The US is charting a new course for defense spending, with President Donald Trump’s administration proposing a 13% increase that would push the Pentagon’s 2026 budget to an unprecedented US$1.01 trillion. While funding for medical research and education faces deep cuts, the White House is prioritizing investments to strengthen national security, deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific, and revitalize America’s defense industrial base. The move aligns with a global trend of escalating military budgets, as nations respond to heightened geopolitical tensions.