US Forces in South Korea Commander Denies Reduction of US Troops in South Korea
Seoul - On May 27, US Forces in South Korea Commander Xavier Brunson stated that he had received no notification from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff regarding the consideration to reduce US troops in South Korea. According to Yonhap News Agency, Brunson made this statement during an online seminar hosted by the Institute for Corean-American Studies (ICAS). He emphasized that as the highest-ranking officer of US forces in South Korea, he had not received any calls or instructions from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
On May 22, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing US Department of Defense officials, that the US was considering relocating about 4,500 US troops stationed in South Korea to other regions. In response, the US Forces Korea Command issued a statement denying these reports, affirming that the US would continue to firmly fulfill its defense commitments to South Korea and looked forward to cooperating with the new South Korean government to strengthen the alliance.
Brunson noted that in the face of challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, "strategic flexibility" should be demonstrated, with the core of this capability lying in maintaining strong military power. He also pointed out that South Korea is one of the top ten global military powers, and that South Korea and the US maintain a close partnership.
Brunson also stated on May 15 at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Pacific Ground Forces Symposium that US troops in South Korea are not solely focused on addressing the North Korean threat but are actively involved in regional operations and deployments as part of a broader Indo-Pacific strategy.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833413622122890/
Disclaimer: This article represents the views of the author alone.