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Hegseth Warns Of 'Iminent' China Threat In Shangri-La Dialogue Speech
June 02, 2025
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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a strong warning at the 2025 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, emphasizing that the threat posed by China to Taiwan is "real and could be imminent" and that the U.S. will not allow China to invade Taiwan under President Trump's watch. Hegseth's speech also called for increased defense spending by U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific region and highlighted the U.S. commitment to the region's security.

Hegseth stated that China poses a significant and imminent threat to Taiwan, warning that any attempt by China to conquer Taiwan by force "would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world."

He reaffirmed that the U.S. does not seek conflict with China but is prepared to deter any aggressive actions. "We do not seek to dominate or strangle China, but we will not be pushed out of this critical region, and we will not let our allies and partners be subordinated and intimidated" 

The secretary urged Asian allies to increase their defense spending, suggesting that European allies should focus more on their own continent's security, allowing the U.S. to focus on the Indo-Pacific. "NATO members are pledging to spend 5 percent of their GDP on defense, even Germany. So it doesn't make sense for countries in Europe to do that while key allies in Asia spend less on defense in the face of an even more formidable threat, not to mention North Korea."

Hegseth said the U.S. is urging Eurpean allies to share more of the defenmse burden on their front, so America can focus on the Chinese threat.

"We're pushing our allies in Europe to own more of their own security — to invest in their defense, things that are long overdue," he said.

He emphasized the U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, stating, "America is proud to be back in the Indo-Pacific, and we're here to stay" 

Notably, China's Defense Minister Dong Jun did not attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, and Beijing sent only an academic delegation, signaling a diplomatic snub.

In response to Hegseth's remarks, China accused the U.S. of being the "biggest troublemaker" for regional peace and stability.

Taiwan is a self-governing democratic island that China claims as its territory. Beijing has vowed to "reunify" with Taiwan, by force if necessary, and has increased military and political pressure on the island.

China has stepped up military activities around Taiwan, including increasing the intensity of war games and conducting drills that simulate an invasion. President Xi Jinping has set a 2027 deadline for the Chinese military to be prepared for possible action against Taiwan.

The potential for a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is a significant concern for regional stability. Many countries in Asia fear the instability and economic disruption that could result from such a conflict.

Hegseth's speech underscored the U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and its determination to deter Chinese aggression against Taiwan. The absence of China's defense minister and the strong language used by Hegseth highlight the growing tensions between the two powers and the critical role of regional allies in maintaining security.

 

Here is the full speech by Hegseth.

Well, good morning.  It is great to be in Singapore.

And Bastian, thank you very much for your warm welcome.  The Shangri-La Dialogue is an important forum for bringing together defense leaders from across the Indo-Pacific and the world.  And I want to thank IISS for hosting us this morning.

As was mentioned, I'm certainly proud to be back into the Indo-Pacific for the second time as the Secretary of Defense.  And I'm going to keep coming back, and back, and back again. You're stuck with me.

But it's not just me.  America is proud to be back in the Indo-Pacific — and we're here to stay. The United States is an Indo-Pacific nation.  We have been since the earliest days of our Republic.  We will continue to be an Indo-Pacific nation — with Indo-Pacific interests — for generations to come.

And under President Trump's leadership, the United States is committed to achieving peace through strength. That starts with deterring aggression around the world and here in the Indo-Pacific, here in our priority theater, here with you — our allies and our partners.  The United States stands ready to work with any country that is willing to step up and preserve the global and regional peace that we all hold dear.

Your presence here today sends a strong message about our shared purpose, our shared commitment to peace, our shared dedication to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

So, this morning, I'd like to share the U.S. Defense Department's vision for the Indo-Pacific.

You see, my job is to create and maintain decision space for President Trump, not to purport to make decisions on his behalf. And in doing that I'm joined today by two great military leaders from the United States military.

Our Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Dan "Raisin" Cane, is here with me, a great partner, who understand how to take a global look, globally integrate American interests and American power, regionally and internationally.

And of course we're joined by our Indo-Pacific Commander, Admiral Sam Paparo, America's fighting general in the Pacific.  Admiral, thanks for being here.

It is our job, the three of us and the entire Defense Department, to keep our military strong and create options.

President Trump was elected to apply America first on the world stage. You know, getting a chance to watch him first hand in the Oval Office and around the world, the world is incredibly fortunate to have an American president with the combination of being a peace seeker and a strong leader. President Trump has the unique ability to make possible things that seem impossible, moving the Overton window. He is the ultimate deal maker.

And to that end from day one, President Trump gave me a clear mission at the Defense Department: achieve peace through strength. To accomplish this mission, our overriding objectives have been equally clear: restore the warrior ethos, rebuild our military, and reestablish deterrence.

And it starts with the warrior ethos. All of us in this profession of arms understand that humans are far more important than hardware.

