Washington: The United States is making concerted efforts to shift its strategic focus towards the Indo-Pacific region to counter perceived threats from China, according to a Pentagon press secretary. The region has been described as increasingly perilous, necessitating heightened military readiness and collaboration with regional allies.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson emphasized the Pentagon's commitment during a press conference. In her remarks, Wilson addressed questions concerning military training collaborations between South Korea and the United States, as well as the ongoing development of nuclear and ballistic missile programs in North Korea.
"We are really trying to do everything that we can as a department to reorient to that theater and make sure that we're countering the China threat," Wilson stated, aligning with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's characterization of the Indo-Pacific as a priority area of focus.
Wilson also highlighted the significance of allied nations increasing their defense spending to ensure regional security, particularly in light of North Korea's stance against denuclearization and its continued weapons development. "We've seen our allies really step up and respond. And again, we're very proud and encouraged by that because the Indo-Pacific is increasingly a dangerous area," she added.
The Pentagon has also underscored the expectation that South Korea and other Asian allies adhere to a global standard of allocating 5 percent of their GDP to defense spending, a benchmark set for NATO members to meet by 2035. Currently, South Korea's defense budget is about 2.32 percent of its GDP, amounting to approximately 61.2 trillion won (US$44.2 billion), as reported by Seoul's defense ministry.