Trump orders Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon on Sunday to scale back annual joint military exercises with South Korea, saying the ally declined to help with the war against Iran and citing his good relationship with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. Trump said in a social media post that the exercises, which began Monday, […] The post Trump orders Pentagon to scale back joint exercises…
President Donald Trump instructed the Pentagon on Sunday to reduce the scale of annual joint military exercises with South Korea, alleging that the ally did not assist in the fight against Iran. The exercises, which started on Monday, are deemed costly and "inappropriate and hostile" to North Korea, which Trump claims has been "unthreatening and respectful" during his presidency.
Trump directed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to lessen the Joint Military Exercises, as the cancellation had become unfeasible. His decision to scale back the exercises is the latest instance of Trump shifting allegiance towards North Korea, an adversary under his predecessors, over South Korea. This move marks a stark contrast to how his administration treated South Korea recently, praising them in May for their commitment to increasing defense spending and taking primary responsibility for the security of the Korean Peninsula.
The exercises, involving 18,000 South Korean soldiers, aim to enhance readiness against North Korean threats. They emphasize the alliance's role as a linchpin for regional peace and security.
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