So, we're focused on lethality, meritocracy, accountability, standards, readiness, and warfighting.  We respect human nature, hard training, and the lessons of history. Our combat formations will be trained and skilled. Our standards will be high and unwavering.  If you can do the job, you'll be in our formation.  If you can't, you are not.  Color blind.  Gender neutral. Merit-based.  It's as simple as that.

That is restoring the warrior ethos, and our troops, in America, are responding to it.  Morale, recruiting, retention, readiness, training, capabilities, all rapidly increasing thanks to President Trump's back-to-basics approach.

Our second priority is rebuilding the military. We're equipping American warfighters with the most advanced capabilities so that we remain the strongest and most lethal fighting force in the world.  

President Trump is spending — for the first time ever — over $1 trillion next year to do this.  A 13 percent increase in American defense spending.  The Golden Dome for America, our new sixth generation fighter — the F-47, our new stealth bomber —the B-21, new submarines, destroyers, hypersonics, drones, you name it.  It's all part of it.  The best military equipment in the world.

We're reviving our defense industrial base and investing in our shipyards. We're rapidly fielding emerging technologies that will help us remain the world leader for generations to come. We are stronger — yet more agile — than ever before.

When our opponents know that our military is armed with the most capable weapons systems, wielded by skilled warriors with the will to prevail, they are less likely to challenge us on the battlefield — which is the point.

This leads to the third objective which is reestablishing deterrence.  Across four years of deferred maintenance under the Biden administration, the world saw, unfortunately, a feckless and weak America. An invasion of 21 million illegals on our southern border, Russian aggression in Ukraine after what had happened under the previous Democratic administration in 2014 in Crimea. Islamist terror on October 7th in Israel. A humiliating and deadly retreat in Afghanistan.  An enriched and emboldened Iran.  A Chinese spy balloon flying over our country.  And a Secretary of Defense that was AWOL for a week. That ends now.  Not anymore.

We are re-establishing deterrence around the world, but credible deterrence starts at home, like our historic Golden Dome for America. And it starts at our borders. Border security for us, and for all of you, is national security. So we have surged troops to our Southern border and we'll have 100% operational control of there soon enough. We spent two decades patrolling other borders. It's time to prioritize the defense of our own.

We're also increasing security in the Western Hemisphere and taking back the Panama Canal from malign Chinese influence.  It is key terrain, after all. China did not build that canal. We did.  And we will not allow China to weaponize it or control it.  Deterrence starts in our own backyard.

But beyond our borders, and beyond our neighborhood, we are reorienting toward deterring aggression by Communist China. We'll talk a little bit more about that in a minute.

But elsewhere — and around the world — we are engaging with, enabling, and empowering our allies. Sometimes with tough love, but love nonetheless. We're pushing our allies in Europe to own more of their own security — to invest in their defense, things that are long overdue.  

We still believe that the "N" in NATO stands for North Atlantic and that our European allies should maximize their comparative advantage on the continent.  And thanks to President Trump, they are stepping up.  An alliance cannot be ironclad if in reality or perception it is seen as one-sided.

That is changing and that is very important. And as our allies share the burden, we can increase our focus on the Indo-Pacific, our priority theater.

You see, here in the Indo-Pacific, our futures are bound together. The prosperity and security of the American people are linked to those of your people. We share your vision of peace and stability, of prosperity and security.

And we are here to stay.

And as a matter of fact, we are here this morning, and somebody else isn't.

But for a generation, the United States ignored this region. We became distracted by open-ended wars, regime change, and nation building. I had a front row seat as a soldier in Iraq and Afghanistan. These costly diversions lacked clearly defined goals and were not tied to vital and core American interests.

President Trump is changing that. We are not making the same mistakes. Not this generation and not now.  We are done with that approach. We're focused on delivering for the American people, on safeguarding their security, on protecting their economic interests, and on using common sense to preserve peace in the Indo-Pacific.

You know, standing here in Singapore, I think this approach aligns quite well with the pragmatic style of Singapore's legendary Prime Minister, Lee Kwan Yew. Across three decades, he built this country into one of the world's most important hubs of finance and innovation.

Like the late-Prime Minister, President Trump's approach is grounded in common sense and national interests, built on a willingness to work with others while respecting mutual self-interest, and informed by an understanding of military strength but shaped by a preference for engaging on the basis of commerce and sovereignty — not war.

These two historic men share a willingness to challenge old ways of doing things that no longer make sense. We refuse to accept any paradigm that makes conflict inevitable.

As President Trump said in Riyadh, in an historic speech in Saudi Arabia, America does not have or seek permanent enemies.  Under President Trump's leadership, we are applying this common sense approach to defense here in the Indo-Pacific and throughout the world.

And we believe the results speak for themselves. President Trump is leading European allies to step up in their own defense, as I mentioned. He is striking new, fairer trade deals that protect Americans while providing a lasting and secure basis for commerce. Not to mention resilient, anti-fragile, and reliable supply chains for our and your defense needs.  He's also rebalancing security and defense arrangements with key allies in the region.

