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Trump scales back South Korea drills, demands allies share the burden

The President is holding Seoul accountable for its refusal to support U.S. objectives in Iran while questioning the cost of regional military exercises.

Foreign PolicyPublished August 19, 2026 at 5:39 PM
US soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Division participate in the joint Freedom Shield (FS) exercise with South Korean soldiers in Paju, South Korea, 16 March 2023.

President Trump is rightfully demanding that our allies stop taking American military protection for granted. Following South Korea’s refusal to assist the United States in strategic operations against the Iranian regime, the President has moved to curtail the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercises.

The drills, which involve thousands of U.S. personnel stationed in the region, will be cut short by six days, and the scale of field training will be partially reduced. President Trump has been clear: the United States is tired of footing the bill for the defense of nations that refuse to stand with us when it matters most.

While the establishment media frets over the optics of this decision, the President is prioritizing American taxpayer interests and leverage. Trump noted that while the U.S. maintains a massive troop presence to guard South Korea against the threat of Kim Jong Un, Seoul was unwilling to assist in a critical military operation regarding Iran.

This is a necessary recalibration of our foreign policy, moving away from unconditional support toward a transactional approach that demands reciprocity.

As the President stated, his personal rapport with Kim Jong Un is a strategic asset, not a liability, and he continues to pursue diplomatic avenues that serve American interests while forcing our allies to finally step up and contribute their fair share to global security.

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foreign-policydonald-trumpsouth-koreanorth-koreanational-security

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