Seoul: Former U.S. president and Republican candidate Donald Trump is projected to be the likely winner of the Nov. 5 election, securing the necessary 270 electoral votes to reclaim the presidency. Upon this anticipated victory, Trump declared, "We made history for a reason," as he was expected to win in six of the seven critical battleground states. Notably, Trump diverged from the traditional practice of declaring victory only after the opposing candidate concedes.According to Yonhap News Agency, Trump has hinted at a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, vowing to "not rest until we have delivered the strong safe and prosperous America." This commitment to his slogan, "Make America Great Again," suggests another profound change in the security dynamics of Northeast Asia and beyond. Trump's perception of U.S. allies as nations that benefit at America's expense remains unchanged, as he pledged to quickly end the Ukraine war if elected. South Korea, too, is unlikely to be exempt from these changes.Dur ing his campaign, Trump emphasized his past success in preventing North Korea from posing nuclear and missile threats, indicating a potential overhaul of the existing security framework on the Korean Peninsula, regardless of the recent Camp David Declaration between U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The defense cost-sharing agreement, known as the Special Measures Agreement, which outlines South Korea's financial contributions to U.S. military presence, is also expected to face revisions. In October, guidelines were established for South Korea to pay 1.52 trillion won ($1.09 billion) in 2026, marking an 8.3 percent increase from 2025. However, Trump has stated he would demand $10 billion from South Korea, branding the country a "money machine."The South Korean presidential office has pledged to initiate communication with Trump's team promptly. President Yoon is urged to meet directly with the president-elect and establish collaborative systems with his aides to align the in terests of both nations. Drawing lessons from the Park Geun-hye administration's approach to Trump's election victory in 2016, the South Korean government is also advised to cooperate with Japan and other nations to form bilateral or multilateral networks to safeguard national interests. With Trump's inauguration scheduled for Jan. 20 next year, time is of the essence.
- October 12, 2026