This enables all of us to benefit from the peace and stability that comes with a lasting and strong American presence here in the Indo-Pacific. These benefits, they only multiply when our allies and partners are also strong.

As President Trump also said in Riyadh, the United States is not interested in the moralistic and preachy approach to foreign policy of the past.

We are not here to pressure other countries to embrace or adopt policies or ideologies. We are not here to preach to you about climate change or cultural issues.  We're not here to impose our will on you. We're all sovereign nations. We should be able to choose the future we want to build. We respect you, your traditions, and your militaries. And we want to work with you where our shared interests align for peace and prosperity.

On this sure foundation of mutual interests and common sense, we will build and strengthen our defense partnerships to preserve peace and increase prosperity.

But a threat gathers. As we all know, strength and security underpin peace and enable prosperity.  And our common sense approach to achieving security — achieving peace through strength — requires seeing things crystal clearly. It requires confronting obvious truth about the threats we face in the Indo-Pacific.  And requires meeting those threats with a very real sense of urgency.

So, before we get to those hard truths, and to make sure for our friends in the press our words are not misconstrued as they so often are, let me begin by saying, we do not seek conflict with Communist China. We will not instigate nor seek to subjugate or humiliate.  President Trump and the American people have an immense respect for the Chinese people and their civilization.  But we will not be pushed out of this critical region.  And we will not let our allies and partners be subordinated and intimidated.

China seeks to become a hegemonic power in Asia. No doubt.  It hopes to dominate and control too many parts of this vibrant and vital region.  Through its massive military build-up and growing willingness to use military force to achieve its goals, including grey zone tactics and hybrid warfare, China has demonstrated that it wants to fundamentally alter the region's status quo.

We cannot look away, and we cannot ignore it.  China's behavior towards its neighbors and the world is a wake-up call.  And an urgent one.

China uses its vast and sophisticated cyber capabilities to steal technology and attack critical infrastructure— in your countries and in the United States, as well. These actions not only compromise our countries, but endanger the lives of our citizens.

In the South China Sea, China harasses its neighbors – many of which are here in the room today.  China seeks to intimidate you in your own waters.  We've all seen the videos and pictures of water cannons, and ship-to-ship collisions, and illegal boardings at sea. We're also seeing the illegal seizing and militarizing of lands in the South China Sea.

These actions reveal a lack of respect for neighbors and they challenge sovereignty, freedom of navigation, and overflight.  We are watching very closely China's destabilizing actions. And any unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the South China Sea and the First Island Chain by force or coercion is unacceptable.

Every day you see it. China's military harasses Taiwan. These activities have been paired with China's rapid military modernization and buildup – including huge investments in nuclear weapons, hypersonics, and amphibious assault capabilities.

It has to be clear to all that Beijing is credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. We know.  It's public that Xi has ordered his military to be capable of invading Taiwan by 2027. The PLA is building the military needed to do it.  Training for it every day. And rehearsing for the real deal.  Admiral Paparo has spoken very clearly about this on multiple occasions.  

Again, to be clear: any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world. There's no reason to sugarcoat it. The threat China poses is real.

And it could be imminent.  We hope not.  But it certainly could be.

Facing these threats, we know that many countries are tempted by the idea of seeking both economic cooperation with China and defense cooperation with the United States.  Now that is a geographic necessity for many.  But beware the leverage that the CCP seeks with that entanglement.  Economic dependence on China only deepens their malign influence and complicates our defense decision space during times of tension.

Nobody knows what China will ultimately do, but they are preparing. And therefore we must be ready as well.  

Urgency and vigilance is our only option at the Department of Defense with our allies, because the United States, especially under President Trump, does not seek war. We do not seek to dominate or strangle China. To encircle or provoke.  We do not seek regime change, nor will we instigate or disrespect a proud and historic culture. We will be ready, but we will not be reckless.  Instead, we seek peace. But we must ensure that China cannot dominate us — or our allies and partners. Maintaining the status quo requires strength.  That's just a rational, common sense goal that all should be able to live with.

President Trump has also said that Communist China will not invade Taiwan on his watch. So, our goal is to prevent war, to make the costs too high, and peace the only option. And we will do this with a strong shield of deterrence, forged together with you – America's great allies and defense partners. Together, we will show what it means to execute peace through strength. In many ways seen and unseen.  Overt and covert.

But if deterrence fails, and if called upon by my Commander in Chief, we are prepared to do what the Department of Defense does best – fight and win — decisively.

And as I've said many times before, and it's important for this room to hear today, and all the world — America First certainly does not mean America alone. Especially alongside so many of our allies, model allies like Poland, Israel, and the Gulf States, the Baltic States.  And it does not mean ignoring the world.

As you have all seen President Trump is committed to a lasting and durable peace in Ukraine.  And with an unwavering commitment to ensure Iran never has nuclear weapons. He seeks a strong and verifiable negotiated deal.  The other option is regional war, or worse. 

