Shangri-La Dialogue 2026: Five things to watch

Here are five themes to watch at this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue.

US ROLE IN REGION AMID IRAN WAR

Hegseth is expected to outline Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy in his address on Saturday, as the Trump administration navigates overlapping crises in the Middle East and ongoing tensions in Europe.

Regional allies will be watching for assurance that the US remains committed to the Indo-Pacific, amid concerns that Washington could be overstretched or increasingly distracted.

“There will likely be some continued anxiety over the unpredictability and volatility of US policy, and the consequences for stability,” said Chong Ja Ian, a political scientist at the National ​University of Singapore.

The Iran war has thrown the global economy into ​disarray, driving up oil prices and feeding inflationary pressures across Asia’s import-dependent economies.

“The most pressing issue for Asia would be the US-Israel-Iran conflict and its effects on energy supply,” he told Reuters.

Meia Nouwens from the International Institute for Strategic Studies said security developments are now directly affecting energy flows and economic stability in Asia.

“Security … is having a direct impact on energy security, energy flows to this part of the world, that’s impacting economies and growth,” she told CNA’s Asia First on Friday.

“I imagine lots of countries will be asking questions about this at the Shangri-La Dialogue, questions around commitments to this part of the world as well,” said the senior fellow for Chinese security and defence policy.

Despite the concerns, Nouwen said she expects the US’ commitment to the Indo-Pacific to remain firm and that will be the key message that the US would want to send.