Trump tells Hegseth to cut back U.S.-South Korea drills
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President Trump has instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his positive relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Trump also noted that South Korea declined to assist the United States in denuclearizing Iran.
Trump tells Hegseth to cut US-South Korea drills after Iran war decision
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Updated 15 hours ago - Politics & Policy
Trump tells Hegseth to cut back U.S.-South Korea drills
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!President Trump in a navy suit and white shirt wears a red cap reading MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN and gestures with his hands against a plain gray background.
*President Trump gestures in Maryland on Sunday. Photo: Kent Nishmura/AFP via Getty Images*
President Trump said Sunday he instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to "substantially reduce" U.S. military exercises with South Korea.
**The big picture:** Trump cited his "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for condemning the drills — and also noted on Truth Social that South Korea declined his request to help the U.S. denuclearize Iran.
**What he's saying:** "These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile," Trump wrote.
**Context:** The U.S. and South Korean militaries were due to start regular military drills on Monday in an exercise known as "Ulchi Freedom Shield."
* The drills have been held annually under that name since 2022, though the U.S.-South Korea summertime exercises they evolved from date back decades.
**Friction point:** On Wednesday, North Korea conducted a ballistic missile test for the first time since June, which experts and military officials assessed as an apparent protest against the drills.
* The U.S., Japan and South Korea condemned the missile launch.
**What we're watching:** The Japan-based USS George Washington is being redeployed from the Pacific to the Middle East, where it is expected to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln.
* That leaves the U.S. without a Pacific aircraft carrier at the same time that Trump is scaling back from the Korean drills.
*Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details throughout.*
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Updated 15 hours ago - Politics & Policy
Trump tells Hegseth to cut back U.S.-South Korea drills
* Rebecca Falconer
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!President Trump in a navy suit and white shirt wears a red cap reading MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN and gestures with his hands against a plain gray background.
*President Trump gestures in Maryland on Sunday. Photo: Kent Nishmura/AFP via Getty Images*
President Trump said Sunday he instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to "substantially reduce" U.S. military exercises with South Korea.
**The big picture:** Trump cited his "very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for condemning the drills — and also noted on Truth Social that South Korea declined his request to help the U.S. denuclearize Iran.
**What he's saying:** "These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile," Trump wrote.
**Context:** The U.S. and South Korean militaries were due to start regular military drills on Monday in an exercise known as "Ulchi Freedom Shield."
* The drills have been held annually under that name since 2022, though the U.S.-South Korea summertime exercises they evolved from date back decades.
**Friction point:** On Wednesday, North Korea conducted a ballistic missile test for the first time since June, which experts and military officials assessed as an apparent protest against the drills.
* The U.S., Japan and South Korea condemned the missile launch.
**What we're watching:** The Japan-based USS George Washington is being redeployed from the Pacific to the Middle East, where it is expected to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln.
* That leaves the U.S. without a Pacific aircraft carrier at the same time that Trump is scaling back from the Korean drills.
*Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details throughout.*
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Tags:#الولايات المتحدة#كوريا الجنوبية#كوريا الشمالية#دونالد ترامب#تدريبات عسكرية#الشرق الأوسط
Source: Axios
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