As we shift our focus to this region, and as Europe steps up and takes greater ownership for its own security, President Trump and I will be counting on you, on this room – our allies and partners – to be force multipliers for peace alongside the United States.

We ask — and indeed, we insist — that our allies and partners do their part on defense. Sometimes, that means having uncomfortable and tough conversations. Partners owe to it to each other to be honest and to be realistic. As many of you have been with me in the past few days and I with you.  This is the essence of a pragmatic, common sense defense policy.

But you will also see that we are — and will remain — loyal to our allies and partners. The military-to-military relationship between many of our countries goes back decades, and in some cases, centuries.  In fact, the only way to ensure lasting alliances and partnerships is to make sure that each side does its part and sees the benefit.

We will stand with you and work alongside you to deter Chinese aggression. Each day, together, creating more and more dilemmas and complications should China want to act.  Should they decide to overturn the status quo.  More dilemmas, more complications, more questions, more concerns, more variables, more reasons to say, "it's not worth it."

No one should doubt America's commitment to our Indo-Pacific allies and partners.  We will continue to wrap our arms around our friends and find new ways to work together — not only our treaty allies here, but also our key defense partners in ASEAN and across the Indo-Pacific.

For example, look no further than to our growing defense relationship with India, where we pass new milestones by the day—from shared ventures of our defense industries to the increased operational coordination and interoperability between our two militaries.

I urge all our allies and partners to seize this moment with us.  Our defense spending must reflect the dangers and threats that we face today. Because deterrence doesn't come on the cheap, just ask the American taxpayer.

Time is of the essence. We must step up and move out with urgency.

And it's hard to believe, a little bit, after some trips to Europe that I'm saying this this – but thanks to President Trump Asian allies should look to countries in Europe as a new-found example. NATO members are pledging to spend 5% of their GDP on defense, even Germany.  So it doesn't make sense for countries in Europe to do that while key allies in Asia spend less on defense in the face of an even more formidable threat, not to mention North Korea.

Ultimately, a strong, resolute, and capable network of allies and partners is our key strategic advantage. China envies what we have together. And it sees what we can collectively bring to bear on defense. But it's up to all of us to ensure that we live up to that potential by investing. U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific can, and should, quickly upgrade their own defenses.

President Trump said it himself last month in Riyadh – and will never hesitate to wield American power swiftly and decisively if necessary.

That is re-establishing deterrence.

So, we're doing this here in the Indo-Pacific in three distinct ways, and forgive me as I go into a little bit of detail: First, by improving our forward force posture, second, by helping allies and partners strengthen their defense capabilities, and third by rebuilding defense industrial bases.

So first, the Department of Defense is prioritizing forward-postured, combat credible forces in the Western Pacific to deter by denial along the first and second island chains.  In my first trip to the Indo-Pacific in March, I traveled to the Philippines to meet with President Marcos and Secretary of National Defense Teodoro.  While there we announced our commitment to deploy more advanced U.S. military capabilities to the Philippines.

We announced the inaugural overseas deployment of NMESIS, a U.S. Marine Corps mobile anti-ship missile system, to the Philippines. The 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment – one of the U.S. military's most capable and lethal formations – exercised NMESIS along with our Philippine allies.  Together we deployed the system to the Batanes Islands on the Luzon Strait between the Philippines and Taiwan. This enhanced our interoperability and improved our readiness on cutting-edge platforms where we need them, and when we need them.

We also announced that U.S. Special Operations Forces and Philippine Marines are training together on complex landing scenarios in the Batanes Islands. This demonstrates that our forces can conduct high-end operations in the most challenging of environments.

I also had a chance to visit Tokyo and meet with Prime Minister Ishiba and Defense Minister Nakatani. We announced that we're upgrading U.S. Forces Japan headquarters.  This is about warfighting and deterrence – as well as common sense. Upgrading USFJ demonstrates the significant work of the U.S.-Japan Alliance as it evolves to emerging threats. It also reflects the progress the Alliance has made towards improving interoperability and strengthening Japan's capabilities.

And, this summer, the U.S. Army has plans to conduct its first live-fire test of its Mid-Range Capability system in Australia. This will be the first time that system is fired west of the International Date Line, the first time it's been tested on foreign soil. Deployments like this represent a commitment to the region, and there are many more planned.

On the home front, Golden Dome for America will protect the U.S. homeland against a catastrophic missile attack by adversaries.  It will strengthen missile defenses for the U.S. homeland as we look for ways to improve regional missile defenses right here in the Indo-Pacific.  

We're also using regional integrated air and missile defense. And we're deploying several key missile defense technologies and data-sharing partnerships with Japan and Australia. Leveraging America's best-in-class technologies to strengthen regional air and missile defense architectures.

Second, we're supporting allies and partners as they strengthen their own defense capabilities and capacity. We want to empower you – as partners, not dependents – to work more capably with the United States. 

