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| ▲ Former U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the National Guard Association conference in Detroit, Michigan, on Aug. 26, 2024, in this photo released by AFP. (Yonhap) |
ex-Trump official-book
Trump wanted S. Korea to pay all USFK cost plus 'profit margin': McMaster memoir
By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 (Yonhap) -- Former President Donald Trump wanted South Korea to cover all costs for the stationing of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) at a key military base as well as a "profit margin" during his presidency, according to a memoir of a former U.S. national security adviser published Tuesday.
In the book, titled, "At War with Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House," H.R. McMaster, who served as national security adviser from 2017-18, revealed an anecdote in November 2017, when Trump toured Camp Humphreys, a sprawling USFK base in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul.
The memoir came amid speculation that should the Republican presidential candidate win the White House for a second term in the Nov. 5 general election, he could employ what is viewed as his "transactional" approach toward alliances.
"I am sure Brooks was surprised when Trump stated that the agreement should be the equivalent of a cost-plus contract, with the South Koreans reimbursing all U.S. costs plus a profit margin," McMaster wrote in the book, referring to Gen. Vincent Brooks, who led the USFK at the time.
Trump's remarks came as Brooks explained to Trump that South Korea covered US$9.8 billion of the total $10.8 billion spent on the construction of Camp Humphreys. McMaster also briefed Trump on the fact that Seoul paid the salaries of 8,600 Korean nationals who support American troops and their families at the U.S. base.
The former White House official recalled the concern that he had regarding Trump's view on the U.S. troop presence in South Korea.
"(Trump) was sympathetic to the argument that others had put forward for decades, that U.S. forces were no longer needed on the Korean Peninsula and that the United States was underwriting the security of a successful country with a strong economy that was now capable of defending itself," he said.
The publication of the book came as Seoul and Washington began another round of negotiations over a deal, called the Special Measures Agreement, which will determine Seoul's share of the cost for the stationing of the USFK.
The negotiations were launched in April apparently earlier than usual amid speculation that if Trump returns to office, he could play hardball in a way that could cause friction in the Seoul-Washington alliance.
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