US defence chief warns New Zealand, allies: “Free-riding” era is over

At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth pressed allies on defence spending, highlighting burden-sharing across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Speaking at the region’s premier security forum, Hegseth said current military expenditure among some partners remained below what Washington views as necessary in an increasingly volatile security environment, Caliber.Az reports, via foreign media.

Senior officials, including New Zealand Defence Minister Chris Penk, attended the conference.

"For those who continue to free-ride on the generosity of the American taxpayer, hear us now: those days are over. Allies that refuse to stand up and carry their weight for our collective defence will face a clear shift in how we do business," he stressed.

He added that historical alliances alone would no longer guarantee the same level of US engagement, adding that capability and readiness would become decisive factors in defence relationships.

When asked about New Zealand, Hegseth described the country as “freeloading” off American military power, pointing to its relatively low defence spending compared with US expectations.

He said even reaching 2% of GDP would not meet the standards he outlined, while stressing he had “nothing against New Zealand” and remained open to continued cooperation with Wellington.

New Zealand has pledged to raise defence spending to around 2% in coming years, with $1.6 billion allocated in the latest budget to strengthen naval capabilities, modernise equipment and expand unmanned systems.

Despite the criticism, Hegseth reaffirmed continuity in bilateral ties and interest in working with Wellington’s new defence leadership, while reiterating that future engagement would depend increasingly on capability contributions rather than historical alignment.