The completion of a long-term, military cost-sharing deal resolves a point of tension between the United States and South Korea, signaling a renewed U.S. emphasis on regional allies. But it still leaves thornier bilateral defense issues and shifting U.S. priorities in the region, which will change the U.S.-South Korea defense relationship over the next ten years. On March 8, U.S. and South Korean negotiators reached an agreement in principle on the renewal of their military cost-sharing Special Measures Agreement (SMA) after three successive days of talks in Washington, South Korea's Foreign Ministry announced March 8. The U.S. State Department said on March 7 that the agreement would extend through 2025 and include a "meaningful increase" in South Korea's share of the expenses to support U.S. troop deployments in the country....
