When defence ministers from 47 countries descend on a single city over a late-May weekend, the event commands global attention. Singapore hosted the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue from 30 May to 1 May 2025, drawing Emmanuel Macron, Pete Hegseth, and senior Indo-Pacific defence officials for three days of structured security dialogue.

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Dates: 30 May–1 May 2025 ·
Location: Singapore ·
Organizer: IISS ·
Key Speakers: Emmanuel Macron, Pete Hegseth ·
Edition: 22nd

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Full transcript of Macron’s keynote speech
  • Complete attendee list from all 47 countries
  • Specific road closure details for the venue area
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue likely scheduled for late May 2025
  • Continued evolution of Indo-Pacific security agenda

Key details about the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue are confirmed by Singapore’s Ministry of Defence and Australia’s Department of Defence, as follows.

Field Value
Event Name IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2025
Dates 30 May–1 June 2025
Location Singapore
Edition 22nd
Organizer International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)

What is the Shangri-La Dialogue 2025?

The Shangri-La Dialogue is the premier Track One security forum in the Asia-Pacific region. Organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) since 2002, the annual gathering brings together defence ministers, military chiefs, and senior officials from across the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East to discuss shared security challenges.

The 22nd edition was held in Singapore from 30 May to 1 June 2025. According to the Australian Department of Defence, the forum serves as the region’s pre-eminent security forum, creating space for frank dialogue on proliferation risks, regional stability, and cross-regional cooperation.

History and purpose

The forum was established in 2002 and has grown into one of the most important venues for international security policy exchange. Unlike many diplomatic gatherings, the Shangri-La Dialogue is explicitly designed for inter-governmental engagement at the Track One level — meaning defence ministers and their direct reports attend personally, not through proxies.

Organizer role

The IISS, a London-based think tank specialising in strategic studies, convenes the event and sets the agenda. Plenary sessions are typically structured around broad themes — from managing proliferation risks to enhancing security cooperation — with speakers drawn from both regional and extra-regional powers.

The upshot

The Shangri-La Dialogue matters because it forces defence decision-makers from rival powers into the same room. No joint statement emerges, but the conversations in hallways and on panel stages often reset assumptions about where alliance lines actually sit.

Where is the venue of the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue 2025?

Singapore has hosted every edition of the Shangri-La Dialogue since the forum’s founding in 2002. The 22nd edition followed that tradition, with the Shangri-La Hotel itself serving as the anchor venue for three days of plenary sessions and bilateral meetings.

The city-state’s selection as permanent host reflects its position as a neutral space in a geopolitically charged region — and its logistical capacity to manage the security protocols required when multiple defence ministers arrive simultaneously.

Singapore hosting details

Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam hosted delegates to a dinner at the St Regis Singapore on 31 May 2025, underscoring the government’s direct involvement in the event. Singapore’s Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing also spoke at the plenary session on 1 June 2025, addressing “Enhancing Security Cooperation for a Stable Asia-Pacific.”

Road closures advisory

Major security summits of this scale typically generate localised traffic and access restrictions around the venue area. Visitors planning travel to the Shangri-La Hotel zone during the event weekend should check Singapore police advisories for current road closure specifics, as these details vary edition to edition.

The implication: delegates navigate tighter logistics during the summit weekend, but the restrictions signal Singapore’s readiness to host high-level multilateral events.

Who attends Shangri-La Dialogue?

The Shangri-La Dialogue draws a high-level crowd. The 22nd edition welcomed delegates from 47 countries, including 40 ministerial-level representatives, more than 20 Chief of Defence Forces-level delegates, and over 20 senior defence officials, plus academics and policy researchers.

The Singapore Ministry of Defence confirmed that attendance is weighted toward Asia-Pacific defence establishments, but the forum explicitly extends invitations to European and Middle Eastern counterparts as well — creating a rare cross-regional security conversation.

Defence ministers

The core audience consists of defence ministers and permanent secretaries from member states. For Australia, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles attended his fourth Shangri-La Dialogue in that role, addressing the third plenary session on “Managing Proliferation Risks in the Asia-Pacific.”

2025 key figures

Several high-profile speakers shaped the 2025 programme. French President Emmanuel Macron delivered the keynote address on 30 May, making him one of the most senior Western leaders to address the forum in recent years. Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim delivered a Special Address on 31 May.

US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth participated in the 15th Trilateral Defence Ministers Meeting alongside Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles and Japanese Defence Minister Nakatani Gen — a grouping that signals deepening security coordination among the three treaty allies.

Why this matters

When Macron, Hegseth, and Anwar share a forum within a 48-hour window, alliance lines become visible in real time. For analysts tracking security coordination, the trilateral meeting alone carried significant weight.

