaque and indeed dishonest in its international engagements.

— Gilberto Teodoro, Philippine Secretary of Defense

What we are saying is that there is a global rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region, and for that matter around the world…Global rules give middle powers like Australia agency, unlike a world ruled by force and force alone.

— Richard Marles, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia

[The United States]will be able to do all kinds of things here, whether it’s freedom of navigation or disaster response. I think there are some opportunities here and it’s great to see other partners stepping up in a very versatile way.

— U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Democrat of Illinois

We were taught that rules matter, that commitments matter, and that international norms apply equally to all countries regardless of size or power, but today treaties, humanitarian principles, and international commitments are ignored and interpreted selectively whenever they do not align with geopolitical interests.

— Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin, Malaysian Minister of Defense

Current global security governance mechanisms are in urgent need of reform. Developed countries account for the majority, but developing countries are severely underrepresented. This way, we can’t keep up with the times.

— Major General Meng Xiangqing, Professor, People’s Liberation Army National Defense University

[China]has definitely lost an opportunity for dialogue, an opportunity for dialogue in contested times, and that is…dangerous. In my 42 years as a soldier, I have never experienced a time as dangerous as the world we live in today.

— General Carsen Breuer, German Defense Secretary

(Dialogue), although still referred to as the “collective West,” is a great framework for a divided Asia to come together and have a decent discussion about security. There is no “collective Asia” here anymore.

— Pavlo Klimkin, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine