South Korean media: South Korea expresses regret over pressure on Trump to increase defense spending

Summary: Trump proposed a demand of 1 billion dollars, which is more than nine times the amount this year;

Tariff negotiations need to be balanced, but excessive demands must be prevented

US President Trump publicly demanded a significant increase in South Korean defense costs and the cost of US military defense in South Korea. On the 8th local time, Trump said at a cabinet meeting that South Korea's economy has made remarkable progress, earning a large amount of money, but has spent little on military expenses, (the US) has provided free military support. Trump also pressured the South Korean government to bear 1 billion dollars (about 13.76 trillion won) in the cost of US military defense in South Korea every year. Analysts pointed out that after sending a letter to South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on the day after next, which proposed mutual 25% equal tariffs, Trump immediately proposed increasing the cost of US military defense in South Korea, aiming to deal with both tariff and defense spending issues through a "comprehensive solution".

Under current circumstances, the US attempt to reduce its own defense spending is not without reason. However, South Korea made great sacrifices at the front line to resist the expansion of socialism from the former Soviet Union and to safeguard democratic values, which cannot be measured in money. Now, North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities have developed to the point where they can threaten the US mainland, and combined with South Korea's border with China and Russia, its geostrategic value has become even more prominent. Despite this, the US, citing the decision of NATO members to raise their defense budgets to 5% of GDP, has imposed unilateral pressure on South Korea to make similar demands, which is regrettable.

Especially worth noting is that the US unilaterally canceled the agreed 1.5192 trillion won agreement for next year, solely based on the change of presidency, which undoubtedly damages the trust between countries. In response, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated yesterday that it will abide by the existing agreement signed last October and will fulfill the relevant commitments earnestly.

If the US aims to seek domestic industrial interests by increasing South Korean defense spending and the cost of US military defense in South Korea, it will inevitably trigger doubts about its "treating security as a business."

In his first term, Trump had previously demanded that the cost of US military defense in South Korea be increased fivefold, and proposed including the flight of military satellites over the Korean Peninsula in the "operational support fee." At that time, due to the lack of reasonable basis for the fee increase, he forcibly increased the related items. In addition, Trump exaggerated the number of US troops stationed in South Korea from the actual 28,500 to 45,000, which may have been intentional.

The annual 1 billion dollars mentioned by Trump is more than nine times the current defense spending (1.4301 trillion won). The US may still propose questionable new items in the future. As Kim Sung-lae, Director of the National Security Office, said during his recent visit to the US, "the development of the situation may follow international trends." From the perspective of the Republic of Korea-US alliance and the international situation, it is somewhat inevitable to moderately increase defense spending or the cost of US military defense in South Korea. However, South Korea should not be constrained by the US's negotiation strategy of "excessive demands followed by price reductions." The South Korean government should strictly review and selectively accept reasonable US proposals, and link the US demands with tariff negotiations and other issues to maximize the national interests of South Korea.

Source: JoongAng Daily

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1837226585619593/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself