{"id":2204101,"date":"2024-03-07T08:00:50","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T23:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2204101"},"modified":"2024-03-06T14:05:13","modified_gmt":"2024-03-06T05:05:13","slug":"us-south-korea-name-negotiators-for-contentious-defense-cost-sharing-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/03\/us-south-korea-name-negotiators-for-contentious-defense-cost-sharing-deal\/","title":{"rendered":"US, South Korea name negotiators for contentious defense cost-sharing deal"},"content":{"rendered":"
The U.S. and South Korea named their respective chief negotiators for the upcoming talks on the 12th <\/span>Special Measures Agreement<\/span><\/a> (SMA) concerning the sharing of costs for U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. The allies have not specified a start date for the negotiations.<\/span><\/p>\n Lee Tae-woo, a senior diplomat and former consul general in Sydney, will lead the South Korean delegation, while Linda Specht, a senior adviser at the State Department, will head the U.S. team, according to an announcement by the <\/span>ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs<\/span><\/a> on Tuesday.<\/span><\/p>\n Why It Matters<\/b><\/p>\n The upcoming SMA negotiations between the U.S. and South Korea will likely be challenging, as the two sides have historically differed on the appropriate level of Seoul\u2019s financial contributions. Under the <\/span>current agreement<\/span><\/a>, set to expire in 2025, South Korea paid around $1 billion in 2021. However, the allies will likely commence talks within this year and aim for a swift conclusion.<\/span><\/p>\n Although the current SMA does not expire until 2025, the urgency to hold talks soon may be attributed to the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House. During his previous term, Trump <\/span>reportedly demanded<\/span><\/a> a 400% increase in South Korea\u2019s contributions to $5 billion. By concluding the negotiations successfully before the U.S. presidential election, Seoul could avoid the risk of facing tough demands from a re-elected Trump administration, ensuring a more stable and predictable cost-sharing arrangement for the next several years.<\/span><\/p>\n