Negotiations between the Trump Administration and the South Korean
government on funding for the large US force present on the Korean
Peninsula has been deadlocked in recent weeks, with 10 rounds of talks
failing to reach a deal. The Pentagon is now warning Korean workers they may be placed on leave in mid-April if a deal isn’t in place.
South Korea provides substantial funding for the US troops in their
country, paying $848 million annually under the now-expired deal. This
was estimated to be roughly half of overall talks. President Trump has
been pushing for massively more than this.
South Korean officials had said they expected an increase, and offered
one roughly in keeping with the rate of inflation. They say in December,
the US made a “sudden, unacceptable demand” that South Korea start
paying in excess of $1.25 billion annually.
South Korean officials don’t think they could get this through their
parliament, with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha saying they are seeking
an “affordable and explainable” alternative. Once the demand was made,
the Trump Administration has held fast, however, and no further progress
has been made.
You must station our troops and you must overpay… or else…
We’ll occupy your country and you’ll play us for the cost of the occupation.
And here I thought the peace president wanted to pull our troops out of Korea? No different from him wanting to pull out of NATO. The Don has his priorities and money is number one.
Still waiting for trump to bring any service member home from anywhere, at least, not in a body bag. These believers are all trumpU grads with honors.
Join the army, be a mercenary, that’s the marketing slogan right?
If the S Koreans refuse what would happen? Can the workers not be employed elsewhere? Why not ask the US troops to leave? What are they waiting for? US has complained about the cost of defending the world. So why not stop. Same with Europe.
North Korea attacks and levels South Korea, to North Korea’s great surprise as they weren’t expecting to be false flagged in the middle of peace negotiations.
Gee! You are right. Never thought of that! Better keep those troops over there to protect S Korea. Strange how S Korea does not seem to appreciate our sacrifice.
It has to be obvious to Moon Jae-in that South Korea’s future lies with making peace with the North and connecting to the new Silk Road though Russia and China. What kind of a threat does Trump think he’s making when he threatens to pull US troops out? Doesn’t sound like a threat to me, more like an opportunity. Go for it, Moon Jae-in!
Hmm. I guess Trump didn’t read the memo where the U.S. pays for its imperial presence. Or more likely discarded it with the double Big Mac with super sized fries containers.