South Korea Stands Firm on U.S. Troop Deal
“Our government’s stance is that it will implement the 12th SMA (Special Measures Agreement), which was validly concluded and in effect,” stated the South Korean Foreign Ministry.
The 12th SMA, signed last year between the two allies, requires South Korea to contribute 1.52 trillion won (approximately $1.11 billion) in 2025—an increase from this year’s 1.4 trillion won.
Trump, speaking Tuesday, criticized the existing arrangement, claiming South Korea pays the U.S. “very little” for stationing American troops and arguing that Seoul should now fund its own defense.
Roughly 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea, a presence established following the 1950–1953 Korean War.
In June, South Korean National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac pointed out that NATO’s recent defense spending surge could influence Seoul, which is under pressure from Washington to boost its contributions.
Separately, the South Korean Defense Ministry has emphasized that the country’s defense spending, when measured against GDP, is “very high” compared to that of other major U.S. allies.
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