SEOUL: South Korea expects no elementary shift in relations with the USA even when US voters elect a brand new president, however hopes to make progress on defence cost-sharing talks and different points this yr, a senior presidential official mentioned.
The official, talking with a small group of journalists on Monday, mentioned that South Korea doesn’t devise its coverage primarily based on predictions on the US presidential election in November, however that either side will attempt to advance efforts to bolster safety partnerships earlier than that.
The allies have agreed to launch early talks on sharing the price of holding US troops in South Korea, and can speed up discussions to spice up Seoul’s say in working US prolonged deterrence, together with American nuclear umbrella, the official mentioned.
“There’s an incentive for the Biden administration to work extra actively on the problems because it wraps up its first time period this yr,” the official mentioned. “We share the necessity to make some achievements, and that is why either side have agreed to start the defence cost-sharing negotiations and full the work on prolonged deterrence.”
The US State Division didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark, however has mentioned that its delegation visited South Korea in December to debate the defence cost-sharing deal and would work with Seoul to arrange for talks on the following settlement.
Former President Donald Trump, favoured to be the Republican candidate within the election, had accused South Korea, a key Asian ally, of “free-riding” on US navy may, known as for stopping what he known as “costly” conflict video games, and demanded that Seoul pay as a lot as US$5 billion a yr for the US deployment.
If Trump is elected, South Korea will work along with his authorities, however the alliance will stay unchanged partially due to strong assist from the US Congress for higher bilateral cooperation and a trilateral partnership involving Japan, the official mentioned.
“There is a distinction between what you say as a candidate and what you truly do as accountable head of state who carries out world insurance policies,” the official mentioned. “The president may change each 4 years, however the US Congress is rarely fickle.”
