Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has called New Zealand a "freeloader" due to the country's insufficient defense spending.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue forum in Singapore, Hegseth responded to a question about why New Zealand is not included in the list of US allies, stating that the country does not deserve such status.
"To be honest, two percent is not enough; two percent means being a freeloader," Hegseth said. He added that he has no personal bias against New Zealand.
In response, New Zealand Defense Minister Chris Penk announced plans to increase security contributions and raise military spending. He emphasized that New Zealand is ready to take on a more significant role in the Indo-Pacific region and globally. Penk noted that the country has participated in various armed conflicts for decades and always supported the right side. He also mentioned that New Zealand troops are currently involved in training the Ukrainian army. The government plans to double the share of defense spending in GDP and strengthen the combat capability of the armed forces.
