US Adopts Resolution to Strengthen ROK-US Alliance...Will It Alleviate Concerns Over Unilateral USFK Reduction?

"Maintaining USFK Aligns with US National Interests"
Expecting Shift from Sharp Defense Cost Increase
Emphasis on Restoring 'Korea as a Key Alliance Pillar'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 18th (local time), the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously adopted two resolutions aimed at strengthening the South Korea-U.S. alliance, raising expectations for a shift in U.S. diplomatic and security policy. This shift comes after the Trump administration had unilaterally pressured South Korea for a significant increase in defense cost-sharing by leveraging the possibility of reducing U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. The resolutions explicitly designate South Korea as the linchpin of U.S. foreign policy in Northeast Asia, emphasizing the restoration of the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

In particular, the resolutions contain content that is the exact opposite of the Trump administration’s hints at reducing U.S. forces in South Korea, which is expected to ease concerns about troop reductions. The resolutions, jointly submitted by Ami Bera, a Democrat and Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Asia-Pacific Subcommittee, and Ted Yoho, a Republican representative, highlight that the South Korea-U.S. alliance plays a crucial role in maintaining peace and stability in Asia and globally in response to threats from North Korea. They emphasize that “the bilateral relationship has contributed to regional and global prosperity, and maintaining U.S. forces in South Korea aligns with U.S. national interests.”

Another resolution, introduced by Tom Suozzi, a Democrat considered close to President-elect Joe Biden, titled “Recognizing the Importance of the South Korea-U.S. Alliance and the Contributions of Korean Americans,” also stresses that “the U.S. House of Representatives recognizes the important role the South Korea-U.S. alliance plays in promoting peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region,” containing content that opposes the Trump administration’s diplomatic and security policies.

This resolution, which emphasizes maintaining U.S. forces in South Korea, aligns with the stance of the incoming Biden administration, set to take office in January next year. President-elect Biden has expressed a basic position of consulting closely with allies even if U.S. troops stationed overseas are redeployed. On October 29, before the presidential election, Biden wrote in a media contribution that the Trump administration’s pressure to reduce U.S. forces in South Korea was “alliance extortion” and stated, “We will stand with South Korea while strengthening alliances to maintain peace in East Asia.”

The Trump administration has indirectly suggested the possibility of reducing U.S. forces in South Korea by citing cost issues and unfair defense cost-sharing, under the pretext of expanding rotational deployments and enhancing strategic flexibility. Strategic flexibility is based on the Trump administration’s concept of “Dynamic Force Employment (DFE),” which involves withdrawing forward-deployed military forces from Europe and other regions back to the U.S. mainland and rotating forces stationed in the U.S. mainland. The joint statement from the South Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) held in October omitted the phrase “maintaining U.S. forces in South Korea at current levels,” which again raised concerns about the potential reduction of U.S. forces in South Korea.

Consequently, the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) negotiations on defense cost-sharing between South Korea and the U.S., which have been strained due to the Trump administration’s excessive demands for increased defense costs, may gain momentum toward a resolution. Suozzi’s resolution on the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and the contributions of Korean Americans specifies that the SMA “should be concluded as a multi-year agreement with mutually acceptable terms.” The joint resolution by Bera and Yoho also calls for “SMA negotiations under mutually agreeable conditions.” Following the unanimous passage of the resolution, Bera issued a statement saying, “The South Korea-U.S. alliance remains unbroken despite rapid changes and threats in the region,” and “the partnership is the cornerstone of security and prosperity in Northeast Asia.”

The SMA negotiations began in September last year but have yet to reach a final agreement. This means that the agreement has been in a gap for 11 months this year. It is known that the U.S. side has demanded an increase to $1.3 billion, up to 50%, instead of the previous 13%. Even after replacing the U.S. chief negotiator from James DeHart to Donna Welton, a former ambassador to Afghanistan, the U.S. side has maintained the position that a significant increase is necessary rather than seeking a compromise.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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