South Korean Defense Spending 2.7 Percent of GDP Highest of US Allies

An article in The Hill written by David Maxwell, published January 4, shows how much the South Koreans contribute to their own defense and how much they have contributed in cash and in kind to the US-ROK alliance in recent years in contrast to the false characterizations by President Trump during his campaign and administration:

The alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States may be about to go off the rails. Two critical events occurred in December 2018 that do not bode well for the future of this crucial alliance. First, talks between the ROK and U.S. governments collapsed without reaching a new Special Measures Agreement (SMA) to fund U.S. troops on the Peninsula before the current deal expired on December 31...


...Trump seems not to recognize that the ROK makes significant contributions to its own defense. In 2017, 2.7 percent of its GDP went to defense — a higher percentage than any member of NATO except the U.S. Furthermore, the ROK’s 2018 defense budget increased by 9.9 pecent, or $40 billion, the largest in history. It has an active force of 625,000 troops with 28,000 Americans stationed in South Korea. Under the current SMA, the ROK covers half of the roughly $1.6 billion basing cost for American troops, but according to reports, Trump wants Seoul to pay 100 percent.

Yet South Korea already covers more than just annual basing costs. The recently expanded Camp Humphreys is now the largest U.S. military base outside of the continental U.S. It cost some $10.7 billion and the ROK provided 90 percent of the funds. The ROK government also agreed to a renegotiated Korea-U.S Free Trade Agreement, in response to pressure from Trump. Finally, from 2012 through 2016 the ROK purchased $19.8 billion in U.S. military equipment through Foreign Military Sales and Direct Commercial Sales.

https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/423756-a-looming-threat-to-the-us-south-korea-alliance

One can't help but get the impression that South Korea is being bullied by the US administration in light of the facts. Perhaps it will cause damage to the alliance as suggested by the author. Is the US pressing South Korea unfairly because of its unique security situation and it's disadvantaged position as a small power in a bilateral relationship with the much more powerful US? It is obvious that more powerful European allies don't succumb to this treatment.

One point the author failed to note was that US negotiators are trying to make South Korea pay operational costs for out of area exercises for strategic platforms like long range strategic bombers, aircraft carriers, and nuclear submarines. These assets are not even welcomed in the area as part of joint exercises by the current South Korean government.

A further discredit to the US is the appalling environmental damage and pollution left by US Forces Korea when leaving older legacy bases such as Yongsan and Camp Long. This is a problem that the US has consistently and irresponsibly evaded.