Trump victory likely to worsen South Korea defense jitters, analysts say Next U.S. leader has pushed to cut support for allies with growing security needs.
The looming return to power of Donald Trump, right, is causing jitters in South Korea over how he will approach defense and security relations with the country and President Yoon Suk Yeol. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters)
Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election is rekindling concerns in South Korea that his next administration could look to reduce, or even withdraw, the American presence on the Korean Peninsula, thereby leaving the South vulnerable to attack by nuclear-armed North Korea.
Trump has long depicted U.S. allies like Japan and South Korea as freeloaders sponging off the U.S. military and has voiced intentions to end military support or demand they pay more for protection. But critics in both countries have pointed out that both Seoul and Tokyo spend huge sums on their own militaries and for the costs of stationing U.S. troops on their soil.
