The Trump-USFK
(30 April) WASHINGTON (Yonhap) — TIME, an American news magazine, reported on Tuesday that former President Donald Trump has suggested the United States could withdraw its soldiers stationed in South Korea if the Asian ally does not increase its financial contributions to support them.
The publication of TIME’s interview with Trump coincided with the initiation of fresh negotiations between Seoul and Washington regarding South Korea’s contribution to the maintenance expenses of the 28,500-strong United States Forces Korea (USFK) in accordance with the Special Measures Agreement (SMA).
“Forty thousand of our troops are in a precarious position,” he was declared by TIME. “That makes absolutely no logic. Why would we defend an individual? In addition, we are discussing a nation that is extremely prosperous.”
It appears he was making reference to the 28,500 members of the USFK service.
TIME published an article stating that Trump “suggests” the United States could withdraw its forces “if South Korea does not increase its contribution to support U.S. troops stationed there to dissuade (North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s] progressively belligerent regime to the north,” based on his remarks.
Seoul and Washington held the initial round of negotiations regarding a new SMA in Honolulu last week. The current six-year SMA is slated to expire by the end of the following year.
According to observers, the alliance attempted to hold SMA negotiations earlier than usual out of concern that former President Trump, should he be re-elected, might force a contentious bargain regarding a new SMA in a manner that could generate friction within the alliance.
The SMA negotiation was a significant source of contention during the Trump administration, as he insisted on a substantial increase in South Korea’s cost contribution for USFK.
Seoul has contributed a portion of the expenses associated with Korean USFK personnel, the establishment of military infrastructure (including barracks, training, educational, operational, and communications facilities, and logistical support) since 1991.
