Donald Trump has announced that the United States will significantly scale back joint military exercises with South Korea. The US president linked the decision to his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as well as Seoul’s stance on the conflict with Iran.
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In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued that the exercises are costly and send what he considers an inappropriate and hostile message.
He also noted that South Korea had refused to join the United States in efforts to “denuclearize” Iran.
However, authorities in Seoul said military exercises with the United States would proceed as planned. The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise is expected to last 11 days, with around 18,000 South Korean troops taking part. Meanwhile, approximately 28,500 US troops are also stationed on the Korean Peninsula.
According to Trump, fully canceling the exercises was no longer possible because they were scheduled to begin on Monday.
Just hours before making the statement, the US president had posted an old photograph from his 2019 meeting with Kim Jong Un. Despite tensions between Washington and Pyongyang, Trump referred to the North Korean leader as a good friend.
For Seoul, the White House leader’s stance carries two messages. It could be interpreted as a sign that Trump intends to resume talks with Kim Jong Un, while also reflecting his dissatisfaction with allies that did not become directly involved in the conflict with Iran.
At the same time, North Korea is continuing to develop its nuclear and missile programs. Pyongyang recently tested ballistic missiles, an action prohibited under United Nations resolutions. It has also opposed the US-South Korea exercises, describing them as preparations for an aggressive war.
The presence of North Korean troops in Russia’s war against Ukraine is another source of concern for Washington and Seoul. The US military has said this threat is also taken into account during the joint exercises.
This is not Trump’s first attempt to scale back military exercises on the Korean Peninsula. During direct negotiations with Kim Jong Un in 2018, he suspended major US-South Korea exercises, calling them “provocative.” At the time, Trump said the suspension would save the United States a great deal of money.
The latest statements come at a sensitive time for the alliance between Washington and Seoul, as the US president is urging US allies to take on a greater role in confronting Iran.
For its part, South Korea continues to view the United States’ military presence as an essential pillar of its security in the face of the threat from North Korea.
