Washington: Former President Donald Trump suggested a possible renegotiation of the U.S.-South Korea Special Measures Agreement (SMA), emphasizing that America “cannot be taken advantage of any longer” in trade and military matters, during a Fox News town hall on Wednesday. Trump’s comments have stirred speculations about changes to the recently concluded defense cost-sharing deal if he is reelected.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Trump criticized the current payment arrangements with South Korea, inaccurately stating the number of U.S. troops and the financial contributions made by Seoul. He claimed that under his administration, South Korea began paying more for the stationing of the 28,500 members of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), but alleged that this was discontinued under President Biden’s administration.
During his presidency, Trump was noted for his aggressive stance on burden-sharing negotiations, demanding significant increases in contributions from South Korea. The latest SMA, which was agreed upon
earlier this month and extends through 2030, has Seoul increasing its payments to 1.52 trillion won (US$1.14 billion) by 2026, a deal Trump now suggests might be insufficient.
The agreement, which links Seoul’s annual contributions to the Consumer Price Index, was reached after expedited negotiations started in April due to concerns that a potential Trump reelection could lead to more stringent demands, possibly straining U.S.-South Korea relations.
In response to Trump’s remarks, an official from Seoul’s foreign ministry defended the SMA as a “reasonable outcome” of extensive bilateral discussions, reflecting a balanced approach to shared security costs amid escalating military threats from North Korea.
The ongoing discourse around the SMA and Trump’s potential push for renegotiation highlights the complexities of U.S.-South Korea relations, especially in the context of regional security dynamics and financial responsibilities.