South Korea refutes claim of US troop withdrawal plan
The South Korean Ministry of Defence denied reports of the reduction of American armed forces. These reports appeared in the "Wall Street Journal."
Key information
- South Korea denies plans to reduce U.S. troops.
- The "Wall Street Journal" suggested the withdrawal of 4,500 soldiers.
- The Pentagon does not confirm these reports.
The South Korean Ministry of Defence flatly denied the information published by the "Wall Street Journal." According to the newspaper, the U.S. administration was considering withdrawing 4,500 soldiers from South Korea. The Ministry emphasised that cooperation with the USA remains unchanged.
As the core strength of the South Korea-US alliance, the USFK, alongside our military, has contributed to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and in the region by maintaining a firm combined defence posture and deterring North Korea's invasion and provocation, according to the statement provided by the Korea Herald agency.
A Pentagon spokesperson, speaking with the Yonhap agency, also denied any plans for reducing U.S. armed forces in South Korea. It was emphasised that there are no official announcements on this matter.
Strategic context
Speculations about troop reductions have arisen in the context of Washington's pursuit of "strategic flexibility." The U.S. wants to focus on deterring China, which is increasing its military activity in the Indo-Pacific region.
In October last year, Seoul and Washington signed an agreement on sharing the costs of maintaining the troops. South Korea has committed to paying 1.52 trillion won (approximately £820 million) in 2025, which represents an 8.3% increase compared to 2024.
