Trump Cuts South Korea Drills
Seoul says the U.S. requested shorter drills, spurring calls for stronger self-defense.
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The reporting
Seoul said the U.S. and South Korean militaries agreed at Washington’s request to shorten Ulchi Freedom Shield, which began on Monday and was scheduled for 10 days, to end on Friday. Trump had ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to substantially reduce the drills, saying they sent a hostile signal to North Korea and citing his relationship with Kim Jong Un. President Lee Jae Myung said Seoul must preserve the U.S. alliance while preparing for a worst-case scenario. He ordered reviews of total-war capacity and called for stronger independent defense capabilities.
Analysis & opinion
Trump undermined allyMostly Left
Trump’s reduction of joint exercises with South Korea weakened a vital alliance and rewarded North Korea. By courting Kim Jong Un while cutting back drills, he signaled unreliability, appeasement, and disregard for Seoul.
Drills underpin allianceMostly Center
Joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises are a core pillar of the alliance between Washington and Seoul. Scaling them back threatens a practice that helps hold the partnership together.
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