U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth​ reassured allies in the Indo-Pacific on Saturday that they will not be left alone to face increasing military and economic pressure from China.

China accused Hegseth of vilifying the country with defamatory accusations and criticized him for promoting a Cold War mentality.

After US military allies in Europe were torched by Vice President JD Vance in March over military spending, free speech and the war in Ukraine, America’s partners in Asia warily awaited Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s arrival at a security conference in Singapore.

Pete Hegseth left some U.S. allies out to dry when he declared Israel, Poland, and the Gulf and Baltic states as "model allies."

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by Pentagon reporter Dan Lamothe to delve inside the ongoing drama in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's inner circle: Who is at odds with whom,