We're working to rapidly deliver the kinds of off-the-shelf, innovative, autonomous systems for which the American defense industry is renowned. It's why the Department partnered with U.S. industry to launch the Maritime Security Consortium.  This consortium will build and sustain maritime domain awareness to deliver real operational effects by employing unmanned aircrafts and vessels. These capabilities, delivered quickly and at a lower cost, give a cutting edge advantage into the hands of our warfighters and of our defense partners in Southeast Asia.

A critical part of working with our partners is increasing interoperability – learning how to sail, fly, and fight as one. This year's BALIKATAN exercise in the Philippines was the largest-ever.  In the South China Sea, we continue to conduct regular maritime activities alongside Australia, Japan, and the Philippines.  We're also expanding our security partnership with India through robust military exercises like TIGER TRIUMPH.  And we're also amplifying cooperation within the Quad and other multilateral frameworks. Within the Quad we are also leading an initiative called the Indo-Pacific Logistics Network, enabling Quad partners to leverage shared logistics capabilities in the Indo-Pacific. You know, they say, rookies talk strategy, pros talk logistics.

And we're grateful for the opportunity to train with all our allies in the region in other exercises like TALISMAN SABRE with Australia and COBRA GOLD in Thailand. These exercises enhance our lethality while improving our readiness to respond at a moment's notice. And that was certainly put into practice last March with the Thai military in response to the earthquake there.

Flying, and sailing, and operating together in peacetime ensures we are prepared for the unexpected. 

And third, we are revitalizing our defense industrial bases and reallocating resources toward the most lethal and effective capabilities.  We are doing this because success of the warfighters requires it.

It's one thing for an adversary to see multinational forces operating together in exercises.  It's another thing entirely for that same country to see an integrated defense industrial base supporting those forces and standing ready to keep them in the fight.

That's why we're pleased to endorse the Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience, also known as PIPIR — a U.S.-initiated multilateral forum of 14 allies and partners working with industry, capital providers, and key non-governmental stakeholders, to strengthen industrial resilience, expand our capacity, and accelerate deliveries.

So today, I'm proud to announce the first PIPIR projects.

The first project plans to establish repair capability and capacity for P-8 radar systems in Australia.  It will also enable Indo-Pacific allies and partners operating the aircraft, including New Zealand and the Republic of Korea, to repair aircraft within the region rather than relying on single repair sources in the continental United States.

The second is a project that will develop standards for small unmanned aerial systems across the Indo-Pacific, identifying secure sources of production for their critical components, and increasing global supply chain resilience for these essential systems.

Similarly, we are working through our Regional Sustainment Framework to do things like expand existing contracts for U.S Army Watercraft repair.  The goal of this initiative is to bring in more providers and expand existing repair capability more broadly across the Indo-Pacific.

We'll also use our allies' world-class ship repair capabilities to enhance the U.S. Navy's operational effectiveness to save taxpayers money.

These moves will strengthen regional resiliency by increasing access to repair capabilities in theater and reducing dependency on far away supply chains. 

We're deepening our cooperation with Australia's Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance enterprise with historic momentum and purpose.  This work secures our technological edge and makes our munitions supply chains resilient.

In the last two months, we've reached an agreement for Australia to produce 155 millimeter ammunition and to assemble Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, or GMLRS. These steps enhance our readiness and facilitate upgrades to our collective defense industrial base.

And we're working with India to co-produce equipment needed to deter aggression.  And this includes negotiating an agreement to bring our industrial bases ever closer.  Last month, we held our first-ever U.S.-India industry-government experts exchange to produce and field state-of-the-art autonomous systems as part of the U.S.-India Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance.

So, across the board, the United States, our allies, and our partners have made great progress in these — and many other — areas towards achieving peace through strength.  But we have to move quickly and we have no time to waste.

So, as I conclude, it is with sage leadership, and strategic vision, and a sense of urgency that Lee Kwan Yew turned Singapore into one of the world's great success stories. Many call it the "Singapore Miracle." That's what common sense policies can achieve.  And that's precisely what President Trump's vision is all about.

President Trump is a leader of peace, a man of peace, a force for peace.  And together, we will achieve that peace through strength. Reestablishing deterrence. Sharing our burdens. Multiplying our strengths.  Reinforcing our great alliances. Respecting our cultures.  Not starting wars, but preventing them. And building a better future for our nations, for our mutual benefit.

During my last visit to the Indo-Pacific, I watched oil seep out from the wreckage of USS ARIZONA at Pearl Harbor.  I saw the rows of crosses marking the graves of over 17,000 American soldiers at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.  And I had the chance to walk the black sandy beaches of Iwo Jima.

In these hallowed places you can't help but immediately feel connected to the past — to the warriors who went before us.  They gave their all for me, for men and women they never knew, for freedom and for peace.  So, as we mark 80 years since the end of World War II, we owe it to today's warriors, to our citizens — as we put our citizens first and you put your citizens first.  We owe it to them, to our children and our grandchildren, to preserve this peace.
 
