[RYAN ROBERTSON]
THE U.S. IS RETHINKING ITS MILITARY FOOTPRINT IN EAST ASIA—AND THAT COULD MEAN PULLING THOUSANDS OF TROOPS OUT OF SOUTH KOREA.
RIGHT NOW, THE PENTAGON IS WEIGHING WHETHER TO RELOCATE ABOUT 45-HUNDRED SERVICE MEMBERS TO OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE INDO-PACIFIC—POSSIBLY GUAM. IT’S PART OF AN INTERNAL POLICY REVIEW FOCUSED ON NORTH KOREA, BUT ALSO REFLECTS GROWING CONCERNS ABOUT CHINA.
OFFICIALS SAY THE PROPOSAL ISN’T ON PRESIDENT TRUMP’S DESK YET, BUT IT REMAINS UNDER ACTIVE CONSIDERATION. IF APPROVED, IT WOULD MARK THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SHIFT IN U.S. TROOP LEVELS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA IN YEARS.
CURRENTLY, THE U.S. MAINTAINS ABOUT 28-THOUSAND TROOPS IN SOUTH KOREA. THAT PRESENCE HAS LONG SERVED AS A DETERRENT AGAINST NORTH KOREAN AGGRESSION AND A CORNERSTONE OF THE U.S.-SOUTH KOREA ALLIANCE.
BUT TOP U.S. COMMANDERS ARE URGING CAUTION. GENERAL XAVIER BRUNSON, HEAD OF U.S. FORCES KOREA, RECENTLY TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS THAT ANY DRAWDOWN WOULD BE “PROBLEMATIC.” HE WARNED IT COULD UNDERMINE THE U.S.’ ABILITY TO IMPOSE COSTS ON NORTH KOREA, CHINA, OR RUSSIA IN A CRISIS.
ADMIRAL SAMUEL PAPARO, HEAD OF U.S. INDO-PACIFIC COMMAND, SAYS PULLING TROOPS FROM THE PENINSULA WOULD REDUCE AMERICA’S ABILITY TO PREVAIL IN CONFLICT.
SOUTH KOREA’S DEFENSE MINISTRY SAID IT HAS NOT HELD ANY DISCUSSIONS WITH WASHINGTON ABOUT REDUCING TROOP LEVELS.
THE PENTAGON IS PUSHING BACK ON REPORTS THAT THE IDEA IS ANYTHING OTHER THAN A PROPOSAL — CHIEF SPOKESPERSON SEAN PARNELL POSTED ON X THAT REPORTS OF A TROOP CUT ARE “NOT TRUE.” HE SAID THE U.S. ROUTINELY REVIEWS ITS GLOBAL FORCE POSTURE, BUT THAT ITS COMMITMENT TO SOUTH KOREA REMAINS, QUOTE, “IRONCLAD.”
THE DISCUSSION REFLECTS A LONGER-RUNNING DEBATE INSIDE U.S. DEFENSE CIRCLES. DURING HIS FIRST TERM, PRESIDENT TRUMP QUESTIONED THE COST OF KEEPING AMERICAN TROOPS IN SOUTH KOREA.
COLBY, IN PARTICULAR, ARGUES THAT U.S. FORCES SHOULDN’T BE STATIONED IN SOUTH KOREA SOLELY TO DEAL WITH THE NORTH KOREAN THREAT. HE SAYS THE BIGGER CHALLENGE IS CHINA, AND THAT ALLIES LIKE SEOUL SHOULD SHOULDER MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONVENTIONAL DEFENSE.
IF SOME FORCES ARE MOVED TO GUAM, MILITARY ANALYSTS SAY IT COULD PROVIDE MORE STRATEGIC FLEXIBILITY.
GUAM IS CLOSE ENOUGH TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO A CRISIS, BUT FAR ENOUGH TO BE LESS VULNERABLE TO ATTACK. IT’S ALSO BECOMING A CENTRAL HUB FOR THE PENTAGON’S PACIFIC OPERATIONS.
AS WE’VE SAID–NO FINAL DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE AT THIS TIME–
BUT THE PROPOSAL SHOWS HOW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS RETHINKING AMERICA’S MILITARY FOOTPRINT IN EAST ASIA—BALANCING DETERRENCE, COSTS, AND NEW REGIONAL THREATS.
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