U.S. Secretary of War Hergesus stated that the United States is now reestablishing its stance of the 'Monroe Doctrine' in the Western Hemisphere, actively defending its own territory and neighboring region, but still possesses the capability to project power anywhere in the world, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.
The 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue is being held in Singapore from the 29th to the 31st. Hergesus delivered a speech titled 'America’s Peace Strategy in the Indo-Pacific.'
According to Lianhe Zaobao, Hergesus said: “The United States is a Pacific nation. We are adamant that China respects our longstanding presence in this region—not just verbally, but by maintaining an obvious military strength, in order to rightfully and legitimately fulfill this task.”
● Strong but Low-Profile Power
Hergesus said: “We are changing the playbook. The era of flashy, performative outbursts is over—a time where Washington only issued loud diplomatic protests to showcase morality, yet was unable to protect actual capabilities. Looking ahead, we will be more thoughtful about how and when we communicate; as I said, we will lead with deeds first and foremost—strong, but low-profile; carrying a big stick, but speaking softly.
He said: “We will prioritize developing lethal capabilities, strategic discipline, and businesslike cooperation, rather than empty rhetoric and ostentatious displays. Any potential adversary will have to judge us by our hard power, our collective readiness, and our unwavering resolve.”
Hergesus said: “We are reestablishing the Monroe Doctrine in the Western Hemisphere—I personally prefer to call it the 'Don Roe Doctrine'—defending our homeland and hemisphere with a proactive posture. We will protect our people. But if you look at the War Department’s planning guidance and budget, you’ll see that we are building a team capable of global force projection, a nation capable of projecting power anywhere in the world, especially here.”