Shortly after his first telephone conversation with Acting President Han Duck-soo on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on his social media platform that the two had discussed "payment for the big-time Military Protection [Washington] provides to South Korea," among other issues.
South Korea "began these Military payments during my first term, Billions of Dollars, but Sleepy Joe Biden, for reasons unknown, terminated the deal. That was a shocker to all! In any event, we have the confines and probability of a great DEAL for both countries," he added, hinting at the possibility of a drastic hike in Seoul's share for the upkeep of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK).
The phone call was Trump's first conversation with his South Korean counterpart since taking office earlier this year, as Seoul had been sidelined in global diplomacy amid the impeachment trial of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law debacle.
However, the deal could be scrapped, as Trump is expected to demand a renegotiation.
Trump, during his presidential campaign last year, called South Korea a "money machine" and had said that Seoul should contribute $10 billion annually for the upkeep of U.S. forces.
Many pundits believe that Trump may want to leverage a range of issues with U.S. allies and other countries through his sweeping tariff policy, under the banner of what he calls his "one-stop shopping" approach.
A recent media report also indicated that an internal memorandum circulating among Pentagon officials included a plan to "pressure allies to increase their defense expenditures."
reporter
Im Yoon-seo
lyseo0330@ajupress.com
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