The Government Begins Discussions on 'South Korea-US Defense Cost' with New US Negotiator... Stalemate Continues for 11 Months

Differences Remain, Agreement Gap Persists... No Variables for Dramatic Resolution

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The South Korea-US defense cost-sharing negotiations, which have caused an eight-month agreement gap, are repeatedly stalling. Although non-face-to-face talks have begun with the recently replaced US defense cost-sharing negotiation representative, it is reported that only differences in positions have been confirmed.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 20th, since the beginning of this month, South Korea's Jeong Eun-bo, the South Korea-US defense cost-sharing negotiation representative, and the US's new negotiation representative, Donna Welton, have been continuing the negotiation framework through phone calls and emails.

Ambassador Jeong had a phone call with Representative Welton for a courtesy meeting, but it is known that it was limited to confirming each side's positions. Representative Welton officially took over the baton from former negotiation representative James DeHart on the 3rd.

Known as a "Japan expert," Representative Welton is in charge of not only the South Korea-US Special Measures Agreement (SMA) negotiations on defense cost-sharing but also the special agreement on cost-sharing for the US forces stationed in Japan, as well as all US defense cooperation and cost-sharing negotiations conducted worldwide. Some speculate that Welton is a figure appointed with the upcoming defense cost-sharing negotiations with Japan in mind.

The South Korea-US defense cost-sharing negotiations have been deadlocked since June when former President Donald Trump rejected the "13% increase plan" tentatively agreed upon by both sides. It is reported that Trump later counter-proposed an increase of more than 50% compared to the previous year, but there has been no progress in the negotiations. While both South Korea and the US agree on a "prompt resolution," they have not been able to narrow their differences. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official reaffirmed the existing principle, stating, "The Korean government's position remains unchanged to achieve a prompt resolution so that the sharing is reasonable and fair."

Meanwhile, there are observations that President Trump might bring up the card of reducing US forces stationed in South Korea. The US government officially announced last month a reduction of US forces in Germany by about one-third, continuing pressure on its allies. The South Korean government has repeatedly issued official statements that there have been no discussions related to the reduction of US forces in South Korea during the defense cost-sharing negotiations, but concerns about the possibility remain widespread.

Recently, Jim Sciutto, a CNN security expert, described in his book "The Madman Theory: Trump Takes on the World" that, citing military officials, President Trump actually instructed the negotiation team to demand a significant increase in defense costs from South Korea while implying a reduction of US forces stationed there.

Sciutto stated, "Trump's demand reminded me of the argument that Europe should increase its financial contributions to NATO." He added, "It was a brazen demand that made Korean officials feel anger and betrayal," and said military officials told him that Trump was backing up the (significant increase) demand with a surprising threat. Regarding the threat, the reporter added that it included removing an entire brigade force of about 4,000 troops, equivalent to one-seventh of the US forces stationed in South Korea.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.