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4mo ago

U.S. Reviewing Potential Troop Reduction in South Korea, Seoul Denies Discussions

Proposal to relocate 4,500 troops is under informal review, with no formal decisions or bilateral consultations reported.

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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
A US Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter carries a boat during a joint river-crossing exercise between South Korea and the US as part of the Freedom Shield 25 training in Yeoncheon on March 20, 2025.

Overview

  • The Trump administration is considering relocating 4,500 of the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea to other Indo-Pacific locations, including Guam.
  • South Korea's Defense Ministry and a Pentagon spokesperson have stated that no formal discussions or policy decisions have been made regarding the potential troop withdrawal.
  • Senior U.S. military commanders have expressed concerns that reducing troop levels could weaken deterrence against North Korea and destabilize regional security.
  • The proposal is part of an informal review aimed at increasing U.S. strategic flexibility to counter China's growing influence and revisiting allied cost-sharing agreements.
  • The troop reduction option remains one of several ideas under consideration and has not yet been presented to President Trump for approval.