Trump wants South Korea to pay more against the American forces on its territory

The exchange costs of hosting American forces in allied countries have been a favorite issue for US President Donald Trump since his first term at the White House.

But with more countries trying to conclude a deal to escape from the specter of customs tariffs in his second term, Trump made his own movements: collecting negotiations on trade and definitions and sharing defense costs in one comprehensive deal, called “one shopping”.

One of these countries in his eyes is South Korea, which includes about 28,500 American soldiers known as American forces, Korea. On April 8, Trump He wrote about social truth He discussed “payment for the large time of the military prevention that we offer to South Korea”, among other issues, with President Han Daco at the time.

“We are presenting topics that are not covered with trade and definitions, and we also negotiate them.” One shopping station “is a beautiful and effective process !!!” Trump wrote.

while South Korea officials According to what was reported, he said that defense payments Out of the tableThe leading presidential candidates in the country, Lee Jay Mong and Kim.They suggested that they are open to discuss the defensive cost -sharing agreement.

However, analysts told CNBC that the transaction approach would not necessarily work for the United States.

At the Munich Security Conference in February, Then the Minister of Defense between the engineer, the chicken He said: “It has been said that trade and security are two aspects of the same currency, and one assumes that with the transformation of commercial dependencies, security alliances will follow.”

But the image of the United States in Asia, Ng said: “It has changed from the editor to a significant disruption to the owner seeking to obtain rent.”

Bruce Bennett, professor of policy analysis at Rand College of Public Policy, told CNBC, the US President will likely prepare defense payments in commercial talks.

“This is the way he deals with business,” Bennett said. “Therefore, it’s not as if he definitely wants to support the forces to the house, but it is about confession and acceptance of responsibility from our alliesandHe added.

This was the position adopted by the Defense Secretary Elberbridge Colby, who He said in an interview in 2024 The American forces must be repaired to be “more relevant” by dealing with China, instead of North Korea.

Bennett said that one of the ways that South Korea can “pay” is to invest in its forces and buy more American military equipment.

He added that this will enable the South Korean army to bridge any power gaps while allowing the United States forces to focus more on China.

“If) the Korean government says we volunteer for … raising our budget by $ 3 or 4 billion dollars, we will use it to buy equipment so that the United States can switch to focus, and I think this will go a long way to meet the interests of the president.”

South Korea spent 2.6 % of its gross domestic product on the defense in 2024, more than the global average of 2.5 %, and one of the highest rates in the world, according to L. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

In 2025, the country is allocated 61.25 trillion South Korea winning (43.83 billion dollars) Defense, or by 3.1 % for the previous year.

However, such a laboratory approach will harm us, Hochik Nam, an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and Political Science at Jacksonville State University.

NAM added that the use of American forces as a lever in commercial negotiations can lead to the realization of American obligations as less credible.

“In the long run, this position can reformulate the United States as an isolated superpower.”

South Korea was not required to provide any financial contribution to its original agreement in 1966 with the United States over the country stationed in the country, known as the name The case of the forces of the forces.

The cost participation became only a feature of the coalition in 1991, when Soul He agreed to participate Some of the burden of promoting American forces in three regions, namely logistics, local workers, and military construction.

Nam explained that the rapid economic growth of South Korea since the 1960s has created the conditions for sharing costs.

“Both countries also agreed that their relationship should exceed the founder of simple aid and dynamism.”

Nam said that the money provided by the South Korean government created local jobs and helped local industries.

“With regard to construction, most projects are implemented by Korean construction companies. In terms of logistical services, all equipment, services and facilities are provided by Korean companies,” the most prominent NAM.

In October 2024, Seoul agreed Raising its contribution To host American forces by 8.3 % in 2026, to 1.52 trillion Won ($ 1.1 billion).

However, Trump’s position “stopping shopping” for trade packages with defense agreements can receive the last cost -sharing agreement by the Biden administration to a danger, given that 2024 Agreements It covers a period of 2026-2030.