America Asked Allies to Do More. They Are Also Preparing for a Less Predictable Washington

Taiwan has proposed an 18% increase in its defense budget for 2027, pushing military spending above 3% of GDP as Chinese military and political pressure grows. The move comes as the United States remains engaged in its six-month war with Iran and has deployed its last aircraft carrier in the western Pacific to the Middle East, temporarily leaving the region without a US carrier presence.

Picture by Staff Sgt. Kimberly Nagle via DVIDS

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