Indo-Pacific
Pentagon announces Colby's trip to South Korea and Japan after NDS release
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The Pentagon announced on Saturday that Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby will visit South Korea and Japan this weekend, following the release of the new National Defense Strategy (NDS). The trip aims to advance President Donald Trump's 'peace through strength' agenda, discussing burden-sharing and potential adjustments to U.S. forces on the Korean Peninsula. In response, President Lee Jae Myung stressed that achieving self-reliant defense is the 'most basic of basics.'
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced that Japan will launch a new office in the Defense Ministry next month to bolster defenses in the Pacific. The office aims to address challenges in protecting Japan's vulnerable eastern flank.
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Germany and Japan, both U.S. allies, have embraced the view that Europe's security is 'inseparable' from the Indo-Pacific region. Germany is stepping up its Indo-Pacific push, eyeing a visiting-forces pact with Japan.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will travel to Asia this week, including South Korea, to stress the need for allies to boost defense spending and contribute to collective defense. The Pentagon said Hegseth will praise South Korea's commitment to increasing defense spending and taking greater responsibility for alliance deterrence during the annual Security Consultative Meeting in Seoul on Nov. 4. This comes amid intensifying U.S.-China rivalry and North Korea's nuclear advances.
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President Prabowo Subianto praised Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's leadership as the first female leader who masters key issues, after attending the 28th ASEAN-Japan Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He highlighted the long-standing ASEAN-Japan partnership as a sturdy anchor for peace in the Indo-Pacific region. Prabowo also urged stronger economic cooperation and energy transitions.