Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to force U.S. allies to pay more for “protection,” and has been doggedly pursuing this goal with Japan, South Korea, NATO countries and others. Last week, U.S. negotiators led by Defence Secretary Mark Esper asked South Korea to pay 400% more than it did in 2019 to host the 28,500 U.S. troops in the country. The demand for $4.7 billion yearly, compared to the $925 million agreed to in February, sparked concerns that Washington sees its foreign relations more as business transactions instead of strategic partnerships.
It may be nothing more as classic Trump negotiation tactic – start high and gradually end up low. And it plays well to Trump’s constituency, allowing him to claim that he is trying to reduce the burden of U.S. taxpayers.
But do these bases serve US interests more than host country interests? Is it time to rethink the post-WWII concentrations of US troops? And do US allies smell a shakedown?
Join Steve Clemons as he hosts a conversation on whether Trump’s strategy is making the US military look like a mercenary force.
Guests:
Admiral William Fallon, former head of U.S. Central Command and U.S. Pacific Command
Laicie Heeley, chief editor of Inkstick, and host of the "Things That Go Boom" podcast
Kevin Baron, executive editor of DefenseOne
Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to force U.S. allies to pay more for “protection,” and has been doggedly pursuing this goal with Japan, South Korea, NATO countries and others.
Last week, U.S. negotiators led by Defence Secretary Mark Esper asked South Korea to pay 400% more than it did in 2019 to host the 28,500 U.S. troops in the country. The demand for $4.7 billion yearly, compared to the $925 million agreed to in February, sparked concerns that Washington sees its foreign relations more as business transactions instead of strategic partnerships.
It may be nothing more as classic Trump negotiation tactic – start high and gradually end up low. And it plays well to Trump’s constituency, allowing him to claim that he is trying to reduce the burden of U.S. taxpayers.
But do these bases serve U.S. interests more than host country interests? Is it time to rethink the post-WWII concentrations of U.S. troops? And do U.S. allies smell a shakedown?
Join Steve Clemons as he hosts a conversation on whether Trump’s strategy is making the U.S. military look like a mercenary force.
Guests:
Admiral William Fallon, former head of U.S. Central Command and U.S. Pacific Command
Laicie Heeley, chief editor of Inkstick, and host of the "Things That Go Boom" podcast
Kevin Baron, executive editor of DefenseOne
- Subscribe to our channel:
- Follow us on Twitter:
- Find us on Facebook:
- Check our website:
#AlJazeeraEnglish #BottomLine #USMilitary
0 Comments