U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth joined U.S. troops aboard the USS Boxer docked in Singapore, taking part in physical training exercises and engaging with service members on Friday (May 29).

He was seen running and doing push-ups alongside personnel, and joked about the intensity of the workout in a candid moment with reporters covering the event.

Hegseth later praised the troops during remarks, linking their strength to broader U.S. military readiness amid regional tensions.

The visit comes as he prepares to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, where U.S.-China defense relations remain in focus, though his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun will skip this week's Shangri-La Dialogue, after Beijing on Thursday (May 28) said it is sending a delegation of "experts and scholars" from the People's Liberation Army to the security forum.

The free-wheeling informal gathering, running from May 29 to 31, draws an eclectic mix of ministers, generals, intelligence chiefs, diplomats, analysts and weapons makers for carefully worded speeches and frank exchanges behind polished hotel doors.

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Hegseth exercises with US military personnel on USS Boxer ahead of Shangri-La Dialogue

VIDEO SHOWS: U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY, PETE HEGSETH, EXERCISING WITH U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL ON DECK OF USS BOXER, DOCKED IN SINGAPORE

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: SINGAPORE (MAY 29, 2026) (U.S. NETWORK POOL - No use USA)

1. VARIOUS OF U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY, PETE HEGSETH, SPEAKING TO U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL

2. HEGSETH WARMING UP WITH MILITARY PERSONNEL

3. VARIOUS OF HEGSETH PARTICIPATING IN EXERCISES WITH MILITARY PERSONNEL ON DECK OF USS BOXER

4. HEGSETH RUNNING

5. HEGSETH DOING PUSH-UPS

6. HEGSETH RUNNING

7. PUSH-UPS

8. VARIOUS OF HEGSETH EXERCISING WITH PERSONNEL

9. HEGSETH EXERCISING / HEGSETH TURNING TO CAMERA AND SAYING (English):

"Kids are studs. This is me looking like I want to be talking to you, but I just want a break. Because they're too good." / HEGSETH WALKING AWAY

10. HEGSETH SPEAKING WITH MILITARY PERSONNEL DURING EXERCISE

11. HEGSETH'S WIFE, JENNIFER HEGSETH, EXERCISING

12. HEGSETH EXERCISING / WALKING OVER TO CROWD

13. HEGSETH POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPH WITH MILITARY PERSONNEL

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY, PETE HEGSETH, ADDRESSING U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL, SAYING:

"As the president said, I'm lost on time, two days ago now, in the cabinet meeting, sitting right next to me, he looks in the camera, he says, 'Well, Iran you can either do it the right way with the deal across the table or you can deal with my guy on the left.' That happened to be me. But it's not me, it's you guys." / MILITARY PERSONNEL CHEERING

15. HEGSETH WALKING OFF DECK

16. HEGSETH AND WIFE WALKING THROUGH GUARD OF HONOUR OFF SHIP