Trump Announces Major Cut in US-South Korea Military Drills, Citing Costs and North Korea Ties

Former US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will “substantially reduce” joint military exercises with South Korea, citing the high cost to American taxpayers and his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Sunday evening, Trump wrote: “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.” He added that South Korea had recently declined to join the US in the “denuclearisation” of Iran.

The announcement came just hours before the US and South Korea were due to begin their regular military drills on Monday. Washington and Seoul have conducted such exercises for decades, describing them as defensive in nature, while North Korea has consistently condemned them as rehearsals for an invasion.

Trump’s statement marks a significant shift in US policy towards its ally South Korea and towards North Korea. This is not the first time he has altered the scope of these exercises; in 2018, after his first summit with Kim Jong Un in Singapore, Trump announced the suspension of some joint drills, a decision that surprised Pentagon officials and US allies.

The latest announcement comes amid ongoing tensions over cost-sharing between Washington and Seoul. The US has long pressed South Korea to contribute more to the cost of hosting American troops and conducting joint operations. Trump’s reference to paying for the drills “as usual” reflects his repeated criticism of what he sees as an unequal financial burden on the US.

However, his reference to South Korea and Iran appears to conflate two separate issues. South Korea is not a party to the Iran nuclear negotiations and has no stated role in the denuclearisation of Iran. The link Trump drew is not part of any public diplomatic framework, and experts note that Iran and North Korea are distinct security challenges.

South Korea has not yet issued an official response to Trump’s announcement. The Pentagon, which organises these exercises, has also remained silent. It remains unclear what specific drills will be reduced or when the change will take effect.

Military analysts have expressed concern that a significant reduction in joint exercises could undermine the readiness of US and South Korean forces and weaken the alliance’s deterrence posture against North Korea. The exercises have been a cornerstone of the US-South Korea defence relationship for over half a century, involving tens of thousands of troops, aircraft, and naval vessels.

North Korea, for its part, has long demanded the cessation of such drills as a precondition for meaningful denuclearisation talks. Trump’s move may be seen by Pyongyang as a concession, though it remains to be seen whether it will lead to any new diplomatic engagement. Kim Jong Un has not yet commented on Trump’s latest statement.

The announcement also raises questions about the broader US alliance framework in the region, particularly at a time when China’s military assertiveness and North Korea’s missile programmes are significant concerns for Washington and its allies. Reducing military exercises could be interpreted as a weakening of US commitments in East Asia.

During his presidency, Trump broke with traditional US foreign policy norms in dealing with North Korea. He held three face-to-face meetings with Kim Jong Un and was the first sitting US president to step onto North Korean soil. Despite the symbolism, negotiations on denuclearisation stalled after the second summit in Hanoi in 2019 ended without an agreement.

Trump’s latest statement is likely to be scrutinised by both allies and adversaries. While he no longer holds office, he remains a major political figure and could run again for the presidency. His comments on foreign policy are notable but do not carry the force of an official government directive.

For now, the US and South Korean defence establishments will need to assess the practical implications of this announcement. The regular exercises were scheduled to begin on Monday, and any last-minute changes would require coordination between the two allies. Neither side has indicated how they intend to proceed in the immediate term.