A: Hey there! Have you been keeping up with the news lately?
B: Not really, what's going on?
A: Well, it seems like Donald Trump is pushing for his European allies to step up their defense spending. They're currently discussing raising it, actually.
B: Oh, really? That sounds serious. And who else is involved in this talk about defense spending?
A: Apart from Europe, the US is also talking to its Asian allies. The Defense Department chief even said that with all the military buildup by China and North Korea's nuclear threats, it makes perfect sense for Asia-Pacific allies to increase their defense budget too.
B: I see! So it's like they want them to match the defense spending level of Europe, right?
A: Exactly! The Defense Department chief said it's because it's in their own security interests and that of the American people to share the alliance burden more fairly with their Asian allies.
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The United States says its allies in Asia should spend 5 percent of their gross domestic product on defense, which is the level its European allies are discussing as a global standard.



NATO nations are currently discussing raising their defense spending, following repeated criticism from US President Donald Trump. He has argued that it is unfair that his European allies depend on the US for defense.



Chief spokesperson of the US Defense Department Sean Parnell explained to NHK on Friday the department's view on US allies in Asia. He said, "given the enormous military buildup of China as well as North Korea's ongoing nuclear and missile developments, it is only common sense for Asia-Pacific allies to move rapidly to step up to match Europe's pace and level of defense spending."



He added, "It is common sense because it is in our Asia-Pacific allies' own security interests, and in that of the American people's to have more balanced and fairer alliance burden-sharing with our Asian allies."