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Pentagon chief says Indo-Pacific allies 'stepping up' to 5% of GDP defense spending goal

Published: 27 Aug. 2025, 09:12

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington on Aug. 26. [AFP/YONHAP]

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that Indo-Pacific allies are "stepping up" to spend 5 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense as North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies have agreed to reach the target by 2035.

Hegseth made the remarks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House while touting the progress that President Donald Trump's administration has made in restoring deterrence at home and abroad.

"Whether it's Europe [...] our allies [will be] paying 5 percent now. Our allies in the Indo-Pacific [are] stepping up to do the same," Hegseth said. "That's a recognition that American leadership is here."

His remarks came as the Pentagon said that Asian allies are also subject to the "global standard" of spending 5 percent of their GDP on defense.

At a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies on Monday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung vowed to take on a more "leading" role for security on the Korean Peninsula and increase defense spending, though he did not elaborate.

South Korea's defense budget this year stands at around 61.2 trillion won ($44.2 billion), or about 2.32 percent of its GDP, according to Seoul's Defense Ministry.

Yonhap