Pentagon chief Pete Hagseth. Photo: Michael Probst/AP
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hagel has called on Washington’s allies in the Asia-Pacific region to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP, warning of a real threat from China, which, in his view, is preparing for a possible invasion of Taiwan. This was reported by Bloomberg.
At the annual Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore, Hughes delivered his first major speech in office, outlining the Donald Trump administration’s new strategy for the Indo-Pacific.
“When NATO members commit to spending 5% of their GDP on defence, it makes no sense for Asian partners to spend less – despite even more serious threats, including aggressive behaviour by China and North Korea,” the minister said.
He acknowledged that many countries in the region are trying to balance economic cooperation with China with a security partnership with the United States. However, according to Gagseth, Washington’s new policy envisages the extension of the “NATO model” to Asia, meaning that countries will be more independent in financing their own defence.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), South Korea currently has the highest defence spending in the region, at 2.6% of GDP. It is followed by Taiwan, Australia, Japan and the Philippines – none of which are close to the 5% mark.
Hughes’s statement was another signal of the US geostrategic shift from Europe to the Indo-Pacific – and a challenge for countries that have to decide between economics and security.
