Overview

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Congress that allies must invest in their own security and “share the burden” rather than rely on U.S. support alone.
• He described the Indo-Pacific as the Pentagon’s top strategic focus and named China as the primary threat driving calls for stronger regional deterrence.
• He highlighted European NATO members pledging about 5 percent of GDP to defense as a benchmark for Asian partners.
• He indicated the administration could press South Korea to increase its financial contribution to stationing 28,500 U.S. troops on the peninsula.
• He cautioned that any Chinese attempt to seize Taiwan by force would trigger catastrophic repercussions for the region and the world.