U.S. and South Korean Officials to Meet in Hawaii for Talks on Troop Cost-Sharing
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. and South Korean officials are set to meet in Hawaii this week for crucial talks on sharing the cost of keeping American troops in South Korea. The U.S. State Department stated that they are seeking “a fair and equitable outcome” that will strengthen the alliance between the two countries.
The discussions come as the two sides named envoys last month to begin early talks for a new deal that is expected to take effect in 2026. South Korean media reports suggest that there is a push to reach an agreement before any potential comeback by former President Donald Trump in the November elections.
The first meeting on the 12th ROK-U.S. Special Measures Agreement is scheduled to take place in Honolulu from Tuesday to Thursday. The delegations will be led by Linda Specht, the U.S. lead negotiator for security agreements, and Lee Tae-woo, South Korea’s representative for defense burden sharing.
The United States currently has more than 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea as part of efforts to deter nuclear-armed North Korea. South Korea has been shouldering the costs of the deployment since the early 1990s.
During Trump’s presidency, the two sides struggled to reach a deal, with Seoul eventually agreeing to increase its contribution by 13.9% over the previous pact. Trump had demanded Seoul pay as much as $5 billion a year.
While the current agreement is set to expire in 2025, negotiations for a successor pact are typically held just before the end of the existing one. The talks are seen as crucial for maintaining the strong alliance between the U.S. and South Korea.