Trump orders Pentagon to cut back military exercises with South Korea

President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to substantially cut back joint military exercises with South Korea, a move he announced via his Truth Social platform on Sunday. Trump cited the cost of the drills and Seoul's refusal to join actions against Iran as reasons for his directive.

Hours before the exercises were set to begin, Trump expressed his displeasure, stating that while cancellation was too late, he was unhappy with the prior agreement to participate. He emphasized his "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, asserting that the exercises are "costly" and send an "inappropriate and hostile" signal to a country he described as unthreatening and respectful during his presidency.

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These exercises are not only costly... but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile, to a Country that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful.

The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, scheduled from August 17 to 27, were expected to involve approximately 18,000 South Korean military personnel and include operations against drones, GPS signal disruption, and cyberattacks. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the drills began as scheduled on Monday but declined to comment on Trump's remarks. Official responses from South Korea's presidential office and ministries were pending due to a public holiday.

This is not the first time Trump has sought to curtail or end military exercises with South Korea, which Pyongyang routinely denounces as invasion preparations. Trump has also previously clashed with Seoul over the cost-sharing for the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in the country. Analysts suggest Trump's decision might be part of an effort to create diplomatic opportunities with Pyongyang, though the "haphazard nature" of the move may limit its impact.

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This decision may be part of a larger effort to create a diplomatic opportunity with Pyongyang, as Trump has consistently wanted since coming back to office, although the haphazard nature of this move is unlikely to make much of an impression in Pyongyang.