Washington: The Pentagon announced that South Korea and other Asian allies are expected to adhere to a "global standard" of allocating 5 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) to defense spending, a proposal initially put forth by U.S. President Donald Trump for European allies.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell emphasized this standard following Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's remarks at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. Hegseth stated that all global allies, including those in Asia, should aim for this new defense spending benchmark.

Currently, South Korea's defense budget is approximately 61.2 trillion won (US$44.6 billion), representing 2.32 percent of its GDP, as reported by Seoul's defense ministry. Parnell highlighted the need for Asia-Pacific allies to align with Europe's defense spending levels due to the military expansion of China and North Korea's nuclear and missile activities.

Parnell further articulated that achieving a balance in defense spending is in the security interests of both Asia-Pacific allies and the American people, aligning with President Trump's approach to fair alliance burden-sharing.

When asked if this standard applies to South Korea, a Pentagon official confirmed the interpretation as "correct." During the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth urged Indo-Pacific allies to increase their defense expenditures, stressing the importance of matching Europe's commitment in the face of significant threats from North Korea.

The push for increased defense spending among allies coincides with speculation that Trump may request higher defense contributions from South Korea, particularly concerning the cost of maintaining U.S. Forces Korea.

Hegseth's advocacy for enhanced allied defense capabilities comes amid efforts by the Trump administration to address challenges such as North Korea's nuclear program and the strategic threats posed by China. In line with this, Hegseth has instructed Under Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby to prepare the 2025 National Defense Strategy, prioritizing increased burden-sharing and deterrence of Chinese threats in the Indo-Pacific. The final draft of this strategy is expected by August 31.