US Cancels Joint Amphibious Drill with South Korea Citing Iran Conflict

South Korea announced that the United States has cancelled the upcoming Ssangyong amphibious landing exercise, which was slated for next month. The biennial drill normally involves marine forces from both nations conducting coordinated amphibious landings with warships, aircraft and ground units. Seoul’s Marine Corps said the decision reflects constraints on U.S. force availability linked to the ongoing war in Iran.

South China Morning PostUS cites Iran war constraints in cancelling South Korea landing drill

The cancellation follows President Donald Trump’s recent order to scale down the separate annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, cutting their duration from eleven days to five. Trump argued that the larger exercises were costly and sent an “inappropriate and hostile” signal to North Korea, while emphasizing his personal rapport with Kim Jong-un.

South China Morning Post

Han Seung-jeon, spokesperson for the South Korean Marine Corps, explained that the U.S. Marine Corps formally notified South Korean forces in June that its ability to deploy for the Ssangyong drill would be constrained by the Middle-East situation. He added that Seoul and Washington continue consultations on when the exercise might resume, without providing further details. The U.S. Forces Korea office did not immediately comment on the cancellation.

US cites Iran war constraints in cancelling South Korea landing drill South China Morning Post

The cancellation removes a scheduled opportunity for the two marine forces to rehearse amphibious operations together, temporarily halting the planned joint training.

South China Morning Post

• “The US Marine Corps formally notified our forces in June that its ability to deploy forces during this year’s Ssangyong exercise would be constrained due to the situation in the Middle East,” — Han Seung-jeon, a spokesman for the South Korean Marine Corps

South China Morning Post