Scaled-back drills cast uncertainty over OPCON transfer timeline
The scaling back of South Korea-U.S. joint military drills, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s social media post calling for a reduction, has increased uncertainty in Seoul’s push for an earlier transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington, as the reduced exercise will likely limit the opportunity to evaluate Seoul’s readiness to lead the combined forces. The Lee Jae Myung…
The reduction of South Korea-US military drills, following President Donald Trump's call for fewer exercises, has created uncertainty in Seoul's efforts to transfer wartime operational control (OPCON) to the South more quickly. The shortened drills will likely make it harder for Seoul to prove its readiness to lead the combined forces.
The Lee Jae Myung administration hopes to confirm the Combined Forces Command's Full Operational Capability (FOC) under South Korean leadership during the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise and discuss a target year for the OPCON transfer at the upcoming Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) in October. However, the scaled-back training is likely to complicate these plans, including the government's goal of achieving OPCON transfer around 2028.
On Wednesday, the allies announced that this year's UFS would end six days earlier than planned, on August 23rd, while also reducing or altering some field training exercises. This decision followed Trump's request via his social media platform.
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- Scaled-back drills cast uncertainty over OPCON transfer timeline koreatimes.co.kr
