Trump Order Cuts US-Korea Drills in Half
Trump Order Cuts US-Korea Drills in Half
The News
The US and South Korea are cutting their biggest summer war games nearly in half after President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to reduce joint exercises on the Korean peninsula.
Ulchi Freedom Shield, which began Monday and was scheduled to run 11 days through Aug. 27, will now end Friday, Aug. 21 — after five days — South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff announced Wednesday.
Seoul said it adjusted the exercise's length and scale "following the U.S.'s suggestion." Trump had cited the cost of the drills and his "very good" relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Timeline
Trump posts on Truth Social calling for the allies to "substantially reduce" their military exercises, citing their cost and his relationship with Kim.
Ulchi Freedom Shield begins, slated to run through Aug. 27.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff announce the exercise will instead end Friday at the request of the United States. The Pentagon confirms it has substantially reduced the drill on direction from Trump and the secretary of war.
Reactions
The Pentagon said in an unsigned email Wednesday that it had cut back Ulchi Freedom Shield "while continuing training that enhances tactical capability."
"Associated live-training events have been reduced, with certain events canceled or converted to simulations," the Pentagon said. "These adjustments preserve essential readiness and training objectives. There will be no degradation to U.S. training objectives."
South Korea's Joint Chiefs said that "moving forward, South Korea and the U.S. will discuss various measures to achieve [Ulchi Freedom Shield] exercise goals and establish a combined defense posture."
Reuters reported that South Korea said it was caught off guard by Trump's order. The New York Times reported the Pentagon is scaling back the training a week earlier than scheduled after Trump's directive to reduce exercises with the key US ally.
What's Next
The two militaries are still coordinating the details of a reduced slate of combined field training drills, according to the Joint Chiefs' release. The exercise formally wraps Friday.
The larger question is diplomatic. The Japan Times reported the move appears aimed at luring Kim back to talks, years after denuclearization negotiations with Washington collapsed. CNBC reported Trump is seeking a summit with Kim.
More
Ulchi Freedom Shield is one of two major exercises the allies run each year, designed to test their ability to respond jointly to a conflict on the peninsula. North Korea has long denounced the drills as rehearsal for invasion.
Trump's predecessor in this argument is Trump himself: he has repeatedly complained about the cost of US exercises in Korea and pointed to his personal rapport with Kim, whom he met during his first term.
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