Trump includes U.S. troop costs in tariff talks with Asian allies

Japan, S.Korea host U.S. troops, Trump links defence costs to trade negotiations, allies crucial against China, N.Korea, Russia.

The tens of thousands of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea and Japan appear set to be part of President Donald Trump's tariff negotiations, despite efforts by both countries to separate security talks from trade.

In posts on the Truth Social platform, Mr. Trump said defence cost-sharing would be part of "one-stop shopping" negotiations with Seoul, and raised the issue of the defence burden during a visit by Japanese officials to Washington this week.

Japan hosts about 50,000 U.S. troops and South Korea 28,500. Both nations rely on the U.S. nuclear umbrella for protection against China, Russia and North Korea, and are seen as crucial for the U.S. military's ability to project power and influence around the region.

Mr. Trump has previously suggested he could withdraw the U.S. forces if the countries don't pay up, and during his first term, demanded billions of dollars more.

On Wednesday, South Korea's first vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun told parliament that while Washington had not formally proposed renegotiating their Special Measures Agreement (SMA) under which South Korea supports U.S. troops stationed there, Seoul is preparing for various scenarios.

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok said this week that cost sharing is not up for review.

Tokyo views the issue of defence spending as separate from tariffs, a Japanese government official told Reuters. "These originally are separate issues," the official said, suggesting defence costs should not be part of the tariff negotiations.