Seoul: South Korea has formally reaffirmed that it will continue to follow the previously agreed terms of its defense cost-sharing agreement with the United States, despite renewed pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has signaled a push for significantly higher financial contributions from Seoul.
The announcement, reported by Yonhap News Agency, comes in response to remarks Trump made during a cabinet meeting at the White House, where he criticized South Korea’s current payments as insufficient. He alleged that South Korea is “a very rich country” receiving substantial security benefits from the presence of around 28,500 U.S. troops stationed on its soil and should therefore pay much more for that protection.
However, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry made it clear that the country intends to honor the terms of the current Special Measures Agreement (SMA), which was signed in October 2024 under the previous U.S. administration. That deal, set to run through 2030, outlines gradual annual increases in Seoul’s defense cost-sharing contributions, tied to inflation and defense-related indices.
Under the agreement, South Korea is expected to pay approximately 1.52 trillion Korean won (around $1.1 billion) in 2026, with incremental increases over the following years. The structured arrangement aims to ensure financial predictability and stability in the long-standing U.S.–South Korea military alliance.
Trump’s recent comments echo his earlier demands during his first term, when he called on South Korea to raise its defense contributions by as much as 400%, even floating the figure of $5 billion annually. Those demands strained diplomatic ties and led to prolonged negotiations and uncertainty within the alliance.
This time, Trump has gone further, reportedly suggesting that South Korea’s defense spending could be tied to broader trade concessions, a move that many foreign policy experts warn could politicize military cooperation and weaken mutual trust.
Despite the political rhetoric from Washington, South Korean officials have emphasized that the defense pact is a bilateral agreement reached after careful negotiation and that it should not be subject to unilateral revision. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson told local media that no discussions are currently underway to alter or renegotiate the deal, and that the government remains committed to fulfilling its responsibilities under the existing terms.
Analysts say Seoul’s firm stance reflects its growing confidence in maintaining strategic autonomy, especially as tensions continue in the region particularly with North Korea’s recent missile provocations and China’s expanding influence.
The defense cost-sharing agreement is a cornerstone of the U.S. ROK alliance, which has remained a central pillar of security in Northeast Asia since the Korean War. Trump’s approach, which appears increasingly transactional, could have far-reaching consequences for America’s military posture in Asia, especially if other allies like Japan and the Philippines are pressured to follow suit.
For now, South Korea is signaling that while it values its partnership with the U.S., it will not entertain sudden or unilateral demands particularly those made outside the framework of the legally binding agreement already in place.
With Trump set to increase tariffs and renegotiate trade terms with multiple allies, his renewed focus on defense costs adds another layer of uncertainty to international diplomacy. However, Seoul’s message is clear: the U.S.–Korea alliance must be built on mutual respect and trust, not short-term financial calculations.