Why is it called the Shangri-La Dialogue?

The forum takes its name from the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, where the inaugural event was held in 2002. The choice of venue stuck — both literally and symbolically. The hotel’s conference facilities proved adequate, and the name carried a certain diplomatic resonance: Shangri-La, the fictional Himalayan utopia, suggested a space set apart from everyday politics.

The IISS selected Singapore partly because of its status as a stable, well-connected city-state with no direct stake in the regional disputes most attendees are there to discuss. That neutrality has proved durable across two decades of increasingly tense Indo-Pacific geopolitics.

Naming origin

Beyond the hotel reference, the “Dialogue” label reflects the forum’s design: structured plenary sessions followed by open discussion, rather than negotiated communiqués or binding agreements. The format prioritises candour over consensus.

Regional diplomacy role

The forum has evolved into the premier venue where defence ministers from rival powers share a stage — even if direct bilateral dialogue remains limited. Plenary 5 at SLD 2025 covered “Cross-regional Security,” explicitly addressing great-power competition, regional conflicts, and humanitarian crises, according to the IISS YouTube archive of proceedings.

How often is the Shangri-La Dialogue held?

The Shangri-La Dialogue convenes annually, typically during the late-May to early-June window. The 22nd edition ran 30 May–1 June 2025, following the 21st edition of 31 May–2 June 2024. That consistent timing has become one of the forum’s distinguishing features — attendees and analysts can set their calendars by the late-May weekend.

The sole major disruption came during the COVID-19 period: the 19th edition, originally scheduled for 5–7 June 2020, was postponed and ultimately held 10–12 June 2022. Every other year has proceeded on schedule.

Annual schedule

The three-day format has remained consistent across editions. Day one typically opens with a keynote address from a major head of government or state. Day two features special addresses and plenary discussions. Day three closes with senior defence official panels and bilateral sideline meetings.

Next edition 2026

The 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue is expected to take place from 29–31 May 2026, maintaining the established late-May schedule. The IISS will likely issue formal announcements in early 2026, with Singapore again serving as host.

“Building cross-regional security interlinkages requires joint efforts across three key dimensions: political connectivity, economic connectivity, and security connectivity.”

— SLD 2025 Plenary Speaker (Cross-regional Security session)

“The Shangri-La Dialogue is the region’s pre-eminent security forum, bringing leaders from Indo-Pacific, Europe, and Middle East together for frank dialogue on shared challenges.”

— Australian Department of Defence (official statement)

For defence analysts, the takeaway is straightforward: the Shangri-La Dialogue has survived as the region’s most consequential security convening power not because it produces binding agreements, but because it creates structured space for direct inter-governmental contact. When 47 countries send ministerial-level representation to a three-day forum, the absence of a final document does not mean the event failed — it means the real work happened in the corridors between sessions.

Related reading: HMS Prince of Wales Singapore docking · Istana Open House guide

Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org, youtube.com

The Shangri-La Dialogue 2025 convenes at the iconic Shangri-La Singapore hotel in Singapore’s Tanglin district, drawing defence ministers from over 40 nations.

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Frequently asked questions

What countries attended the Shangri-La Dialogue?

The 22nd edition drew delegates from 47 countries, including 40 ministerial-level representatives, more than 20 Chief of Defence Forces-level delegates, and over 20 senior defence officials. Attendance is weighted toward Asia-Pacific nations, with European and Middle Eastern representatives also present.

What is the Shangri-La Dialogue?

The Shangri-La Dialogue is the premier Track One inter-governmental security conference in the Asia-Pacific region. Organised by the IISS since 2002 and held annually in Singapore, it brings together defence ministers, military chiefs, and senior officials for structured plenary discussions on regional and cross-regional security challenges.

Who is hosting Shangri-La Dialogue 2025?

The event was convened by the IISS and hosted by Singapore, with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam hosting a delegate dinner and Singapore Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing speaking at the closing plenary session.

Are there road closures for Shangri-La Dialogue 2025?

Major security summits of this scale typically generate localised traffic restrictions around the Shangri-La Hotel area. Specific road closure details vary by edition and are managed through Singapore police advisories issued close to the event date.

What are the dates for Shangri-La Dialogue 2025?

The 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue took place from 30 May to 1 May 2025 in Singapore.

Is there a Shangri-La Dialogue 2026?

Yes, the 23rd edition is expected to run from 29–31 May 2026, maintaining the established late-May annual schedule.

Who are the main speakers at Shangri-La Dialogue 2025?

Key speakers included French President Emmanuel Macron (keynote, 30 May), Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (special address, 31 May), Singapore Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing (closing plenary, 1 June), and Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles (proliferation risks plenary). US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth participated in the trilateral meeting with Australian and Japanese counterparts.