Trump cuts US-South Korea military drills citing ‘good relationship with Kim Jong-un’ | First Thing
President said he was ‘not happy’ with plans for large-scale joint exercises he described as ‘inappropriate and hostile’. Plus, how five obscure horses have ended up at the center of a transatlantic betting mystery Good morning. Donald Trump has said he is scaling back joint US military drills with South Korea aimed at deterring North Korea, despite military officials from both countries warning…
President Donald Trump has decided to reduce US military drills with South Korea, citing his "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Despite warnings from military officials that Kim's regime is learning new battlefield tactics from the Ukraine war, the president expressed dissatisfaction with the joint exercises, which he deemed "inappropriate and hostile".
The drills are costly and send a hostile signal to a country that has been unthreatening and respectful during Trump's presidency, according to the US leader. As it was too late to cancel the drills, Trump ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to substantially reduce them. Concerns over the USS Abraham Lincoln persist, with Democrats blaming its prolonged deployment on unresolved issues such as the Iran war and lackluster leadership from the Trump administration.
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