South Korea · Japan · Donald Trump · Pete Hegseth · Pentagon · North Korea · Axios
Trump tells Hegseth to cut back U.S.-South Korea drills
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President Trump said Sunday he instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to "substantially reduce" U.S. military exercises with South Korea.
Key facts
- The Japan-based USS George Washington is being redeployed from the Pacific to the Middle East, where it is expected to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln
- President Trump said Sunday he instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to "substantially reduce" U.S. military exercises with South Korea
- Trump cited his "good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for condemning the drills, and also noted on Truth Social that South Korea declined his request to help the U.S. denuclearize
- The U.S. and South Korean militaries were due to start regular military drills on Monday in an exercise known as " Ulchi Freedom Shield
Summary
Trump cited his "good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for condemning the drills, and also noted on Truth Social that South Korea declined his request to help the U.S. denuclearize Iran. What he's saying: "These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile," Trump wrote. The U.S. and South Korean militaries were due to start regular military drills on Monday in an exercise known as " Ulchi Freedom Shield. The drills have been held annually under that name since 2022, though the U.S.-South Korea summertime exercises they evolved from date back decades.