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yesterday

U.S. Considers Redeployment of 4,500 Troops from South Korea to Indo-Pacific

The Trump administration is evaluating a potential shift in U.S. Forces Korea to bolster focus on China, raising concerns over regional security and alliance commitments.

US soldiers from the 11th Engineer Battalion and 2nd Infantry Combined Division participate in the joint river-crossing exercise conducted for South Korean and US soldiers in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi province, South Korea, 20 March 2024. JEON HEON-KYUN/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
This photo, taken on Sept. 1, 2023, show U.S. troops engaging in military drills in Janseong, 250 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
U.S. considers withdrawing thousands of troops from S. Korea: report - 1
This photom taken on Jan. 9, 2025, shows U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson saluting an honor guard at Seoul's defense ministry. (Yonhap)

Overview

  • The Trump administration is deliberating the relocation of approximately 4,500 troops from South Korea to other Indo-Pacific locations, including Guam, as part of an informal policy review.
  • Pentagon officials have not announced any formal policy changes, and discussions remain in an exploratory phase.
  • Military leaders, including Adm. Samuel Paparo Jr. and Gen. Xavier Brunson, have warned that reducing U.S. troop presence in South Korea could increase the risk of a North Korean invasion and weaken regional deterrence.
  • Under Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby has advocated for a strategic pivot of U.S. forces in Korea toward countering Chinese threats rather than focusing primarily on North Korea.
  • South Korea has expressed concerns that a troop reduction could signal diminished U.S. commitment to its defense, potentially straining the alliance and prompting calls for deeper trilateral cooperation with Japan.