Donald Trump, President of the United States (left), and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. [Photo source: Yonhap News]” – “The Washington Post (WP) reported on the 29th (local time) that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has prioritized deterring China’s ‘invasion of Taiwan’ and defending the U.S. mainland in new guidelines recently shared at the Department of Defense.”
“The guidelines also include pressure on allies to increase defense spending in order to take on most of the role of deterring threats from North Korea and others.”
“According to multiple sources, Secretary Hegseth distributed a nine-page document known as the ‘Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance’ within the Department of Defense around mid-month.”
“In a document marked with ‘confidential, not to be disclosed to foreign nationals’ on most pages, Secretary Hegseth shifted priorities to preventing China’s occupation of Taiwan and defending the U.S. mainland.”
“The Department of Defense will ‘take risks in other areas’ considering the constraints in personnel and resources and is pressuring European, Middle Eastern, and East Asian allies to assume most of the role in deterring threats like Russia, North Korea, and Iran by spending more on defense.”
“As a result, attention is focused on whether these guidelines will affect the defense cost-sharing of the U.S. Forces in Korea and changes in their roles.”
“During the election campaign, President Trump referred to South Korea as a ‘Money Machine’ and argued that South Korea should pay $10 billion (14 trillion won) in defense cost-sharing.”
“Victor Cha, a Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), predicted, ‘Elbridge Colby will be the Deputy Secretary of Defense for policy, and they (Colby and Pentagon officials) will almost certainly pressure South Korea for the ‘strategic flexibility’ of U.S. Forces Korea.'”
“The implication is that the second Trump administration might seek to expand the role of U.S. Forces in Korea beyond protecting ally South Korea against North Korea to also include responding to crises in the Taiwan Strait.”
“WP evaluated that this document provides a detailed, extensive description of President Donald Trump’s plans to defend against external threats like those from Greenland and the Panama Canal, as well as responding to China.”