美駐軍國家 川普擬要求外收5成軍費 自由20190310

【Comment】

The station of the US troop in allies was from the end of WWII.  It is the policy to meet the needs of the military occupation and the Cold War.  The former was a traditional measure to ensure the reparations; while the latter was to construct the post-war world order.

After the long seven decades, it is, of course, to reduce the former and to review the latter.

Seeing the high soaring cost of the weapon systems, it is fair for allies to take the burden-sharing.

美駐軍國家 川普擬要求外收5成軍費    自由20190310

「全額負擔外加50％」 逼盟國增國防預算

〔編譯張沛元／綜合八日外電報導〕美國媒體引述不具名官員與消息人士的話指出，美國總統川普正計畫進一步要求歐亞盟國與其他有美軍駐紮的國家，全額負擔美軍派駐該國的支出，同時外加至少五十％的特權費，部分國家最後得負擔的經費，可能是目前的五到六倍。

要求德日韓買單所有開支

數名匿名美國官員八日表示，白宮已要求國防部蒐集美軍派駐外國的軍費支出，以及這些國家的負擔金額等資料，以施壓盟國協助抵銷美國駐軍所需的支出。率先報導此事的彭博指出，根據白宮的指示，行政部門正擬定所謂的「費用加五成」（Cost Plus 50）計畫，要求德國、日本與最終其他所有美軍駐紮的國家，為美軍駐紮該國境內的所有開支買單，外加至少五成費用。

川普向來力主北約盟國應將國防預算提高到佔國內生產毛額（GDP）的二％，今年一月在國防部發表演說時曾直言美國絕不當冤大頭，如今更主張盟國應負擔美軍派駐當地的支出。美國國家安全會議八日聲明指出，要求盟國增加在聯合防禦上的投資與確保公平負擔是美國長期以來的目標，但不願透露現行討論細節。儘管該計畫還在初步階段，但已在國務院內造成震撼，擔心此舉恐嚴重冒犯美國在歐亞地區的忠實盟國，何況這些盟國本就對川普能否信守承諾存疑。

例如，川普堅持要落實「費用加五成」計畫，就差點導致美國與南韓就兩萬八千名駐韓美軍地位所舉行的談判破局；雙方歷經數回合談判失敗後終於在上月達成協議，南韓同意在二○一九年為美軍派駐當地支付九億兩千四百萬美元（約二八五億五千萬台幣），高於去年支付的八億三千萬美元。

美國在大部分北約盟國都有駐軍，但在德國、英國、日本、科威特、卡達和巴林等國有較大的基地與派駐有軍事人員。前助理國防部長查列特說，盟國是該與美國均攤美軍駐紮經費，這些海外基地在保護美國利益上至為重要，而這些美軍派駐國也想成為美國的夥伴，但川普所傳達出的訊息卻是美國根本不在乎，根本適得其反。

軍方憂引發駐紮國反美軍聲浪

此外，大幅提高盟國負擔美軍駐軍經費，恐會煽動當地方興未艾的美國駐軍存廢相關議論。儘管波蘭等國相當歡迎美軍派駐，但在德國與日本，不少民眾長年反對美國駐軍；倘若美國就提高駐軍費下達任何形式的最後通牒，恐激化此一反對美國駐軍勢力。

Donald Trump demanding allies hosting US troops cover full cost of deployment plus some extra    The Telegraph 20190308

Donald Trump is demanding that allies with US troops stationed in their countries pay for the privilege in a concerted drive to bring down costs.

The US president wants such countries to not just cover the full cost of US troop deployment but also pay America an extra amount for the service.

Mr Trump upset negotiations with South Korea late last year by demanding “cost plus 50”, which means paying the full cost of deployment plus a further 50 per cent.

The demand contributed to just a one-year deal being signed with South Korea, where 28,000 US troops are stationed, rather than the usual five-year agreement.

The push has alarmed experts and former officials who warned that seeing the arrangements in pure cost terms downplays the strategic advantage it brings America.

Details of the drive were first reported by Bloomberg News and confirmed by The Daily Telegraph.

It is understood that not all countries with US troops are being asked to pay "cost plus 50", with the exact extra percentage varying for each ally.

Furthermore the demand is seen as an opening position which may be negotiated down during talks.  Little focus is said to have been put on the set up in Britain to date.

The push is in line with Mr Trump’s repeated demands in public that allies must do more to cover the cost of America's military protection.

He has made a high profile push for Nato members to meet their commitment to spend 2 per cent of GDP on defence.  Britain is one of the few members hitting the target.

The drive may be especially significant for Germany, which, according to an expert quoted by Bloomberg, currently pays just 28 per cent of the cost of US troops stationed there - around $1 billion.

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump hold a joint news conference in the White House in March 2017

Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, has angered Mr Trump by failing to hit Nato’s 2 per cent defence spending target.  It is one of a number of issues they have publicly clashed over.

Garrett Marquis, the spokesman at the White House’s National Security Council, said: “Getting allies to increase their investment in our collective defense and ensure fairer burden-sharing has been a long-standing US goal. 

“The Administration has prioritized this issue: for example the President has pushed Nato Allies to meet the Alliance’s 2 percent of GDP on defense spending guideline, which is resulting in a total of $100 billion in new defense spending.

“The Administration is committed to getting the best deal for the American people elsewhere too, but will not comment on any ongoing deliberations regarding specific ideas.”

In a separate development, the Pentagon issued a severe warning to Turkey - a fellow member of Nato - over its plans to buy the Russian S-400 air defense system.

Charlie Summers, the Pentagon's acting press secretary, said: "If Turkey takes the S-400, there would be grave consequence in terms of our military relationship".

He suggested that Turkey could be blocked from buying America's F-35 and Patriot defence systems if it went ahead with the Russia purchase.