US Democrats: "Trump extorted defense costs from Korea, we will restore the alliance"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. Democratic Party harshly criticized President Donald Trump in its draft platform, accusing him of attempting to "extort" South Korea during negotiations over defense cost-sharing. The Democrats emphasized that if they win the presidential election and take office, they will restore the alliance damaged under the Trump administration. Changes in U.S. Forces Korea policy are expected under a Democratic administration.

According to Politico, a U.S. political news outlet, on the 28th (local time), the Democratic Party's recently released draft platform under the section "Rebuilding Alliances" stated, "President Donald Trump has undermined alliances in the way our enemies have dreamed of," and criticized, "He tried to extort South Korea to dramatically increase defense cost-sharing amid the North Korean nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula." It further stated, "We will never treat alliances like extortionists, and we will work to strengthen ties with key regional allies including South Korea, Japan, and Australia."

This is interpreted as criticism of President Trump's diplomatic frictions with allies, including demands for increased defense cost-sharing from South Korea and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Germany. The Trump administration has pursued an America First policy that broke treaties and international cooperation with allies, such as withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Paris Climate Agreement, and the Iran nuclear deal.

The Democratic Party's platform expresses a commitment to rebuilding diplomatic relations with allies that were damaged during the Trump administration. It also announced plans to rejoin international organizations that the Trump administration withdrew from, including the WHO, the United Nations Human Rights Council, and the United Nations Population Fund, immediately after a Biden administration takes office. The party pledged to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START).

The Democratic Party's platform will be finalized at the Democratic National Convention next month, where former Vice President Joe Biden is expected to be nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate, effectively becoming Biden's campaign platform. The draft platform, over 80 pages long, was approved by the Democratic Platform Committee on the 27th and will be ratified through delegate mail-in voting. While some content may be modified, the draft's framework is expected to remain intact.