U.S. and South Korea engaging in negotiations concerning a potential new agreement regarding troop costs in Korea, prior to a potential Trump re-election win.
The discussions over the Special Measures Agreement, known as the SMA, put pressure on the US-South Korea alliance during the Trump administration. Previous President Donald Trump pushed for Seoul to pay up to 400% more for the stationing of the 28,500 US soldiers in the country during negotiations for the current agreement.
Advocates believe that a substantial US troop presence in the Korean Peninsula is crucial for strengthening the partnership between the two countries. The troops serve both nations as a deterrent against any potential attack from North Korea as Kim Jong Un's regime continues to enhance its nuclear weapons and as a method of boosting the US presence in the region to counteract China's assertiveness.
There's a sense of urgency to finalize the deal before the end of the year on the Korean side, due to the complicated nature of the previous negotiations, officials stated. US officials are engaging with their South Korean counterparts on the subject, but some are concerned that securing an agreement now could lead to criticism from Trump, and they don't want the alliance to be in his crosshairs if he wins the election in November.
Under the existing agreement, South Korea contributes approximately $1 billion yearly, which represents an increase of approximately 13.9% compared to previous SMAs. Various rounds of negotiations to extend the agreement have taken place, with the seventh round concluding at the end of August.
A State Department official chose not to disclose the details of the ongoing negotiations, but mentioned that the US aims for a “fair and equitable result” that will “support the readiness of US forces in Korea and strengthen and sustain the US-ROK alliance.”
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on the matter.
Trump administration officials primarily negotiated the terms of the last agreement, but it wasn't enforced until March 2021, shortly after President Joe Biden took office, enabling Biden administration officials to make adjustments to reach the final agreement.
During the early stages of the discussions, CNN reported that Trump demanded that South Korea pay $4.7 billion annually, a request that emerged out of thin air and left State and Defense Department officials scrambling to justify the figure.
Earlier this year, Trump expressed his belief that South Korea was not paying enough based on the last agreement.
“They were able to negotiate with the Biden Administration and reduce that figure significantly to what it was initially, which was nearly nothing,” Trump stated earlier this year during an interview with Time. “Why would we defend someone? And we're talking about a greatly wealthy country. But they're a wealthy country, and why wouldn't they want to pay?”
Fast-tracking an agreement is feasible, current, and former US officials claimed. Sources would not disclose the current costs being discussed or commit to concluding the agreement before the end of the year, but added that South Korea's dedication to the matter could expedite the negotiations.
One challenge is that the agreement needs to be approved by South Korea's national assembly — which is under the control of the opposition party to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The US Congress holds no influence in finalizing the deal on the American side.
Some former US officials have warned South Korea against moving too quickly towards an agreement, as it could backfire if Trump ends up in the White House.
“I think they are pretty close to securing the agreement, and it's a good idea for the US and South Korea to renew the agreement early. But it shouldn't be done as a hedge against the next president. This is the kind of thing that heightens concerns about the bureaucracy working against a president's potential intent,” said David Maxwell, of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, highlighting that the agreement could easily be dismantled if Trump wins the election and opposes the agreed-upon terms.
The ongoing negotiations surrounding the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) are heavily influenced by politics, with both sides concerned about potential criticism and the impact on the US-South Korea alliance. The Trump administration's push for significant increases in South Korea's contributions to the stationing of US troops sparked controversy and raised questions about the fairness of the agreement.
