The world is witnessing an unprecedented surge in military spending as nations scramble to bolster their defenses. According to expert Lee Hae-young, this arms race is a classic security dilemma: when one country strengthens its military, others inevitably follow, leading to an escalating cycle.
More critically, the shift from a US-led unipolar world to a multipolar order is fueling uncertainty and anxiety among nations. Trump's defense strategy, which pressures allies to shoulder more of the burden—or even take over entirely—only accelerates the trend. In this context, rising defense budgets are unavoidable.
As the US demands higher contributions for its stationed forces, countries like South Korea face mounting pressure to increase their share. The result: a global race to arm that shows no signs of slowing.