Seoul: A decision by members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to increase their defense spending to 5 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) is anticipated to lead Washington to encourage South Korea and other Asian allies to adopt similar measures, analysts indicated.
According to Yonhap News Agency, during an annual alliance summit in The Hague, NATO leaders agreed to elevate their defense spending to 5 percent of their GDP over the next decade, up from the current 2 percent level. U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the decision, describing it as a significant achievement for Europe and Western civilization.
Following the NATO agreement, observers suggest that the United States will likely focus on its Asian allies, such as South Korea and Japan, to advocate for an increase in their defense spending. In a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing earlier this month, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized a "new standard for allied defense spending" that all global allies, including those in Asia, should adhere to.
The Pentagon reiterated this stance, stating that South Korea and other Asian allies are also expected to meet the "global standard" of spending 5 percent of GDP on defense. However, South Korea has asserted its intention to independently decide on defense spending increases. A spokesperson from Seoul's foreign ministry stated the government will base its decisions on a thorough assessment of security needs and fiscal conditions.
The defense ministry echoed these sentiments, noting that the current defense spending relative to GDP in South Korea is already substantial compared to other U.S. allies. South Korea's defense budget for this year is 61.2 trillion won (US$45.1 billion), making up 2.32 percent of its GDP, which is a 3.1 percent rise from the previous year.
During a regular press briefing, ministry spokesperson Jeon Ha-kyou mentioned there are no current plans to alter this stance as no official requests have been received. Some analysts believe that with Trump's transactional approach impacting key U.S. partners in the Indo-Pacific, South Korea should proactively redefine its role instead of merely reacting to external pressures.
Yu Ji-hoon, an associate research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, remarked that it is crucial for South Korea to take the initiative in establishing itself as a proactive security provider. He suggested strengthening cooperation in the arms industry and supporting initiatives in areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and naval maintenance.