Shangri-La Dialogue to Kick Off This Week; Iran War and Taiwan Strait Tensions in Focus

The Shangri-La Dialogue, a major annual security forum in the Asia-Pacific, will take place in Singapore from May 29th to 31st. The US-Iran war, the situation in the Taiwan Strait, and the pressure on US commitments to Asia are expected to be the main topics. While Vietnamese President To Lam will deliver the keynote address, all eyes will be on US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. President Trump has indicated he is in no rush to reach a deal with Iran, and with the Strait of Hormuz effectively blocked, Asian allies are watching closely to see if the US will be distracted from the Asia-Pacific region. Analysts expect discussions on US-China rivalry, maritime hotspots, and defense spending.