SOFREP Daily: Americans Want Stronger Military Funding, Russia-North Korea Pact Takes Effect, South Korean President Replaces Defense Minister

Good morning! It’s Thursday, December 5, and time for your defense and global affairs update. We’ve got the latest headlines shaping today’s world. Let’s get to it!

US Public Wants Stronger Military Funding: Survey

Americans are showing record support for increasing the military budget, with nearly 80 percent favoring higher defense spending, according to the Reagan National Defense Survey released Thursday.

This is up two points from last year, with almost half of respondents strongly supporting the idea.

While backing for a bigger defense budget outpaces priorities like foreign aid (43 percent) and promoting freedom abroad (61 percent), domestic spending on Social Security (89 percent), health care (84 percent), and infrastructure (89 percent) remains even more popular.

PREVIEW: Reagan National Defense Survey@FoxNews‘s @BretBaier and @JenGriffinFNC preview the findings of our seventh annual defense survey!

“Voters who support President Trump want to see robust American leadership in the world.”
– @RogerZakheim

Watch⬇️ pic.twitter.com/SADiGD3xbL

— Ronald Reagan Institute (RRI) (@ReaganInstitute) December 5, 2024

The survey, conducted just after the November election with a representative sample of 2,500 Americans, reflects heightened attention to national security.

Ongoing conflicts, like Israel’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon, and dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s foreign policy, may have played a role.

Public trust in the military has slightly recovered after a years-long dip, though it’s still below 2018 levels.

Meanwhile, a majority supports United States aid to Ukraine (55 percent) and Israel (54 percent), and 41 percent want a military force capable of taking on both China and Russia simultaneously—a more ambitious goal than current plans.

Defense spending has sparked debate within the Republican Party, with traditional hawks pushing for increased budgets while others advocate for more selective involvement.

President-elect Donald Trump’s “peace through strength” message resonated with voters, though his stance on defense spending remains unclear.

US Faces Ammo Crunch in Potential China War

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan sounded the alarm Wednesday about a potential US ammo shortage in the event of a conflict with China.

Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Sullivan emphasized the need to ramp up defense production, warning that a war with “a military like [People’s Republic of China] is going to involve the exhaustion of munition stockpiles very rapidly.”

He urged the incoming Trump administration to continue efforts to strengthen the domestic defense industry, citing progress made under the Biden administration, including a sharp increase in artillery round production.

Sullivan also pushed for Congress to back a proposed $500 million annual munitions fund to ensure the Pentagon can keep critical supplies flowing during conflicts.

With growing concerns over coordination among US adversaries like China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, Sullivan stressed the importance of a robust military-industrial base capable of rapidly scaling up during a crisis.

However, Trump’s team has signaled skepticism about continued aid for Ukraine, preferring to focus resources on countering China instead.

Russia-North Korea Pact Takes Effect

North Korea and Russia’s defense alliance is now official after both countries exchanged ratification documents this week.

The treaty, signed by Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin in June, obligates the nations to provide military aid to each other in case of attack and jointly resist Western sanctions.

The partnership has already drawn attention, with accusations from the US and South Korea that North Korea sent over 10,000 soldiers to support Russia’s war in Ukraine.

As previously reported, analysts believe Kim Jong Un is seeking advanced Russian tech and combat experience for his troops in exchange.

This deal deepens ties between the two countries, both heavily sanctioned by the United Nations (UN).

🚨Update: South Korea and US are in panic over new Russian – North Korean Military Alliance!! State Department says that Russia will help North Korea develop better ballistic missiles and advanced nuclear weapons!! pic.twitter.com/HYhyRYrryF

— US Civil Defense News (@CaptCoronado) December 5, 2024

North Korea appears to be recalibrating its foreign policy by actively supporting Russia, possibly even sidelining its traditional ally, China.

Kim has expressed unwavering support for Russia’s defense of its sovereignty, while Putin has called the pact a “breakthrough document.”

