The new Administration in Washington has reshaped the strategic discourse on national security matters. Across the U.S. alliance network, allies of the United States are wondering which changes in posture and budgets will follow, and how they ought to be planning accordingly. The Republic of Korea (ROK) may well need to re-evaluate some of its traditional thinking on defense in response to shifting international conditions. Luckily, and unlike some other American allies, it is well prepared to do so, as it maintains the healthiest defense industrial base of any American ally, a large and capable military, and a 2.8 percent defense budget that has been consistently higher than most U.S. allies