US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has praised Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts in peace negotiations linked to the Iran conflict, saying a “true friendship” is growing between the United States and Pakistan.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, Hegseth said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir were playing an “outstanding” role in efforts to bring Washington and Tehran back to the negotiating table.
During a media interaction and question-and-answer session after his address, Hegseth described Pakistan as a sincere and true friend of the United States. He said an “unexpected development and a true friendship” had emerged between Washington and Islamabad.
According to Hegseth, the improving relationship was also reflected in President Donald Trump’s ability to help broker peace between India and Pakistan during their military confrontation last year.
Praise for Shehbaz, Asim Munir
Hegseth credited Pakistan’s leadership for supporting efforts to negotiate a permanent end to the war in Iran. He praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their role in ongoing peace talks.
He said Islamabad was making efforts to bring Tehran and Washington back to the table after six weeks of war.
Iran can't have nuclear weapons
Speaking about the Middle East conflict, the US defence secretary said President Trump had made it clear that Iran cannot be allowed to possess nuclear weapons under any circumstances.
“Our goals regarding Iran have not changed,” Hegseth said.
He added that Iran knows what it needs to do to reach a deal, and any agreement with Tehran would have to be a good deal that protects American interests.
Hegseth said the United States remains fully prepared for war if diplomacy fails. He said negotiations with Iran had gone well, but Washington’s naval blockade remains fully in place.
The defence secretary said the United States wants the Strait of Hormuz to remain open as a free waterway, without tolls or restrictions, so it can be used freely by the whole world.
Talks with China and support for Ukraine
Hegseth also said talks with the Chinese defence minister went well. He added that the United States would cooperate with Europe in every possible way to support Ukraine.
Despite praising Pakistan, Hegseth reaffirmed India’s importance in Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
In his speech at the summit, he called India a “critical anchor” for regional balance and said New Delhi was modernizing its military to carry its share of the security burden, particularly in the Indian Ocean.
He also said the United States remains committed to co-producing weapons with India.
India-Pakistan security concerns discussed
Responding to a question about India’s long-range missile capabilities, Hegseth said both India and Pakistan perceive security threats from each other.
He said both countries are therefore likely to continue developing missile systems as part of their deterrence strategies.
Hegseth’s remarks highlight a notable improvement in US-Pakistan relations over the past year, especially Washington’s engagement with Pakistan’s military leadership.
At the same time, US-India ties have seen occasional friction, with New Delhi continuing to reject Trump’s claims that he helped secure the ceasefire that ended the May 2025 conflict between the two South Asian neighbours.
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