Trump revives Greenland-like land demand in tense meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung

South Korea’s new President Lee Jae Myung visited Washington for his first official trip, expected to strengthen the U.S.–South Korea alliance. Instead of focusing only on military modernization, the big headline became Trump’s “Land for America” remarks, where he said the U.S. should own land in South Korea for its bases.

Trump compared this to his earlier land ideas in Panama, Canada, and Greenland, adding South Korea to the discussion. Currently, U.S. troops in South Korea operate under lease agreements—land belongs to Seoul but is leased for American use. Trump’s demand for ownership breaks tradition and fits into his “Land for America” push, as per the reports.

U.S.–South Korea military costs and defense talks

The U.S. and South Korea military alliance began in 1953 after the Korean War, under the Mutual Defense Treaty. About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea to defend from attacks, especially North Korea. South Korea pays part of the costs under the Special Measures Agreement. In 2021, it paid 1.18 trillion won ($1.03 billion), a 13.9% increase from the year before.


Under Biden, both countries agreed Seoul would pay $1.125 billion in the first year (an 8.3% hike) with a 5% annual cap. But Trump now wants tougher terms, even pushing for South Korea to spend up to 5% of its GDP on defense, compared to the current 2.8%. Seoul may increase to 3.5% of GDP1, but it resists anything that looks like giving up sovereignty, especially Trump’s new land ownership demand, according to the report by msn.

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Strategic flexibility and regional worries

Another key issue is strategic flexibility—the idea that U.S. troops in South Korea could be used in other places like the Taiwan Strait against China. The U.S. argues this is needed because threats are not only from North Korea. But many South Koreans worry this could hurt ties with China, their biggest trading partner, as per the reports.

South Koreans also fear that if U.S. forces leave the peninsula for other missions, North Korea might exploit the gap. Both countries have run a Combined Forces Command (CFC) since 1978, with 600,000 active troops integrated. In wartime, a U.S. general commands while a South Korean general is deputy. Some in South Korea want a South Korean general to take wartime command, fearing U.S. control could drag them into unwanted wars.

In Washington, President Lee Jae Myung still stressed commitment to the alliance. He promised to boost South Korea’s defense budget and called the partnership “reciprocal and forward-looking.” Trump, however, unsettled the talks with his blunt demand: “You lease us land, not give us land. Maybe I’d like them to give us ownership of the land where we have the big fort”, as stated in the report by msn.

This remark highlighted his Land for America agenda, which breaks from past practice where land is returned to South Korea once U.S. forces leave. The demand added new uncertainty to defense cost talks, showing again how Trump’s unconventional style shifts traditional diplomacy.

FAQs

Q1. What did Trump say about U.S. military land in South Korea?
Trump said the U.S. should own land for its bases in South Korea instead of just leasing it, linking it to his “Land for America” policy.

Q2. Why is Trump’s land demand important for U.S.–South Korea relations?
The demand challenges decades of lease agreements and adds new tension to defense cost talks between the two allies.