Trump Orders Pentagon to Scale Back Military Exercises with South Korea
Bbc · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, marking a dramatic shift in US military posture on the Korean Peninsula. Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that he instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to cut back the exercises, describing them as overly costly and provocative toward North Korea, which he said has been "unthreatening and respectful" during his administration. The decision follows South Korea's refusal to participate in US-led efforts to denuclearize Iran, a move that reportedly angered the White House.
Key Points
- Trump ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday to substantially reduce the joint military exercises after they were already set to begin
- The scheduled exercises were designed to last 11 days and involve 18,000 South Korean soldiers practicing readiness against North Korean threats
- Planned training included joint precision targeting, wet gap crossing operations, and distribution of pre-positioned military equipment
- Trump cited South Korea's refusal to join US denuclearization efforts with Iran as a key factor in his decision
- North Korea's Foreign Ministry had previously called the US-South Korean training "a rehearsal for an aggressive war"
Why It Matters
This decision represents a significant departure from decades of US military cooperation with South Korea and could reshape security dynamics in Northeast Asia. The move signals Trump's continued willingness to court North Korea diplomatically while potentially straining alliances with traditional US partners in the region.
This decision represents a significant departure from decades of US military cooperation with South Korea and could reshape security dynamics in Northeast Asia. The move signals Trump's continued willingness to court North Korea diplomatically while potentially straining alliances with traditional US partners in the region.