It's no secret that U.S. President Donald Trump views alliances with a skeptical eye. Trump, who fancies himself a dealmaker, has repeatedly called for allies around the world to shoulder more of the costs of their partnerships with the United States.
Japan — despite Trump's golf-buddy relationship with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe — is no exception.
For Tokyo, Washington's ongoing cost-sharing talks with Seoul, and their ultimate result, are likely to have a significant impact on Japan's own potentially contentious negotiations with the White House on a bilateral Special Measures Agreement for hosting American troops. That SMA is due to expire in 2021.