Washington
A senior Pentagon official has emphasized that the security burden shared between the US and South Korea goes beyond just defense spending. Jedidiah Royal, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, highlighted that both nations can contribute to mutual security in several areas, including technological and industrial cooperation.
Royal’s remarks came amid concerns that US President-elect Donald Trump might seek to renegotiate a recent defense cost-sharing agreement between the two allies. He stressed that sharing responsibility for security is not limited to financial contributions but includes South Korea’s high-tech industrial base, which plays a significant role in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
The latest defense cost-sharing deal, the Special Measures Agreement (SMA), was finalized last month. Under this agreement, South Korea will pay 1.52 trillion won ($1.08 billion) in 2026 for the stationing of US Forces Korea (USFK), a slight increase from the previous year. However, Trump previously suggested that South Korea should pay as much as $10 billion annually for the presence of US troops, sparking speculation about potential revisions to the deal.
Royal reiterated that the new SMA will ensure a lasting arrangement for US forces stationed in South Korea, emphasizing the importance of burden-sharing in this critical region. Additionally, former US Ambassador to South Korea, Harry Harris, expressed hope that the incoming Trump administration would reaffirm the Washington Declaration, enhancing commitments to nuclear deterrence and defense collaboration.
