Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that South Korea contributes "very little" to the United States for military support and should bear the cost of its own defense. This comes amid expectations that Trump would urge the Asian ally to shoulder a larger share of the security burden. According to Yonhap News Agency, Trump's remarks were made during a Cabinet meeting as his administration pushes allies to boost their defense spending. This initiative is part of Washington's strategy to prioritize deterring the "pacing threat" from an increasingly assertive China. Trump highlighted the U.S.'s role in rebuilding South Korea and maintaining its military presence there. He noted that South Korea benefits economically from the presence of the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) but contributes minimally for this military support. He argued that South Korea, a prosperous nation, should be responsible for its military expenses. Reflecting on past negotiations with Seoul during his first term , Trump claimed he proposed that South Korea pay $10 billion annually for military support. However, the agreement reached was for $3 billion, a deal that did not materialize due to what he described as a "rigged election." Trump inaccurately asserted that there are 45,000 U.S. soldiers in Korea, emphasizing the economic advantages these personnel bring to South Korea and Germany. He described the presence as significant economic development for those nations and a financial loss for the U.S. He indicated ongoing discussions with South Korea regarding these issues.