CNN
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Washington and Seoul might strike a cost-sharing settlement for US forces based in South Korea earlier than the tip of the yr — though the present settlement doesn’t expire till the tip of 2025 — as either side really feel a way of urgency to get a brand new deal solidified earlier than the potential for a second Trump administration, in response to two US officers and two former US officers conversant in the discussions.
The negotiations over the Particular Measures Settlement, often known as the SMA, strained the US-South Korea alliance in the course of the Trump administration. Former President Donald Trump demanded Seoul pay as much as 400% extra for the presence of the 28,500 US troops within the nation throughout negotiations over the present settlement.
Advocates argue that a big US troop presence within the Korean Peninsula is essential to strengthening the alliance between the 2 international locations. The troops are vital to each international locations as a method to discourage any potential assault from North Korea as Kim Jong Un’s regime continues to construct its nuclear arsenal and as a manner of bolstering the US presence within the area to counter China’s aggression.
There may be extra urgency to get the deal carried out earlier than the tip of the yr on the Korean aspect, given the tumult of the earlier spherical of negotiations, officers mentioned. US officers are participating with South Korean officers on the subject, however some officers worry that getting an settlement carried out now might set off criticism from Trump, and so they don’t need the alliance to be within the former president’s line of fireside if he wins the election in November.
Beneath the current agreement, South Korea pays about $1 billion yearly, representing a rise of about 13.9% over earlier SMAs. A number of rounds of talks to resume the settlement have taken place, with the seventh spherical concluding on the finish of August.
A State Division official declined to debate the specifics of the continuing negotiations however mentioned that the US seeks a “a good and equitable final result” that can “help the readiness of US forces in Korea and strengthen and maintain the US-ROK alliance.”
The South Korean Ministry of Overseas affairs didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Trump administration officers largely negotiated the phrases of the final settlement, but it surely didn’t go impact till March of 2021, simply months after President Joe Biden took workplace, which allowed Biden administration officers to make modifications that bought the settlement to its closing state.
Throughout the preliminary part of the talks, CNN reported that Trump had requested South Korea to pay $4.7 billion a yr, a requirement that got here out of skinny air and despatched State and Protection Division officers scrambling to justify the quantity.
Earlier this yr, Trump mentioned that he didn’t assume the South Korea is paying sufficient primarily based on the final settlement.
“They have been capable of renegotiate with the Biden Administration and convey that quantity manner, manner right down to what it was earlier than, which was nearly nothing,” Trump mentioned earlier this yr throughout an interview with Time. “Why would we defend any person? And we’re speaking a few very rich nation. However they’re a really rich nation and why wouldn’t they need to pay?”
Quick-tracking an settlement is feasible, present, and former US officers mentioned. Sources wouldn’t element the present prices being mentioned or decide to it getting carried out earlier than the tip of the yr, however added that South Korea’s dedication on the subject might drive the negotiations to a conclusion.
One complication is {that a} deal should be accepted by South Korea’s nationwide meeting — which is dominated by the opposition get together to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The US Congress has no function finalizing a deal on the American aspect.
Some former US officers have warned South Korea to not transfer too rapidly towards an settlement, as a result of it might backfire if Trump results in the White Home.
“I feel they’re fairly near getting the settlement carried out and it’s a good suggestion for the US and South Korea to renew the settlement early. However it shouldn’t be carried out as a hedge in opposition to the following president. That is the form of stuff that feeds into issues in regards to the paperwork working in opposition to a president’s potential intent,” mentioned David Maxwell, of the Basis for Protection of Democracies, stating that the settlement could possibly be simply torn aside if Trump wins the election and opposes the phrases which are agreed to.