The motto of my first platoon, first one I led, was: "Those who long for peace, must prepare for war."  And that's exactly what we're doing.  We are preparing for war in order to deter war — to achieve peace through strength.  And we look out in this room and we look to you — to our allies and to our partners — to join us in this important work.

Our time is now.  The threats we face will not wait.  And nor can we.
 
Thank you and Godspeed.

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"This is an ultimate scientific laboratory where we come to do science, to test the technologies of our countries, to do technology demonstrations and science outreach that I can't wait to do for the for the next two weeks, and we will all try to do our best representing our countries," Uznański said as he was handed the microphone.

Finally, as his wings were clipped to his jumpsuit, "I really feel that this is the best crew that you could join. It really feels great to be part of Expedition 73," said Kapu. "I'm 100% sure that this is going to be awesome."

The Ax-4 mission, a private astronaut mission, will last approximately 14 days, during which the crew will conduct over 60 scientific experiments, including seven proposed by India, such as studying water bears (tardigrades) in microgravity and investigations in bio-manufacturing and bio-astronautics.

==================

Falcon 9 rocket launched SpaceX's newest Dragon spacecraft, named "Grace," at 0631 UTC on June 25, 2025, from Launch Complex-39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The Ax-4 mission for Houston-based Axiom Space, to the International Space Station (ISS) is carrying former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who is also Axiom's director of human spaceflight. Alongside her are mission pilot Shubhanshu Shukla and specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu.

The Falcon 9 first stage booster (B1094) touched down safely as planned about ~8 minutes after liftoff at SpaceX's Landing Zone 1(LZ 1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

About a minute later, the Falcon 9's second stage completed its orbital insertion and deployed Dragon to begin the final leg of Ax-4's journey to the space station.

The Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the dorsal port of the space station's Harmony module at approximately 1100 UTC on June 26.

Grace is the fifth Crew Dragon in SpaceX's fleet, and was named by the Ax-4 crew, with its name symbolizing elegance and harmony in space exploration. Ax-4 is the Dragon's debut mission carrying the crew of four to the International Space Station (ISS). The spacecraft featured upgraded life-support systems, touchscreen controls, and autonomous docking capabilities.

The crew shared images of their mission's zero-g indicator, a plush baby swan toy named Joy, symbolized cultural values—wisdom (India), resilience (Poland), and grace (Hungary)—and signaled the crew’s arrival in microgravity.

The Ax-4 crew will spend about two weeks aboard the ISS, living and working alongside the seven long-term occupants of ISS Expedition 73. They will conduct more than 60 science experiments and STEM outreach events, the highest number on any Axiom mission to date, representing 31 countries, including the U.S., India, Poland, Hungary, and others.

The experiments focuses on:

  • Human Research: Studies on muscle regeneration and the impact of isolation on mental health.

  • Life and Biological Sciences: Investigations into how sprouts, edible microalgae, and tiny aquatic organisms grow and survive in microgravity.

  • Earth Observation: Research to support environmental monitoring.

  • Material Sciences: Technology demonstrations for future space applications.

The crew trained extensively for ISS operations, with access to the U.S. segment of the station, including the Columbus and Kibō modules. Educational outreach included interactive events with schools and communities in the crew’s home countries.

This mission marks the first time people from India, Poland, and Hungary have flown together to the ISS and represents the return of these countries to human spaceflight for the first time in 40 years  It is also the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS.

Whitson is a former NASA astronaut and Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight. She is the most experienced American astronaut, with 675 days in space prior to this mission. This was her fifth spaceflight and second time commanding an Axiom mission. She holds records for the most spacewalks by a female astronaut (10) and the most cumulative time in space by a U.S. astronaut.

Shukla is a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force and an astronaut with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Shukla became the second Indian to reach space and the first to serve in a critical operational role on an ISS mission. With over 2,000 hours of flight experience, he trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia and is part of India’s Gaganyaan program, set for 2027.

Uznański-Wiśniewski is a European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut from the 2022 Astronaut Reserve Class. Uznański-Wiśniewski was the second Polish astronaut to travel to space and the first since 1978. An engineer with experience at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, he trained extensively in Europe, Japan, and the U.S. for the mission, carrying the Polish flag from the 1978 mission.

Kapu is representing the Hungarian to Orbit (HUNOR) program. Kapu was the second Hungarian astronaut to reach space and the first to visit the ISS. A mechanical engineer with expertise in space radiation protection, he was selected from 247 applicants and trained at NASA facilities.

"It has been more than 40 years since the first person from India, Poland and Hungary has been to space, and through this commercial space opportunity we are accelerating the national space programs in each of these three countries and creating new pathways for technological advancements," Whitson said at the crew's January press conferece. "I'm sure this crew is going to be inspiring a whole new generation of young people."

This is the second Axiom astronaut mission to the ISS that has been sponsored in part by another national government or the European Space Agency (ESA). Of the 60 experiments to be carried out by the Ax-4 crew, 17 are being supported by ESA and Poland, and 25 through Hungary's orbital astronaut program HUNOR.

