Defense leaders in Asia should boost military expenditure to equivalent of 5% of GDP, similar to European countries, as suggested by U.S. Defense Secretary.

Defense leaders in Asia should boost military expenditure to equivalent of 5% of GDP, similar to European countries, as suggested by U.S. Defense Secretary.

In a bold move, the US is aggressively urging Asian countries to up their defense budgets, arguing that they should match the defense spending levels of their European counterparts. According to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, this increased investment is crucial, given the pressing threats posed by China and North Korea, which heavily impact the region.

At the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue, a major security and defense forum focusing on the Asia-Pacific, Hegseth asserted that the Indo-Pacific continues to be the US's top priority theater 1. He noted that an increment in defense spending by Asian countries would bolster the overall countermeasure against China's relentless pursuit of hegemony in Asia 2.

Hegseth drew parallels between the defense spending habits of European nations and Asian nations, pointing out that NATO members are committing to investing 5% of their GDP on defense, even countries like Germany 2. He questioned the logic behind countries in Europe boosting defense spending against potential threats from Russia while key Asian allies spend considerably less, despite facing a more daunting threat from communist China and North Korea 2.

Homespun wisdom reminiscent of Singapore's founding prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, is behind President Trump's Indo-Pacific strategy, as per Hegseth. Both leaders share a penchant for practicality and a preference for engagement based on commerce and sovereignty, rather than war 2.

Relevant Insights

1. Hegseth's call for increased defense spending is anchored in the imminent threat from China and North Korea, which require Asian allies to beef up their military capabilities 1.
2. The encouraged increase in defense spending is aimed at deterrence, enacting the philosophy of achieving peace through strength 2.
3. This push for increased defense spending is part of a broader strategic goal to ensure that US allies globally can defend themselves, maintain regional stability, and contribute to collective security efforts 2.

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1. The push for increased defense spending by the US in Asia is a part of the general news related to the policy-and-legislation and politics, as it involves the business sector (economy) due to the investment required, and is influenced by the security threats from China and North Korea, impacting the health and safety of the region.
2. The increased defense spending, as advocated by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, is linked to the health of the nations in the region, as it serves to bolster countermeasures against the aggressive pursuits of hegemony by China and North Korea, potentially impacting the well-being and security of the population.

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