On the 6th (local time), U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that while ‘model allies’ that have strengthened their commitment to self-reliant defense, like South Korea, will be granted benefits, allies that do not respond to requests to increase defense spending could face disadvantages.

At the keynote address at the Reagan National Defense Forum that day, Hegseth referred to Israel·South Korea·Poland as “model allies” that had responded to the U.S. request to expand defense spending, saying, “These countries will receive special treatment (special favor) from the United States.” By contrast, he warned, “Allies that have not yet carried out the roles they must take on for collective defense will have to face the consequences.”

He noted that South Korea spends 3.5% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on core military expenditures and has pledged to take a leading role in conventional force capabilities. This was included in the joint fact sheet agreed by and announced by the leaders of South Korea·the United States on the 13th of last month.

Before the remarks by Hegseth, the Trump administration released the National Security Strategy (NSS), which presented the United States foreign and security objectives and direction. The NSS identified defense of the U.S. homeland and the Western Hemisphere, defense of Taiwan and deterrence of China in the Indo-Pacific as core priorities and called for allies to take greater responsibility for defending their own regions and to make substantive contributions to collective defense.

The NSS said the United States will build a ‘burden-sharing network’ with allies that share the same objectives and that it can provide participating countries with preferential measures in the commercial sector, technological cooperation, and support for defense procurement.

Introducing the direction of the NSS in his speech, Hegseth said, “Even if the United States prioritizes the Western Hemisphere and the Indo-Pacific, threats in other regions persist, and allies must do more.”

He explained that European allies are confronting Russia; that Iran, though constrained by actions by the United States and Israel, remains threatening in the Middle East; and that on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea is a continuing risk factor.

He went on to say that if simultaneous threats arise in multiple regions, the United States cannot respond to everything alone, emphasizing, “Allies should no longer rely solely on the United States and must step up more actively. Free-riding will no longer be allowed.”