The United States has urged its Asia-Pacific allies, including Japan, to increase their defense spending to 5% of their GDP, as announced by Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell.

Parnell noted that NATO countries are currently discussing a similar defense spending goal of 5% of GDP, advocating for Asia-Pacific allies to align with this target.

A U.S. defense official confirmed that this 5% guideline applies to all allies in the Asia-Pacific region, specifically emphasizing Japan.

Concerns have arisen among South Korean officials that increased defense spending could lead to cuts in essential social programs, impacting domestic policy.

President Trump is expected to address South Korea's defense spending at the NATO summit beginning on June 24 in The Hague, where South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's attendance is under consideration.

This new demand for a 5% defense spending target significantly surpasses Japan's current goal of raising its defense budget to 2% of GDP by fiscal 2027.

Japan recently canceled a high-level annual meeting with U.S. officials after being asked to increase its defense spending target from 3% to 3.5% of GDP.

South Korea's defense budget for 2025 is approximately 61.2 trillion Korean won, or 2.39% of its GDP, meaning that reaching the 5% target would require spending over 130 trillion won by 2026.

During a Senate hearing and at the Shangri-La Dialogue, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth emphasized the necessity for allies to boost their defense budgets in light of threats from China and North Korea.

Parnell cited the military buildup of China and North Korea's nuclear and missile programs as key justifications for the proposed increase in defense spending among Asian allies.

Parnell confirmed that the standards for defense spending among U.S. allies in Europe and Asia are currently under review, with many NATO nations agreeing to the U.S. request for higher budgets.

He argued that increasing defense spending would not only enhance the security of Asia-Pacific allies but also establish a more equitable cost-sharing arrangement that benefits U.S. citizens.