Bahk Eun-ji has been with The Korea Times since 2012, building a career across multiple desks. She began at the Business Desk, where she conducted in-depth interviews with key figures in Korea's corporate world. Later, she moved to the Politics & City Desk, focusing on education policy and social affairs. She later served as team leader of the digital content team, leading curation efforts on the newspaper’s homepage and reshaping print stories for social media audiences to enhance digital reach. Now back on the Politics Desk, she covers the National Assembly and the Ministry of National Defense, with a renewed focus on political developments.
SUMMIT Trump floats US ownership of bases in Korea, challenging decades-old pact
President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., Monday. Yonhap
By Bahk Eun-ji
U.S. President Donald Trump caused a stir during his first summit with President Lee Jae Myung on Monday by suggesting that Washington could seek ownership of land used for American bases in Korea. This remark, made at the White House, marked a sharp break from the agreement that has long governed the U.S. military on the peninsula for decades.
When asked whether he would consider reducing the number of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, Trump declined to provide a direct answer.
“Well, I don’t want to say that now, because we’ve been friends and we’re friends,” he told reporters. He then moved on to the issue of bases, adding, “They would say, 'but we gave you land.' I said, 'no, you didn’t. You lease us land.' There’s a big difference between giving and leasing. Maybe one of the things I’d like to do is ask them to give us ownership of the land where we have the big fort.”
His use of the word "fort" underscored Trump's blunt style when it comes to framing alliance matters.
This remark stands in contrast to decades of bilateral agreements, including the Mutual Defense Treaty and the Status of Forces Agreement, which stipulate that U.S. forces use South Korean facilities on a lease basis and return them when no longer needed. Trump’s comment appeared to contradict these longstanding arrangements, raising concerns about adding uncertainty to already delicate negotiations over defense cost sharing.
Lee sought to shift the focus back to peace on the Korean Peninsula, appealing directly to Trump’s past record of engagement with Pyongyang.
“Resolving this issue through my engagement is not an easy thing,” Lee said. “The only person that can make progress on this issue is you, Mr. President. If you become the peacemaker, then I will assist you by being a pacemaker.”
Trump responded positively, saying, “We can do a big progress, I think, with North Korea — absolutely.” This echoed earlier encounters when Trump’s personal rapport with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had briefly lowered tensions.
President Lee Jae Myung delivers a policy speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C., Monday. Yonhap
Both leaders also emphasized the importance of economic cooperation. Lee called for the alliance to be expanded to include technology and energy, while Trump singled out shipbuilding, recalling America’s past ability to produce “a ship a day” and suggesting that South Korean shipyards could help to revitalize the U.S. industry. The mix of defense and commercial issue showed how Trump often links military commitments with business interests.
Later in the day, Lee delivered a keynote speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington. He noted that South Korea already spends more than 2.6 percent of its GDP on defense, and pledged to increase this figure in line with calls for higher contributions within NATO and other U.S.-led alliances. Lee emphasized that South Korea would not ‘free ride’ on U.S. security guarantees, framing increased defense spending as part of Seoul’s responsibility as a global middle power.
Lee described the alliance as the cornerstone of South Korea’s development, urging that its scope be expanded to include emerging sectors such as technology and energy. Trump, for his part, pointed to shipbuilding and energy cooperation as areas of promise. The meeting underscored both the resilience of the alliance and the extent to which Trump’s unpredictable style could shape its trajectory in the years ahead.