Latest news with #USTroops
CNA
09-07-2025
- Politics
- CNA
South Korea cites previously agreed terms on sharing defence costs after Trump's demand
SEOUL: South Korea will follow terms previously agreed with the United States on defence cost sharing, its foreign ministry said on Wednesday (Jul 8), following a call by US President Donald Trump for Seoul to pay more for the US troop presence in the country. Just before Trump won the presidential election in November, the countries struck a new five-year plan on sharing the cost of keeping US troops in South Korea. Under the plan, Seoul would raise its contribution toward the upkeep of US troops by 8.3 per cent to US$1.47 billion in the first year. Trump said America's Asian ally should be paying for its own military protection, a day after saying he planned to impose a 25 per cent tariff on imports from South Korea. "Our government is committed to complying with and implementing the 12th SMA (Special Measures Agreement), which has been valid and went into effect," the ministry said in a statement, in which it declined to comment further on Trump's remarks. Trump has accused Seoul of "free-riding" on US military might, with some 28,500 American troops stationed in South Korea as part of efforts to deter nuclear-armed North Korea. With South Korea and the United States engaged in tariff negotiations, the new Lee Jae Myung administration wants to expedite the talks ahead of a new August 1 deadline. "It's a fact that we pay 1.5 trillion won (US$1.09 billion) (annually) in defence costs ... Discussions should start from this fact," South Korea's top security adviser Wi Sung-lac told reporters after visiting the US, according to Yonhap. "Additionally, there are many direct and indirect defence support costs, and we are also trying to increase them in line with the international trend," Wi said, adding that defense costs weren't discussed much during this week's visit. Wi met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on his recent trip to Washington, and the two agreed a summit meeting of the leaders of the countries would help advance cooperation, South Korea's presidential office said.
CNA
30-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
South Korea seeking extension to US 90-day tariff pause
SEJONG: South Korea will seek an extension to the 90-day pause in US tariffs that is set to expire next week, as negotiations are likely to continue past the deadline set between Seoul and Washington, a senior South Korean trade official said on Monday (Jun 30). South Korea's new administration held its first senior-level trade talks with the US last week, and a third round of working-level technical discussions since the two countries agreed in late April to craft a trade package reducing US tariffs before the US 90-day pause ends on Jul 9. "It seems some countries will reach a deal by Jul 8, some might be granted an extension to continue negotiations, while others will decide if they want to continue negotiating under tariffs or not," the official told a briefing. "We will do our best to be granted by Jul 8 an extension to continue negotiations," the official said, adding that the US is expected to make a decision on a further extension on the day. During the talks last week, the US mainly raised issues related to South Korea's non-tariff barriers, as South Korea already imposes nearly zero tariffs on US imports under a free trade agreement, the official said. Other issues of foreign exchange rates and defence costs are being discussed via separate channels, the official said. Some 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea as a deterrence to North Korea and US President Donald Trump has often complained about the cost-sharing arrangement.
Reuters
30-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
South Korea says seeking extension to US 90-day tariff pause
SEJONG, South Korea, June 30 (Reuters) - South Korea will seek an extension to the 90-day pause in U.S. tariffs that is set to expire next week, as negotiations are likely to continue past the deadline set between Seoul and Washington, a senior South Korean trade official said on Monday. South Korea's new administration held its first senior-level trade talks with the U.S. last week, and a third round of working-level technical discussions since the two countries agreed in late April to craft a trade package reducing U.S. tariffs before the U.S. 90-day pause ends on July 9. "It seems some countries will reach a deal by July 8, some might be granted an extension to continue negotiations, while others will decide if they want to continue negotiating under tariffs or not," the official told a briefing. "We will do our best to be granted by July 8 an extension to continue negotiations," the official said, adding that the U.S. is expected to make a decision on a further extension on the day. During the talks last week, the U.S. mainly raised issues related to South Korea's non-tariff barriers, as South Korea already imposes nearly zero tariffs on U.S. imports under a free trade agreement, the official said. Other issues of foreign exchange rates and defence costs are being discussed via separate channels, the official said. Some 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea as a deterrence to North Korea and U.S. President Donald Trump has often complained about the cost-sharing arrangement.
Al Arabiya
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Qatar says attack on US base ‘unacceptable,' says Doha contacted Iran over Trump proposal
Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Tuesday said that the Iranian attack on the US base in Qatar was 'unacceptable.' Sheikh Mohammed also said that Doha communicated with Iran to discuss US President Donald Trump's ceasefire proposal. Iran's military on Monday evening carried out a missile attack on the al-Udeid US airbase in Qatar with explosions being heard across the Qatari capital. The attack followed Tehran's threat to retaliate for US airstrikes on its nuclear sites. Qatar said that its air defenses intercepted missiles directed at the al-Udeid air base, the largest US military installation in the Middle East. GCC and Arab states condemned the attack.
LBCI
23-06-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Main US base in Syria on full alert in case of possible attack by Iran: Syrian security source
The main remaining base in northeast Syria hosting U.S. troops is on full alert and mobilized for possible attacks by Iran or Iran-aligned groups, a Syrian security source told Reuters on Monday. The base is known as Qasrak and is one of two bases in the northeast Hasakah province where U.S. troops are based. Reuters
