US, South Korea reach agreement on cost-sharing for troops

The U.S. and South Korea reached an agreement Sunday on how to share costs for American troops present in the country after former President Trump had demanded South Korea increase its contribution.

The State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs announced the arrangement in a series of tweets, saying it had been reached “in principle on proposed text for a New Special Measures Agreement that will strengthen our Alliance and our shared defense.”

The bureau noted a “negotiated increase” in South Korea’s financial backing of the U.S. troops but did not indicate any specific numbers. It noted the deal is expected to reaffirm the country’s alliance “as the linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity for Northeast Asia.”

New Special Measures Agreement proposed text includes @StateDeptPM negotiated increase in ROK support for @USForcesKorea presence; reaffirms U.S.-ROK Alliance as the linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity for Northeast Asia, a free and open #IndoPacific, and across the world pic.twitter.com/F6K2zx0dFc

— Political-Military Affairs, US Dept of State (@StateDeptPM) March 7, 2021

South Korea also released a statement noting that the nations are working to tentatively sign the agreement after three days of in-person negotiations in Washington, The Associated Press reported.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the agreement and wrote it will last through 2025. 

A State Department spokesperson told The Hill in a statement that the increase in South Korea’s portion of the cost was “meaningful” but did not provide additional details. The spokesperson added that the two governments were “now pursuing the final steps needed to conclude the agreement for signature.”  

“America’s alliances are a tremendous source of our strength,” the spokesperson said. “This development reflects the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to reinvigorating and modernizing our democratic alliances around the world to advance our shared security and prosperity.”

About 28,000 American troops are deployed in South Korea to discourage any aggressive acts from North Korea. 

South Korea and the U.S. had reached a deal in 2019 for Seoul to pay about $924 million for the troops presence. But talks fizzled after the Trump administration called for South Korea to contribute five times its previous payments.

The agreement comes shortly after military officials announced that the U.S. and South Korea will cut back their annual military drills this year starting this Monday due to the COVID-19 pandemic and potential negotiations with North Korea.