South Korea is in talks with the US about raising its defense spending, a key demand of US President Donald Trump as he calls on allies to ramp up their outlays on security and lessen the burden on the US.
“Such discussions are ongoing between working-level officials. We need to decide how to respond,” South Korean National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac told reporters late Thursday, indicating that progress in talks on trade would also support discussions on security. “It is true the US is currently making similar requests to several allies, similar to NATO.”
NATO leaders this week agreed to increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP and renewed their commitment to mutual defense in a major win for Trump.
Photo: EPA-EFE
The discussions come as the administration of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung engages with the US over issues including key trade negotiations after months of domestic political instability.
Wi did not clarify if Seoul has been specifically asked by the US to target 5 percent of GDP, although US officials have been hinting that partners in Asia also need to raise spending toward that level.
“If our allies in Europe and our NATO allies can do it, I think our allies and our friends in the Asia-Pacific region can do it as well,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday.
The new NATO spending target breaks down into 3.5 percent for core defense spending and an additional 1.5 percent in related investment, including infrastructure and cybersecurity. Whether all member states eventually reach the spending goals agreed to on Wednesday remains an open question.
“South Korea is one of the countries with the highest defense budget to GDP ratio among major US allies, and has been continuously increasing our defense budget in consideration of the serious security situation, including North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats,” the South Korean Ministry of Defense said in a statement yesterday.
South Korea hosts 28,500 US troops to help deter the threats of North Korea.
Seoul plans to spend 2.32 percent of GDP on defense this year, according to the defense ministry.
Wi met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels to lay the groundwork for a possible summit between Trump and Lee.
“Although no specific date has been set, there is consensus on the need to move forward quickly. This can be considered a positive outcome,” Wi said.
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