Latest news with #USTroops
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Trump administration asked Japan to increase share of costs of US troops, Asahi Shimbun says
TOKYO, May 29 (Reuters) - The Trump administration asked Japan in early May to increase its share of costs for U.S. troops stationed there, prompting Tokyo to consider boosting facility funding by tens of billions of yen, the Asahi Shimbun reported on Thursday, citing government sources. The current annual average cost borne by Japan for the stationing of U.S. forces is about 211 billion yen ($1.45 billion). The Japanese government has started considering an increase in the budget for the construction of facilities provided to U.S. forces stationed in Japan, such as barracks, family housing, administrative buildings and disaster prevention facilities, the Asahi report said. Asked about the report after meeting with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Japan's tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa said national security and tariff policies are different matters. However, Akazawa said the purchase of defence equipment would contribute to the U.S. trade surplus, so "in that context, (the subject) could be considered to some extent" in the tariff talks. Akazawa is scheduled to visit the U.S. on Thursday for another round of tariff negotiations. ($1 = 145.3300 yen)
LBCI
23-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Seoul denies talks with US on potential troop pullout
South Korea's defense ministry said Friday there had been no discussions with Washington about withdrawing U.S. troops from the country, rejecting a Wall Street Journal report that claimed a partial pullout was under consideration. Citing U.S. defense officials, the Wall Street Journal reported that Washington is weighing the redeployment of around 4,500 troops from South Korea to other locations, including Guam. AFP
CNA
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
South Korea's defence ministry says no talks held with US on troop withdrawal
SEOUL: South Korea's defence ministry said on Friday (May 23) that Seoul and Washington had not had discussions about the withdrawal of some US troops stationed in the country. The ministry made the comment in response to a report by the Wall Street Journal that said the US was considering pulling out roughly 4,500 troops from South Korea. One option being considered was to relocate some of the troops to other locations in the Indo-Pacific region, including Guam, according to the report, which cited unnamed US military officials. There are currently 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea. South Korea would continue cooperation with the United States to maintain a strong combined defence posture in order to deter North Korea, its defence ministry said in a statement. South Korean media later on Friday said US Defense Department chief spokesperson Sean Parnell had denied the report. The United States was prepared to work with the next government in Seoul on strengthening their alliance, Chosun Ilbo newspaper and Yonhap news agency reported. Seoul and Washington agreed on a five-year plan on defence cost sharing last year but US President Donald Trump has signaled that the cost of the US military presence could be up for discussion in ongoing trade negotiations with Seoul. South Korean officials have so far maintained the position that defence costs are a separate matter from the trade talks. South Korea elects a new president in a snap election on Jun 3 after the removal of conservative Yoon Suk Yeol following his failed attempt at declaring martial law in December.
Japan Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Pentagon denies report of U.S. troop withdrawal plan for South Korea
The Pentagon's top spokesman on Friday denied a report that the U.S. is considering the withdrawal of thousands of U.S. troops from South Korea. "Reports that the DoD will reduce U.S. troops in the Republic of Korea are not true," chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell wrote on X, using the acronym for the Department of Defense and the formal name for South Korea. The remarks came after The Wall Street Journal reported that the White House is considering an option to pull out roughly 4,500 troops and relocate them to areas in the Indo-Pacific region, including the U.S. territory of Guam. Such a move would further fuel concerns about U.S. President Donald Trump's commitment to Asia and his transactional approach to American alliances in the region. Citing unidentified defense officials familiar with the discussions, the Journal reported Thursday that the idea of moving the troops is being prepared for consideration by Trump's administration as part of an informal policy review on dealing with nuclear-armed North Korea. The proposal has yet to reach Trump's desk and is one of several ideas under discussion, the officials cautioned. The U.S. currently stations 28,500 troops in South Korea. Parnell said, however, that Defense Department officials "always evaluate force posture." "That said, the U.S. remains firmly committed to the ROK," he added. "Our alliance is iron clad." South Korea's Defense Ministry also said Friday that it has not held talks with the Pentagon over any potential troop withdrawal. "As the core strength of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, the USFK, alongside our military, has contributed to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and in the region by maintaining a firm combined defense posture and deterring North Korea's invasion and provocation," the Yonhap news agency quoted the South Korean Defense Ministry as saying. "We will continue to cooperate with the U.S. side to advance in such a direction," it added. Trump has a history of labeling the U.S.-South Korea alliance as an 'unfair' partnership and during his first term threatened to remove American troops there or slash their numbers unless Seoul coughed up more money for hosting them. The revelations also come as Trump is seeking to seal an agreement on tariffs that could include cost-sharing measures. The U.S. president said last month that he had discussed a 'one-stop shopping' deal that included the issue of 'payment for the big time Military Protection' the U.S. provides to South Korea with then-acting President Han Duck-soo. 'We are bringing up other subjects that are not covered by Trade and Tariffs, and getting them negotiated also,' Trump wrote on social media. ''ONE STOP SHOPPING' is a beautiful and efficient process!!!' Seoul has denied that the cost-sharing issue is on the table in the trade talks.
Malay Mail
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Seoul says no talks with US on troop withdrawal, reaffirms alliance stability
SEOUL, May 23 — South Korea's defence ministry said today there have been no talks with Washington on pulling US troops from the South, after a Wall Street Journal report claimed Washington was considering a partial withdrawal. Citing US defence officials, the WSJ report said Washington is considering whether to move around 4,500 troops out of South Korea and deploy them to other locations, including Guam. Washington, South Korea's long-time key security ally, stations around 28,500 troops in the South to help protect it against the nuclear-armed North Korea. But US President Donald Trump said last year — before winning the election — that if he returned to the White House, Seoul would pay billions more annually to host American troops. When asked about the WSJ report, Seoul's defence ministry said: 'There has been no discussion whatsoever between South Korea and the United States regarding the withdrawal of the United States Forces Korea'. The allies last year signed a new five-year agreement on sharing the cost of stationing US troops in South Korea, with Seoul agreeing to raise its contribution by 8.3 per cent to 1.52 trillion won (RM4.6 billion) for 2026. 'US Forces Korea have served as a key component of the South Korea-US alliance, maintaining a strong combined defence posture with our military to deter North Korean aggression and provocations,' Seoul's defence ministry said, adding this contributed to 'peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.' 'We will continue close cooperation with the US to further strengthen this role going forward.' United States Forces Korea declined to comment when contacted by AFP, saying any remarks on the matter should come from Washington. — AFP
