Drills cut by Trump are central to the US-South Korea alliance
Summary
The United States and South Korea have held joint military drills for many years to prepare for possible conflicts with North Korea. This year, President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to significantly reduce the size of the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, citing a good relationship with North Korea and South Korea’s refusal to join a U.S. war against Iran. Experts say cutting the drills may weaken the U.S.-South Korea alliance and reduce military readiness.Key Facts
- Ulchi Freedom Shield is an annual joint U.S.-South Korea military exercise focused on defense against threats from North Korea.
- The exercise usually includes computer-simulated command training plus field training with thousands of soldiers.
- This year’s exercise was planned with about 18,000 South Korean troops and lessons from recent conflicts.
- President Trump ordered a major cut to the exercise just before it was to begin.
- Trump cited improving relations with North Korea and South Korea not joining a U.S. conflict against Iran as reasons.
- North Korea criticizes these drills, seeing them as hostile acts, and threatens responses.
- The U.S. and South Korea say the exercises are purely defensive.
- Military experts warn that scaling back the drills could lessen the readiness and strength of the alliance formed since the Korean War.
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