Trump: "Not Being Exploited by Wealthy Hanguk"... Indicates Defense Cost Renegotiation for Second Day

Fox News Town Hall Meeting

With the U.S. presidential election just 20 days away, former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, has indicated for two consecutive days that he would demand a renegotiation of the cost-sharing for the U.S. troops stationed in South Korea if he returns to the White House.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 16th (local time), former President Trump stated on Fox News' 'FNC Townhall with Harris Faulkner' that "There are 42,000 U.S. troops in South Korea, but they (South Korea) do not pay."

He said, "I made them pay, but Biden negotiated and they said they would no longer pay," adding, "They are a wealthy country. We need to start." He emphasized, "We can't just be taken advantage of anymore."

This is interpreted as an indication of his intention to renegotiate the cost-sharing agreement if he wins the election.

However, former President Trump's remarks on this day contained inaccuracies. He claimed the current number of U.S. troops in South Korea is 42,000, but the actual number is 28,500. He also implied that South Korea does not pay the defense cost-sharing, which is not true. According to the agreement reached earlier this month, South Korea set its defense cost-sharing payment for 2026 at 1.5192 trillion won, an 8.3% increase from the previous year. Furthermore, it was agreed to reflect the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase rate when raising the contribution annually until 2030.

Earlier, former President Trump also expressed his willingness to renegotiate the defense cost-sharing by referring to South Korea as a "Money Machine" the day before.

In a discussion hosted by the Chicago Economic Club in Chicago the previous day, he said, "If I am there (in the White House), they (South Korea) will spend $10 billion annually (about 13.65 trillion won)." During this, he called South Korea a "money-making machine." Trump also claimed that during his administration, he demanded South Korea pay $5 billion annually for defense costs, but since South Korea was reluctant, he first made them pay $2 billion and then planned to have them pay $5 billion the following year. However, he criticized his successor, President Joe Biden, for overturning the agreement, calling it "a shame."