America’s Plan for Sharing the Expenses of Its Troops Snubs Its Allies

Published in Asahi Shimbun
(Japan) on 16 March 2019
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Eric Stimson. Edited by Denile Doyle.
If this unreasonable request were really made, it would damage our relations as allied countries and definitely not work in favor of America’s international strategy.

Multiple American media sources have reported that the Trump administration is considering a plan requesting every country that hosts the U.S. military, like Japan and Germany, to pay an extra 50 percent of the total cost of stationing these troops. It is said to be called the “Cost Plus 50” plan.

There are objections within the administration and what will actually happen is unclear, but if such a large-scale increase in our burden is requested, it truly must be considered a manifestation of disregard for the alliance.

In the negotiations agreed to last month revising the costs of stationing American troops in South Korea, that country was made to agree to an 8.2 percent increase compared to last year, or 1.04 trillion won (about $916 million). The duration of the agreement was shortened from five years to one, and it seems that South Korea will be subject to another demand for increased payment.

The cost of maintaining the United States Forces Japan is, in principle, the burden of the United States, based on the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement. Yet, since the late 1970s, Japan has paid for things like Japanese personnel on bases under what is called the “Sympathy Budget,” and the exceptions have increased. The current burden, reached in a special agreement in 2015 during the Obama administration, is about 200 billion yen (about $1.8 billion) a year.

Including other expenses, the cost of United States Forces Japan is over 600 billion yen ($5.5 billion), an exceptional hospitality compared to other allied countries. Considering the severe financial situation and public feelings, an increase in the bill is unthinkable.

The current arrangement lasts until March 2021 and revision negotiations aren’t forecast to begin in earnest until next year, but we need to drive home the point soon. At this spring’s meeting between the Japanese and American ministers of foreign affairs and defense (2 plus 2), we should figure out the American side’s true intentions while making it clear that we will not accede to unreasonable demands.

It is reported that the request for an increase in our burden is in consideration of American soldiers’ salaries and expenses for maintaining aircraft carriers and submarines. Even some Americans point out that countries that accept this much are practically using mercenaries.

On the other hand, due to our closeness with the U.S., a discount in the bill is also being discussed. There is also a prediction that this could be used as a concession in a deal in the upcoming Japanese-American trade talks, but that’s beside the point.

American troop deployment isn’t just for the defense of host countries, but a component in a strategy maintaining the American-led world order. A worldwide network of allied and friendly countries is precisely America’s strength, and wouldn’t it be in its national interest?

The Trump administration’s schemes could bring instability into this alliance and damage the foundations of America’s own security.



本当にこんな法外な要求をすれば、同盟国との関係をきしませ、米国の世界戦略にとっても決してプラスにはならない。

 トランプ政権が、日本やドイツなど米軍を受け入れる各国に対し、駐留経費の総額に50%を加えた額を求める案を検討していると、複数の米メディアが報じた。「コストプラス50」と名付けられているという。

 政権内にも異論があり、実際にどうなるかは不明だが、これほど大幅な負担増を要求するとすれば、まさしく同盟軽視の表れと言わざるをえない。

 先月決着した在韓米軍の駐留経費の改定交渉では、韓国が前年比8・2%増の1兆389億ウォン(約1012億円)をのまされた。これまで5年間だった協定の有効期間が1年間に短縮されており、韓国はさらなる増額要求にさらされそうだ。

 在日米軍の維持にかかる費用は、日米地位協定に基づき、米国の負担が原則だ。だが、1970年代後半から「思いやり予算」の名の下で、日本人基地従業員の給与などを日本が担うようになり、例外が拡大した。現在の負担はオバマ政権下の2015年に結んだ特別協定により年約2千億円となっている。

 これ以外の費用も含めた在日米軍関係の経費は計6千億円を超えており、他の同盟国に比べても突出した厚遇だ。厳しい財政事情や国民感情を考えても、増額は考えられない。

 今の協定の期限は21年3月までで、改定交渉が本格化するのは来年の見通しだが、早めにクギを刺す必要がある。この春に開かれる日米外務・防衛閣僚会合(2プラス2)で、米側の真意をただすとともに、理不尽な要求には応じられないと、きっぱりと伝えるべきだ。

 負担増の要求は、米兵の給与や空母・潜水艦の寄港経費まで検討対象だという。そこまで受け入れ国が持つのでは、まるで「傭兵(ようへい)」ではないかという指摘が、米国内からも出ている。

 一方、米国との緊密度合いに応じて要求額の割引も検討されているという。近く始まる日米通商交渉で、日本の譲歩を引き出すディール(取引)に使うとの観測もあるが、論外だ。

 米軍の駐留は、受け入れ国の防衛のためだけではなく、米国主導の国際秩序を維持する戦略の一環だ。世界中に広がる同盟・友好国のネットワークこそ、米国の強みであり、国益にもかなっているのではないか。

 トランプ政権の構想は同盟関係の不安定化を招きかねず、米国自身の安全保障の基盤を損なうものである。
This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

Hot this week

Spain: Global Aid without the US

Germany: Trump’s Disappointment Will Have No Adverse Consequences for Putin*

             

Spain: Not a Good Time for Solidarity

Germany: Big Tech Wants a Say in EU Law: More Might for the Mighty

Topics

Canada: Canada Must Match the Tax Incentives in Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

Germany: Big Tech Wants a Say in EU Law: More Might for the Mighty

Germany: Trump’s Disappointment Will Have No Adverse Consequences for Putin*

             

Spain: Global Aid without the US

Spain: Not a Good Time for Solidarity

India: Trump’s Tariffs Have Hit South Korea and Japan: India Has Been Wise in Charting a Cautious Path

Related Articles

India: Trump’s Tariffs Have Hit South Korea and Japan: India Has Been Wise in Charting a Cautious Path

Japan: Iran Ceasefire Agreement: The Danger of Peace by Force

Japan: Trump’s 100 Days: A Future with No Visible Change So Far

Japan: US Administration Losing Credibility 3 Months into Policy of Threats

Japan: US-Japan Defense Minister Summit: US-Japan Defense Chief Talks Strengthen Concerns about Single-Minded Focus on Strength

Previous article
Next article