The alliance aims to challenge Western dominance and push for a “multi-polar” world order.

South Korean President Replaces Defense Minister Amid Martial Law Fallout

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is in hot water after his brief martial law declaration late Tuesday night.

Opposition parties are moving to impeach him and his defense minister, accusing Yoon of an unconstitutional “self-coup” when he deployed armed troops to Seoul’s streets and suspended political party activities.

Martial law lasted only six hours before the National Assembly unanimously overruled it, forcing its repeal.

Yoon has since replaced Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun with retired general Choi Byung Hyuk, but that hasn’t cooled the political storm.

Protesters are flooding the streets, and impeachment motions are piling up against Yoon and other top officials, including prosecutors accused of protecting Yoon’s allies.

The controversy has deeply polarized South Korea, with opposition lawmakers accusing Yoon of undermining democracy, while his conservative supporters argue the impeachment drive will create chaos.

If impeached, Yoon would be suspended while the Constitutional Court decides his fate, leaving the prime minister to step in temporarily.

As the backlash unfolds, South Korea’s government is scrambling to reassure its allies and citizens that stability remains intact, even as diplomatic visits are canceled and public trust in leadership is shaken.

Political Unrest Deepens in France as Barnier Resigns

France is reeling from political chaos after Prime Minister Michel Barnier resigned Thursday following “a no-confidence vote” led by far-right and leftist lawmakers.

Barnier’s fall makes him the shortest-serving prime minister in modern French history.

The dramatic vote came in response to his attempt to push through an unpopular budget without parliamentary approval, seeking €60 billion ($63 billion) in savings to address the country’s deficit.

The no-confidence motion highlights deep divisions in French politics and further weakens President Emmanuel Macron, whose decision to dissolve parliament earlier this year set the stage for the current turmoil.

Critics, including Marine Le Pen, blame Macron for the crisis, with recent polls showing growing public support for his resignation.

France now faces the possibility of ending the year without a stable government or a finalized budget for 2025. Investors, as expected, are uneasy, with French bonds and stocks experiencing volatility.

Macron is expected to quickly appoint a new prime minister, potentially before this weekend’s Notre Dame Cathedral reopening ceremony, which US President-elect Trump is scheduled to attend.

However, whoever takes the helm will face the same challenges in navigating a deeply divided parliament. The political uncertainty has raised concerns about France’s economic stability and its role in a shaky European Union that is already dealing with Germany’s government crisis.

Trump’s Team Meets Ukraine Delegation in Washington

A Ukrainian delegation led by Andriy Yermak, head of the Presidential Office, met with top advisors to President-elect Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday, according to Reuters.

The group, including Ukraine’s Defense and Economy Ministers, met with incoming National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and peace envoy Keith Kellogg.

While no specific details from the meeting have been disclosed, it signals a critical moment as Trump prepares to take office.

Trump has pledged to negotiate a swift peace deal to “get the US out” of Russia’s war, but Ukrainian officials are urging him to maintain support and adopt a “peace through strength” approach.

Kellogg’s earlier peace plan proposes freezing the front line, pausing NATO expansion, and partially lifting sanctions on Russia, while still providing military aid and security guarantees to Ukraine.

NEW: Ukraine opens talks with Trump team on halting war with Russia

Ukrainian officials are engaging in high-level talks with the incoming Trump administration to address differences in achieving a settlement for the war with Russia. Andriy Yermak, a top adviser to Ukrainian… pic.twitter.com/Rq5iFqtP1r

— Clash Report (@clashreport) December 5, 2024

Meanwhile, outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced, also on Wednesday, plans to release $50 billion in frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.

Complicating matters, House Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to vote on an additional $24 billion in aid to Ukraine, despite reports that President Biden was quietly advocating for the assistance before leaving office.

With Trump’s inauguration just weeks away, these discussions could shape the next phase of US-Ukraine relations.

Sources: News agencies, Reagan National Defense Survey, US State Department