In a move that has sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles, former US President Donald Trump allegedly proposed a radical and aggressive approach to make South Korea pay for joint military training, according to a new report.
The Independent reveals that Trump made the extraordinary suggestion during a meeting at his Mar-a-Lago estate with advisors, including former White House aide John Bolton. He reportedly floated the idea of the US essentially seizing money from Korean banks, drawing a parallel to how an "unfriendly regime" might behave.
A Stunning Proposition
The discussion centred on Trump's long-held belief that US allies should bear the full cost of American troops on their soil. His specific grievance was with the cost of the joint military exercises between the US and South Korea, which are a cornerstone of regional security against threats from North Korea.
Trump's solution, as reported, was as simple as it was confrontational: he demanded an invoice for $5 billion be sent to Seoul. When advisors questioned how the US could compel payment, his response was reportedly to suggest taking the money directly, a tactic he described as "the way we do it with unfriendly regimes".
Alarm Bells in Seoul and Washington
The revelation has caused significant concern amongst policymakers. Such an action would fundamentally shatter the trust underpinning the US-South Korea alliance, a relationship that has maintained stability on the Korean Peninsula for decades.
Treating a major democratic ally in the same manner as an adversarial nation represents a severe breach of diplomatic norms. The report suggests advisors in the room were immediately aware of the profound legal and strategic implications, with the idea being quickly shut down as unworkable and dangerously inflammatory.
The Broader Implications
This incident sheds a stark light on Trump's perceived transactional approach to international alliances. His tenure was marked by pressure on NATO members to increase defence spending and similar demands on other Asian allies like Japan.
With Trump running for president again, the report will likely fuel anxieties in allied capitals about the potential future of US foreign policy. The suggestion of a financial "raid" on a key partner's assets is seen as a new extreme in his rhetoric, raising questions about the durability of international partnerships under a potential second Trump administration.
