US Department of Defense: "Asian Allies Must Match European Standards"
Demands NATO Members Raise Defense Spending to 5% of GDP
South Korea’s Defense Spending at 2.8% of GDP... Pressured to Double
The Donald Trump administration in the United States has introduced a new standard requiring Asian allies, including South Korea, to increase their defense spending to 5% of their gross domestic product (GDP). Previously, President Trump stated during last year’s presidential campaign that defense spending should be raised first to 3% of GDP, and eventually to 5%. With the upcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit this month, pressure from the United States on its allies to increase defense spending is expected to intensify.
On the 19th (local time), Sean Parnell, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense, said, "Our European allies are setting a global standard for Asian allies," adding, "That standard is spending 5% of GDP on defense."
This statement followed U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s announcement at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing the previous day that a new standard for defense spending for all allies worldwide had been established. Secretary Hegseth stated, "NATO's commitment to increased defense spending is a benchmark that all allies, including those in Asia, should follow."
As the United States is set to demand that NATO member countries raise their defense spending to as much as 5% of GDP at the upcoming NATO summit on the 24th and 25th, it has made clear that it will also require the same level of increase from Asian allies such as South Korea and Japan.
Previously, at the Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore on May 31, Secretary Hegseth also emphasized that "Asian allies need to significantly increase their defense spending" in order to respond to threats from North Korea and China.
If these U.S. demands become reality, South Korea is expected to face considerable burdens due to the gap with its current level of defense spending. Last year, South Korea spent approximately 66 trillion won on defense, which amounts to about 2.8% of its GDP. The United States is likely to demand that South Korea raise its defense spending to 5% of GDP in the future.
Spokesperson Parnell stated, "Given China’s massive military buildup and North Korea’s continued nuclear and missile development, it is common sense for Asia-Pacific allies to move quickly to match the pace and level of Europe’s defense spending." He added, "This aligns with the security interests of Asia-Pacific allies," and explained, "A more balanced and fair sharing of alliance costs with Asian allies is in the interest of the American people, so it is only reasonable."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
