Trump Orders Major Cut to US-South Korea Military Drills Ahead of Exercise
President Trump has ordered a substantial reduction of the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills, citing costs and relations with North Korea, raising readiness concerns.
The upcoming Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise, a cornerstone of the US-South Korea military alliance, is set to be significantly reduced following a direct order from President Donald Trump. The directive, issued just before the exercise was scheduled to begin on Monday, instructs the Pentagon to "substantially" scale back the 11-day event, a move that has raised concerns among defense analysts about the allies' combined readiness.
President Trump cited his personal rapport with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea's decision not to participate in US actions against Iran as reasons for the cut. The exact scope of the reductions remains unclear, but the decision marks a significant shift from earlier plans, which included the participation of roughly 18,000 South Korean troops and 14 field training exercises.
The UFS is a computer-simulated command post exercise designed to improve the allies' ability to respond to regional threats, particularly from North Korea. It is one of two major annual drills that form a central pillar of the alliance established after the 1950-53 Korean War. The exercises have long been a source of tension with Pyongyang, which views them as invasion rehearsals. Last Friday, North Korea's Foreign Ministry vowed a "new level of a deterrent" in response to the planned drills.
Analysts suggest the US will likely still participate in the computer-simulated portion but may cancel costly field training that requires large-scale troop movements. Experts warn that a one-year suspension could leave commanders unfamiliar with joint procedures when drills resume, potentially crippling the combined defense posture. The downsizing could also delay the long-planned transfer of wartime operational control from a US general to a South Korean-led binational command, a transition that President Lee Jae Myung has prioritized.
General Xavier Brunson, commander of US forces in South Korea, reportedly met with South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back on Tuesday to discuss the adjustments, though the ministry could not confirm the meeting. The move echoes President Trump's first term, when he suspended exercises in 2018 to pursue nuclear negotiations with North Korea, which have since stalled.