"Each country who comes brings something different than what we have in the normal suite of what we see for our research," said NASA's ISS program manager Dana Weigel during a May 20 Ax-4 press call. "It really expands the breadth of what we can do with research and the number of countries, institutions, academic organizations, etc., who participate."

Thursday's launch was initially scheduled for June 11 but was delayed due to high altitude winds and a leak aboard the ISS.

The space station's aftmost module, Zvezda, has experienced an ongoing leak for more than five years now, but has remained stable during that time. Last week, a change in the pressure data that monitors the leak prompted NASA to delay Ax-4 while they monitored the issue.

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NATO Summit: Trump Slams Far-left CNN, NYT Over Iran Stories On U.S. Strikes

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO summit in The Hague concluded with significant developments, including a commitment by member states to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, aimed at strengthening collective security and meeting NATO's capability targets.

President Trump praised the summit's outcomes, calling the defense spending agreement a "big win" for the United States and Western civilization, while also expressing concerns about Spain's reluctance to meet the spending target. He reaffirmed his commitment to NATO's Article 5.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized NATO's renewed focus on becoming "deadlier and fairer," and reaffirmed the UK's commitment to defense spending and support for Ukraine.

Starmer highlighted the UK's commitment to NATO and its efforts to strengthen defense capabilities. He also emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine and ensuring the stability of the region.

NATO leaders agreed to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, with at least 3.5% allocated to core defense requirements and up to 1.5% for other security-related expenditures. This commitment is intended to ensure NATO's readiness and resilience against emerging threats.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte humorously referred to President Trump as "daddy" when discussing Trump's intervention in the Israel-Iran conflict. Rutte later clarified that the term was used metaphorically to describe Trump's role in mediating the dispute. Trump acknowledged it in a light-hearted manner, stating that Rutte "likes me."

Following his speech at the NATO Summit, President Trump, along with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed a leaked preliminary Pentagon assessment that suggested the damage to Iran's nuclear program by recent U.S. airstrikes was likely only a few months' setback rather than complete obliteration as Trump said.

The leaked preliminary Pentagon assessment, reported by far-left anti-Trump outlets like CNN and The New York Times, suggested the strikes only delayed Iran’s nuclear program by a few months, with damage limited to aboveground structures and some enriched uranium possibly moved beforehand.

Trump said the airstrikes were a "spectacular military success" and stated that Iran's "key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. He maintained that the strikes were a success and that Iran's nuclear ambitions had been set back by "decades."

The President emphasized the strikes’ precision and the bravery of U.S. pilots, comparing the operation’s impact to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, while insisting the conflict with Iran was over due to a ceasefire. He expressed frustration with the media, calling them “scum” for questioning the strikes’ effectiveness. He slammed "fake news" CNN and New York Times, accusing them of lying to demean the "brave" American pilots that carried out the bombing.

Trump later announced in a Truth Social post that Hegseth would hold a follow-up press conference with "military representatives" on June 26 to provide “irrefutable” proof of the mission’s success.

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SpaceX Private Ax-4 Astronauts Arrive At The Space Station

The SpaceX Ax-4 Crew Dragon "Grace" docked with the International Space Station (ISS) at 1031 UTC on June 26, and the hatches between the spacecraft and the station were opened at 1214 UTC. The station's current crew, including Exp. 73 commander JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, welcomed the Ax-4 astronauts abaord.

The spacecraft had launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a Falcon 9 rocket at 0631 UTC on June 25 for Houston-based Axiom Space, completing a 28-hour orbital journey to the space station.

Welcoming the Ax-4 crew mission commander Peggy Whitson, mission pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (India), mission specialists Sławosz Uznański (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary), Onishi noted the presence of 11 astronauts from six countries on the ISS. He welcomed the crew, stating, “With your arrival right now, there are 11 astronauts from six countries, and all of us are here in order to advance human space exploration and scientific research, symbolizing international cooperation.”

The Ax-4 crew received their astronaut wings during the ceremony, with Whitson expressing appreciation for the support provided by the ISS crew and Kapu describing the Expedition 73 team as “the best crew” to join.

The Ax-4 crew will work alongside the Expedition 73 members, including NASA astronauts Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, and Jonny Kim, JAXA’s Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov, Kirill Peskov, and Alexey Zubritsky.

"We're looking forward to getting a lot of work done with you guys, and I really appreciate all the support you provided for to us in advance of actually even getting here," Whitson said in response to Onishi.

"I'm very, very confident that the next 14 days are going to be amazing, advancing science and research and working together," said Shukla, mentioning that the view so far had surpassed his expectations.

"This is an ultimate scientific laboratory where we come to do science, to test the technologies of our countries, to do technology demonstrations and science outreach that I can't wait to do for the for the next two weeks, and we will all try to do our best representing our countries," Uznański said as he was handed the microphone.

Finally, as his wings were clipped to his jumpsuit, "I really feel that this is the best crew that you could join. It really feels great to be part of Expedition 73," said Kapu. "I'm 100% sure that this is going to be awesome."

