Trump Reduces US-South Korea Joint Exercises, Prompting Regional Concerns

The order applies to training that was set to begin this week.

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The decision follows a broader shift of U.S. forces to the Middle East, including the redeployment of missile-defence interceptors and the carrier USS George Washington to support operations against Iran. Le Miere notes that the temporary “carrier gap” underscores the difficulty of sustaining high-tempo operations across multiple theatres. The 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, involving thousands of U.S. and South Korean troops, is scheduled to run until August 27.

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Christian Le Miere, honorary fellow at the Council on Geostrategy, argues that scaling back drills signals a weakening U.S. presence in the Pacific and may embolden China, Russia and North Korea. Edward Howell, lecturer at the University of Oxford, says the move constitutes a “big victory” for those states, allowing them to further undermine U.S. global leadership. Samuel Ramani, associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, characterises Trump’s view of the alliance as treating South Korea as a “free rider.”

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• “The carrier gap is likely temporary, but it certainly highlights how the US is unable to maintain high-tempo operations in multiple theatres for a prolonged period of time,” — Le Miere. Jong-un

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• “If the US/South Korea alliance weakens or frays, China, Russia, and North Korea will all be rubbing their hands,” — Edward Howell

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• “Trump has always had a sceptical view of the US alliance with South Korea; he sees South Korea as a free rider,” — Samuel Ramani

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• “When sophisticated missile systems were being redeployed to the Middle East, this was a big victory for China and North Korea, a huge victory,” — Edward Howell

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