US to urge allies to boost defense spending, open defense industry

WASHINGTON — The State Department will work to encourage allies to bolster defense spending and invest in deterrence capabilities and allow the U.S. military greater access to their critical resources, while the U.S. will, in turn, offer increased access to its defense industrial base, its diplomatic plan showed Friday. On Thursday, the department released the “Agency Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2026-2030” to outline its policy strategy for the five-year period, stressing that it seeks closer economic and military ties with Indo-Pacific allies and partners that “benefit U.S. strength,” not those that come at America’s expense. The plan also pointed out the department’s push to create a “strong economic bloc of pro-American countries” as it seeks to mobilize U.S. businesses as the “preferred choice” for allies and partners by pursuing commercial deals in “all” bilateral relationships. “The Department will work to deepen relationships with allies and encourage them to increase their own spending, to invest in deterrence measures, and to allow the U.S. military greater access to critical

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