Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his intention to request South Korea to transfer "ownership" of land currently lent to the United States for military bases. This announcement came during his first in-person meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the White House.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Trump stated the U.S. has invested significantly in building military infrastructure on the South Korean land, which is presently under a lease agreement. He emphasized the substantial financial contributions made by both the United States and South Korea towards developing these bases. Trump remarked that he would like to explore the possibility of eliminating the lease arrangement and securing ownership of the land where the extensive military base is situated.
This proposal highlights Trump's ongoing focus on reassessing and potentially renegotiating international agreements and partnerships involving U.S. military presence overseas. The discussions with South Korea could have significant implications for the bilateral relationship between the two nations, particularly in the context of defense and security cooperation.