US and South Korea Agree on Cost-Sharing Deal for American Troop Presence
The United States and South Korea reached an agreement March 7 on how to share costs for American troops present in the country, which will entail a “meaningful increase” in the longtime U.S. ally’s contributions.
The State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs announced the deal in a series of tweets, saying it had been reached “in principle on proposed text for a New Special Measures Agreement that will strengthen our Alliance and our shared defense.”
A State Department spokesperson said that, under the deal, South Korea will increase its contribution to the cost of U.S. forces stationed in the country, but didn’t provide specifics as to the amount.
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