Trump insists South Korea pay more for its defence as tariff deadline looms: ‘It’s very unfair’
Trump claims South Korea ‘went crazy’ over defence demand
- Donald Trump asserted that South Korea should bear the cost of its own defence, deeming it "very unfair" that the US funds the military protection of prosperous nations.
- Trump claimed that during his first presidency, he negotiated a deal for South Korea to pay billions of dollars for the upkeep of American troops, a deal he alleges Joe Biden subsequently cancelled.
- He stated that South Korea initially "went crazy" but agreed to pay $3bn after he sought $10bn for the presence of US forces.
- South Korea, in response to Trump's latest demands, affirmed its commitment to the existing defence cost-sharing terms previously agreed with the US.
- Trump's remarks follow his announcement of a 25 per cent import tariff on goods from South Korea and Japan, effective from 1 August.