U.S. lawmaker stresses bipartisan 'pushback' against Trump's potential USFK drawdown
WASHINGTON, June 15 (Yonhap) -- A prominent U.S. lawmaker has highlighted continuing bipartisan "pushback" against the potential reduction of American troops in South Korea, in a move to assuage concerns that former President Donald Trump could threaten their drawdown or pullout if reelected.
In a recent interview with Yonhap News Agency, Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) voiced confidence in the robust alliance between Seoul and Washington, saying that on the congressional side, he does not foresee any change in the partnership in the event of Trump's return to the White House.
Trump is set to face off against President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 general election. Known for his "America first" credo, his reelection, if realized, is expected to bring a shift from Biden's policy that focuses on reinvigorating alliances and partnerships to confront shared challenges.
"I think we can point back to when Trump was president. Congress pushed back in a bipartisan way when he talked about reducing troop levels in South Korea," Bera, the ranking member of the Indo-Pacific subcommittee under the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Friday.
"I think it's continued to still see that same pushback from Congress in a bipartisan way," he added.
In an April interview with U.S. magazine TIME, Trump suggested that Washington could withdraw the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea if South Korea, a "wealthy" country, does not increase its contributions for the upkeep of the U.S. troops.
The remarks added to deepening security concerns fueled by Pyongyang's unceasing push to advance its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and its burgeoning military cooperation with Russia.
In the face of the North's persistent threats, Bera drove home a reassuring message: The alliance remains sturdy.
"I think it's as strong as ever, maybe even stronger than it was a decade ago," he said.
The lawmaker also underscored Congress' efforts to advance trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan, which has firmed up against the backdrop of growing North Korean threats.
"We've been talking about the legislative equivalent of what happened at Camp David, where you could get members of Congress, leaders in the Diet and leaders in the National Assembly together to just reaffirm that outside of the executive branch," he said.
He was referring to the first-ever standalone trilateral summit that South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held at Camp David in Maryland in August, in a culmination of their three-way collaboration.
The landmark summit produced a series of agreements, including the "Commitment to Consult" each other in case of a shared challenge.
Noting America's heavy security burden on multiple fronts, including Ukraine and the Middle East, Bera touched on the emergence of a recognition that U.S. allies should take a "bigger" role for their security, though Congress recognizes the importance of America's global leadership role.
"I think there is a recognition that we also have to rebuild our country as well," Bera said. "I think that was probably the message that Trump taps into. ... We feel like we are being left behind."
Asked if the U.S. has expectations about South Korea's role in promoting peace in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, Bera floated the idea of the Asian ally leveraging its shipbuilding capabilities to support Southeast Asian nations struggling for their maritime defense.
"Obviously, Korea has shipbuilding capabilities. I think a good next step is Korea helping build up the capacity of some of these third countries," he said.
He cited Japan's recent agreement with the Philippines to help it acquire Coast Guard vessels amid its long-simmering maritime feuds with China.
"I think those good next steps for Korea (are) how do we build up the capacity of Vietnam or the Philippines or Indonesia even to help protect their exclusive economic zones?" he said.
"Again, China will see that as provocative. ... (But) that's not provocative. We are just helping a country protect themselves."
Commenting on stalled dialogue with the North, Bera stressed that the impasse is not a U.S. choice -- an allusion to Pyongyang's repeated rejection of dialogue overtures from Washington.
"I think all diplomacy with North Korea has stalled. That's not our choice," he said.
Regarding the negotiations with the recalcitrant regime, Bera put forward the idea of pursuing economic cooperation or trust building first rather than seeking the North's nuclear disarmament from the outset of the talks.
"What I would have said six years ago is denuclearization of the peninsula can't be the first step because that's the last step," he said. "I think the first step should be ... it could have been economic cooperation ... reopening of the Kaesong industrial complex."
He was referring to the inter-Korean complex that was shut down in 2016 following the North's nuclear and missile tests.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine might have reminded Pyongyang of the stark reality that its nuclear arsenal serves as a deterrent, Bera pointed out. Under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, Ukraine handed over all Soviet-era nuclear weapons in exchange for security assurances from the U.S., Russia and Britain.
"I think the mistakes made in the negotiation (with the North) was denuclearization as a first step," he said.
Commenting on Russian President Vladimir Putin's plan to visit Pyongyang, Bera said that Congress is paying "close" attention to what's happening between the two countries.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
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