What specific changes does Trump want in South Korea's defense spending and military burden-sharing responsibilities?

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Donald Trump has made clear he wants Seoul to shoulder a far larger share of costs for the 28,500 U.S. troops based in South Korea. Under the 12th Special Measures Agreement (SMA) signed late 2024, South Korea agreed to raise its annual contribution by 8.3% to $1.47 billion in the first year of the deal (). Trump, however, has publicly demanded even steeper increases—calling for payments of $5 billion or even $10 billion a year, labeling the deployment a “money machine” that a wealthy ally should fully fund (, ). He has also pressed Seoul to boost its overall defense outlays to around 5% of GDP, compared to its current roughly 3.5% level, mirroring his broader demands of NATO and Indo-Pacific partners (). Beyond monetary contributions, Trump has suggested South Korea cede ownership of U.S. base land, effectively transferring long-standing infrastructure and logistical responsibilities to Seoul ().

What specific changes does Trump want in South Korea's defense spending and military burden-sharing responsibilities?

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