COVID-19, which causes the global crisis, is also causing inter-country relations to change. There is also movement in defence budgets during this period, which has been through an economically challenging process, with the decline in oil prices, factories taking a break from production and increasing number of infected cases.
The two countries, the United States and the Republic of Korea, who are uncomfortable with North Korea's missile tests, could disrupt their alliance. Seoul, which went to general elections last week, resulted in the win of the left-leaning ruling party. Angry at the Administration of Donald Trump and U.S. forces, the people of the Republic of Korea see the new Special Provisions Agreement (SMA) as “abuse” and “victimization” of the negotiations between the two countries.
There are serious concerns about the Trump administration not reaching a cost-sharing agreement with the Republic of Korea for US troops based there. It seems that Trump has rejected a tentative agreement recently drawn up by the US-Korea bilateral negotiating team, and the United States seems to be preparing a strong pressure card called “Reducing US Forces in Korea.”
