India, May 31 -- India is a "critical anchor" in South Asia and a powerful New Delhi would help maintain the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, said US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at the Shangri-La Dialogues in Singapore.

In a speech to politicians and officials from across the region, Hegseth pointed to closer cooperation between India and the United States on naval matters and co-production of Javelin anti-tank guided munitions.

"In South Asia, India is a critical anchor to hold the line. A powerful India acting in its own self interest advances our shared goal of maintaining a balance of power across the region. India is modernizing its military to carry its share of the security burden, particularly in the Indian Ocean," said H...