U.S. urges allies to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP

WASHINGTON - A new U.S. defense strategy released Friday urges all American allies and partners to increase defense spending to 5 percent of their gross domestic product and be more responsible for their own national security.

Highlighting President Donald Trump's "America First" and "peace through strength" agenda, the Pentagon's policy document says they have a bigger role to play, but not as "the dependencies of the last generation," as the United States needs to prioritize defending its homeland and its interests throughout the Western Hemisphere.