Asia hedges on security umbrella as Shangri-La Dialogue signals strategic autonomy

At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Indo-Pacific states are shifting from an overreliance on the US security umbrella to diversified hedging and regional autonomy, driven by Middle East turmoil, great-power rivalry, and doubts about Washington’s consistency. The forum highlights a surge in independent defense procurements (e.g., Indo-Russian BrahMos missiles to the Philippines, Vietnam/Indonesia pursuing deals with South Korea) and rising concern that Japan could become the new anchor in a post-American security architecture, with European partners hedging as well.