U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that South Korea should bear more of the financial burden for its military protection and suggested the ally needs to pay significantly more for the presence of U.S. troops. This statement comes just a day after he announced plans to impose a 25 percent tariff on South Korean imports.
“Very Unfair” Burden on U.S.
“It’s very unfair. We supply the militaries to many very successful countries,” Trump told reporters during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. “South Korea is making a lot of money, and they’re very good. They’re very good, but, you know, they should be paying for their own military.”
Trump asserted that he had secured South Korea’s agreement to pay more for the U.S. forces’ presence during his first term, but claimed his predecessor, Joe Biden, “canceled” that deal.
“I said to South Korea… you know, we give you free military, essentially, very little,” Trump recounted, adding that he had told them they should pay $10 billion a year. “I got three [billion] with a phone call… but I said next year we have to talk,” he claimed, though Reuters has not verified these figures.
Economic Benefits for Host Nations
Trump emphasized that the presence of U.S. forces provides a “huge” economic benefit for host countries. “It’s like having a city, it’s tremendous money for them, and it’s a tremendous loss for us… so we’re talking, in a very nice way, we’re talking to them.”
South Korea hosts approximately 28,500 American troops, a legacy of the 1950-1953 Korean War. It relies on the U.S. nuclear umbrella for protection against China, Russia, and North Korea and is considered a key ally for projecting U.S. military power in the region.
Previous Agreements and Campaign Stance
Shortly before last year’s U.S. election, South Korea and the Biden administration swiftly signed a new five-year agreement. Under this deal, Seoul agreed to increase its contribution toward the upkeep of U.S. troops by 8.3% to $1.47 billion in the first year, with subsequent increases tied to the consumer price index.
During his election campaign, Trump had consistently argued that South Korea should pay as much as $10 billion per year, linking such costs to broader trade negotiations. In the past, Trump has suggested he might withdraw U.S. forces stationed overseas if host countries do not increase their financial contributions.
In May, the Pentagon refuted a Wall Street Journal report claiming the U.S. was considering withdrawing roughly 4,500 troops from South Korea.
