Trump’s Order to Cut Military Exercises With South Korea Carries Risks, Experts Say

Live updates

1. 26d ago

   Trump cuts US-South Korea military exercises, sparking concerns

   US President Donald Trump has ordered a reduction in joint military exercises with South Korea, a move experts say carries risks and may embolden North Korea. The decision comes amid Trump's efforts to engage with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. South Korea and the US have long maintained a close military alliance, with regular drills seen as a key component of their deterrence strategy.

   Why it matters

   The move has sparked concerns among experts and officials about the potential impact on regional security and the US commitment to its Asian allies. North Korea has long criticized the joint drills as a provocation. The decision comes as Trump seeks to negotiate a deal with North Korea on its nuclear program.

   What is confirmed

   • North Korea slams US-South Korea military drills and threatens strong response
   • Trump's order to cut military exercises with South Korea carries risks, experts say
   • The decision has sparked concerns about the US commitment to its Asian allies

   Still unconfirmed

   • Trump wants South Korea to defend itself

   What to watch next

   • North Korea's response to the reduced military exercises
   • The impact on US-South Korea relations
   • The outcome of Trump's negotiations with North Korea
   Sources used for this update (8)

   1. AP News — North Korea slams US-South Korea military drills and threatens strong response
   2. The Washington Post — Opinion | Trump inverts his own foreign policy mantra
   3. Politico — Trump’s snub of South Korea sends region scrambling
   4. Council on Foreign Relations — Trump’s South Korea Move Fuels Growing Fears of U.S. Retreat From Asia
   5. The New York Times — Trump’s Order to Cut Military Exercises With South Korea Carries Risks, Experts Say
   6. The Economist — Donald Trump abruptly scales back an exercise with South Korea
   7. CNN — Trump wants South Korea to defend itself. His overtures to Kim Jong Un could delay that.
   8. Reuters — North Korea says South Korea's description of US drills move shows uneasiness and impatience
   confidence 85%