To protest Seoul’s refusal to better support the costs of America’s defense of its territory, President Trump should temporarily recall the U.S. ambassador to South Korea.
Do not misunderstand me. South Korea is an important U.S. ally that supports the democratic international order. In the event of a North Korean invasion of South Korea, the United States should stand in defense of our ally. Nevertheless, a public statement of dissatisfaction is now necessary.
The problem is that talks on a new cost-sharing agreement are failing. Although another meeting will be held next month, the Trump administration shouldn’t wait to broadcast its displeasure.
First off, the U.S. has backed away from its initial and excessive demands that South Korea increase its cost-share of U.S. military operations by about 500%. But Seoul doesn’t seem to have given any ground of its own. It wants to keep paying about just $900 million a year of the roughly $4 billion to $5 billion total cost of U.S. military operations in its defense. That is unfair. South Korea should pay at least pay half the cost of its defense.
Currently, South Korea uses the U.S. military to skimp on its defense. Although it faces a grave and growing threat from North Korea, Seoul spends just 2.6% of its GDP on its military. That spending figure should be at least a percentage point higher — at least.
As matters stand, South Korea doesn’t need to spend much of its own money on defense because it’s confident that the American taxpayer will do the heavy lifting. Such freeloading serves as proof that Seoul is behaving like a poor ally.
More proof of defective South Korean attitudes toward our alliance is found in a recent Chicago Council on Global Affairs poll. It found that while 94% of South Koreans consider U.S. relations to be “vital,” 26% reject any increased cost-sharing, and 68% percent believe South Korea should actually reduce its outlays.
It’s time to bring Ambassador Harry Harris back to Washington. Hopefully, that will draw South Korean attention to the ultimate truth of this and all alliances — they cannot long sustain if only one nation is willing to carry its burdens.
