Trump demands scaling down U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises, citing high costs and provocation to North Korea

On August 16, Trump posted on "Truth Social," stating he had ordered a significant reduction in the scale of joint military drills with Seoul. The full text reads:

Given my excellent relationship with Kim Jong-un of North Korea, I have long been dissatisfied with the United States' participation in joint military exercises with South Korea, which I had already agreed to. These drills are extremely costly—just as usual, the vast majority of expenses are borne by the United States—and send entirely inappropriate, hostile signals to North Korea. During my presidency under Donald J. Trump, North Korea posed no threat to us, and has always been treated with respect.

However, since canceling the exercises now would be too late, I have instructed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to drastically reduce the scale of the joint military exercises!

Incidentally, recently I asked the South Korean president whether his country would be willing to join us in advancing the denuclearization process of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His response was: “No, thank you!”

Trump’s decision to scale down U.S.-South Korea military exercises will have dual effects on the situation on the Korean Peninsula: in the short term, reduced exercise levels could help convey de-escalation signals and lower confrontation intensity; however, it may also trigger security anxiety in South Korea, undermining the stability of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, potentially prompting South Korea to further pursue greater defense autonomy.

The mention of South Korea's refusal to participate in the Iranian denuclearization initiative reflects a divergence in strategic objectives between the U.S. and South Korea. While the U.S. seeks allies’ cooperation on global issues, South Korea’s foreign policy focuses more on regional security in Northeast Asia and is reluctant to become involved in Middle Eastern affairs.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1873728277826564/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author