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Pentagon Policy Chief Names South Korea a Role Model as U.S. Prepares New Defense Strategy

Elbridge Colby praised South Korea’s defense leadership ahead of a summit to discuss alliance modernization.

This photo, released by AFP, shows U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby (R) and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth attending a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Pentagon in Washington on July 21, 2025. (Yonhap)
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Overview

  • Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby called South Korea a “role model” for taking the lead against North Korea and boosting defense spending.
  • He made the remarks in a social media post on X following a phone conversation between Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
  • Colby is tasked with delivering a draft National Defense Strategy by August 31 that prioritizes greater alliance burden-sharing and deterring China in the Indo-Pacific.
  • The Pentagon has set a “global standard” goal for South Korea and other Asian allies to spend 5 percent of GDP on defense, following NATO’s commitment for 2035.
  • Presidents Lee Jae-Myung and Trump are expected to meet at the White House in the coming weeks to negotiate defense budgets and the future structure of the alliance.