Washington—House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot L. Engel (D-NY) and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today raised concern regarding the Trump Administration’s attempt to exponentially increase contributions made by South Korea, and potentially Japan, to offset the cost of U.S. military forces in the region. In a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, the lawmakers called on the Administration to respond to a request for information to ensure its actions do not undermine U.S. efforts to affirm an enduring commitment to the region.

In the letter, the Chairmen wrote:

“We agree that our allies and partners should fairly contribute to the cost of our presence overseas, but at a time when the United States, South Korea and Japan should be working jointly to counter regional security threats ranging from increased North Korean provocations to growing Chinese assertiveness across the region, U.S. demands for a massive increase in South Korean annual contributions serves as a needless wedge between us and allies.

“We reiterate support for a burden-sharing agreement that is fair and mutually beneficial, but we must not undertake negotiations in a manner that jeopardizes our alliance relationships or continuity of presence,” but instead emphasizes “the irrefutable benefits to U.S. national security that our forward presence” provides...