Shangri-La Dialogue
Annual Asia-Pacific security summit held in Singapore, convening defence ministers and officials from across the Indo-Pacific region.
Last refreshed: 31 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
What did the US say about striking Iran at the Singapore security summit?
Timeline for Shangri-La Dialogue
hosted US-China diplomatic divergence over Iran and Taiwan on 30 May
Iran Conflict 2026: Hegseth threatens Iran strikes in Singapore- What is the Shangri-La Dialogue?
- It is an annual Asia-Pacific security summit organised by the IISS and held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore. Since 2002 it has brought together defence ministers and senior military officials from more than 40 countries to discuss Indo-Pacific security.
- What did Pete Hegseth say about Iran at Shangri-La 2026?
- Hegseth told the dialogue that the US was 'more than capable' of resuming strikes on Iran and that munition stocks were 'more than suited' to it. He linked the Hormuz situation to Taiwan and said Trump was 'being patient'.
- Why did China not send its defence minister to Shangri-La 2026?
- China sent only scholars rather than its defence minister for the second consecutive year, reflecting ongoing tensions over Taiwan and reluctance to engage on a US-framed security agenda that includes the Iran conflict.
- Where is the Shangri-La Dialogue held?
- It is held annually at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore.
Background
The Shangri-La Dialogue 2026, held in Singapore on 30-31 May, became a platform for explicit US military signalling on Iran when Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told delegates that the United States was 'more than capable' of resuming strikes on Iran and that its munition stocks were 'more than suited' to it. Hegseth linked the Strait of Hormuz situation directly to Taiwan as twin Indo-Pacific concerns, and said President Trump was 'being patient'. His remarks coincided with Trump's Situation Room meeting in Washington, reading as a coordinated diplomacy-or-force message. China sent only scholars to the dialogue for the second consecutive year, with no defence minister present; its delegation addressed multilateralism and Taiwan without mentioning Iran.
The Shangri-La Dialogue is convened annually by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and takes its name from the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore where it is held. Established in 2002, it is the premier track-1 security forum for the Asia-Pacific region, drawing defence ministers, chiefs of staff, and senior officials from more than 40 countries. Unlike the Munich Security Conference, which focuses on Euro-Atlantic security, the Shangri-La Dialogue addresses Indo-Pacific dynamics including maritime disputes, alliance management, and the US-China rivalry.
China's decision to send scholars rather than its defence minister for the second successive year reflected continuing tensions over Taiwan and its reluctance to be seen legitimising a US-framed multilateral security agenda. The 2026 dialogue's Iran dimension was unusual: the conflict sits outside the forum's traditional geographic REMIT but its implications for global energy supply and US force posture in the Indo-Pacific made it unavoidable.
