Korea may face renewed pressure to increase its defense-cost sharing with the United States if former President Donald Trump secures a second term, a scenario that some observers consider increasingly likely following his survival of a recent assassination attempt.
In recent months, Trump and his former aides have hinted through media interviews and speeches that Seoul should increase its contribution to the stationing of the 28,500 U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) troops stationed there.
The latest comments came from Robert O’Brien, who served as national security adviser during the Trump administration from 2019 to 2021. He emphasized that Korea, a “wealthy nation,” should make a “big contribution” to defense-cost sharing.
“South Korea can afford to pay for its defense,” O’Brien told Korean reporters in Milwaukee, Wis., Tuesday (local time), where the Republican National Convention is underway through Thursday.
“We look forward to seeing a big contribution from South Korea, which is already doing great with its Navy, Army, and military equipment. I’m sure they’ll have the money to cover whatever defense needs they have,” he was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency.
O’Brien’s remarks come as Seoul and Washington concluded the fifth round of the 12th Special Measures Agreement (SMA) negotiations last Friday. The agreement, once finalized, would outline Korea’s financial obligations for stationing USFK troops starting from 2026, as 한국을 the current six-year SMA is set to expire at the end of 2025.
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