The Ax-4 mission, a private astronaut mission, will last approximately 14 days, during which the crew will conduct over 60 scientific experiments, including seven proposed by India, such as studying water bears (tardigrades) in microgravity and investigations in bio-manufacturing and bio-astronautics.

==================

Falcon 9 rocket launched SpaceX's newest Dragon spacecraft, named "Grace," at 0631 UTC on June 25, 2025, from Launch Complex-39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The Ax-4 mission for Houston-based Axiom Space, to the International Space Station (ISS) is carrying former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who is also Axiom's director of human spaceflight. Alongside her are mission pilot Shubhanshu Shukla and specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu.

The Falcon 9 first stage booster (B1094) touched down safely as planned about ~8 minutes after liftoff at SpaceX's Landing Zone 1(LZ 1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

About a minute later, the Falcon 9's second stage completed its orbital insertion and deployed Dragon to begin the final leg of Ax-4's journey to the space station.

The Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the dorsal port of the space station's Harmony module at approximately 1100 UTC on June 26.

Grace is the fifth Crew Dragon in SpaceX's fleet, and was named by the Ax-4 crew, with its name symbolizing elegance and harmony in space exploration. Ax-4 is the Dragon's debut mission carrying the crew of four to the International Space Station (ISS). The spacecraft featured upgraded life-support systems, touchscreen controls, and autonomous docking capabilities.

The crew shared images of their mission's zero-g indicator, a plush baby swan toy named Joy, symbolized cultural values—wisdom (India), resilience (Poland), and grace (Hungary)—and signaled the crew’s arrival in microgravity.

The Ax-4 crew will spend about two weeks aboard the ISS, living and working alongside the seven long-term occupants of ISS Expedition 73. They will conduct more than 60 science experiments and STEM outreach events, the highest number on any Axiom mission to date, representing 31 countries, including the U.S., India, Poland, Hungary, and others.

The experiments focuses on:

  • Human Research: Studies on muscle regeneration and the impact of isolation on mental health.

  • Life and Biological Sciences: Investigations into how sprouts, edible microalgae, and tiny aquatic organisms grow and survive in microgravity.

  • Earth Observation: Research to support environmental monitoring.

  • Material Sciences: Technology demonstrations for future space applications.

The crew trained extensively for ISS operations, with access to the U.S. segment of the station, including the Columbus and Kibō modules. Educational outreach included interactive events with schools and communities in the crew’s home countries.

This mission marks the first time people from India, Poland, and Hungary have flown together to the ISS and represents the return of these countries to human spaceflight for the first time in 40 years  It is also the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS.

Whitson is a former NASA astronaut and Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight. She is the most experienced American astronaut, with 675 days in space prior to this mission. This was her fifth spaceflight and second time commanding an Axiom mission. She holds records for the most spacewalks by a female astronaut (10) and the most cumulative time in space by a U.S. astronaut.

Shukla is a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force and an astronaut with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Shukla became the second Indian to reach space and the first to serve in a critical operational role on an ISS mission. With over 2,000 hours of flight experience, he trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia and is part of India’s Gaganyaan program, set for 2027.

Uznański-Wiśniewski is a European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut from the 2022 Astronaut Reserve Class. Uznański-Wiśniewski was the second Polish astronaut to travel to space and the first since 1978. An engineer with experience at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, he trained extensively in Europe, Japan, and the U.S. for the mission, carrying the Polish flag from the 1978 mission.

Kapu is representing the Hungarian to Orbit (HUNOR) program. Kapu was the second Hungarian astronaut to reach space and the first to visit the ISS. A mechanical engineer with expertise in space radiation protection, he was selected from 247 applicants and trained at NASA facilities.

"It has been more than 40 years since the first person from India, Poland and Hungary has been to space, and through this commercial space opportunity we are accelerating the national space programs in each of these three countries and creating new pathways for technological advancements," Whitson said at the crew's January press conferece. "I'm sure this crew is going to be inspiring a whole new generation of young people."

This is the second Axiom astronaut mission to the ISS that has been sponsored in part by another national government or the European Space Agency (ESA). Of the 60 experiments to be carried out by the Ax-4 crew, 17 are being supported by ESA and Poland, and 25 through Hungary's orbital astronaut program HUNOR.

"Each country who comes brings something different than what we have in the normal suite of what we see for our research," said NASA's ISS program manager Dana Weigel during a May 20 Ax-4 press call. "It really expands the breadth of what we can do with research and the number of countries, institutions, academic organizations, etc., who participate."

Thursday's launch was initially scheduled for June 11 but was delayed due to high altitude winds and a leak aboard the ISS.

The space station's aftmost module, Zvezda, has experienced an ongoing leak for more than five years now, but has remained stable during that time. Last week, a change in the pressure data that monitors the leak prompted NASA to delay Ax-4 while they monitored the issue.

Read full Article
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